Beef Tacos with Hard Shells (Printable)
Crispy hard shells filled with seasoned ground beef, fresh vegetables, and creamy toppings for a classic taco night.
# What You'll Need:
→ Beef Filling
01 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio)
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tbsp tomato paste
05 - 1/2 cup beef broth or water
06 - 2 tsp chili powder
07 - 1 tsp ground cumin
08 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
09 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
10 - 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
11 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
12 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
→ Taco Shells
13 - 8 hard taco shells
→ Toppings
14 - 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
15 - 1 cup diced tomatoes
16 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
17 - 1/2 cup sour cream
18 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
19 - 1/4 cup sliced black olives (optional)
20 - Lime wedges, for serving
# Directions:
01 - Over medium heat in a large skillet, cook ground beef, breaking it apart until browned, about 4 minutes.
02 - Add chopped onion and cook for 3 minutes until softened, then stir in garlic and cook for 1 additional minute.
03 - Blend in tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, black pepper, and optional cayenne; cook for 1 minute.
04 - Pour in beef broth or water, scrape browned bits, then simmer for 5 to 7 minutes until thickened. Adjust seasoning as desired.
05 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Place taco shells on a baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes to crisp.
06 - Fill shells with beef mixture and top with lettuce, tomatoes, cheddar, sour cream, cilantro, olives if using, and finish with a squeeze of lime. Serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Everything comes together in under thirty minutes, even when youre distracted by hungry voices asking when dinners ready.
- The seasoned beef has enough flavor that even picky eaters forget to complain about onions.
- Toppings turn dinner into a hands-on activity where everyone gets exactly what they want.
02 -
- Drain excess fat from the beef only if there's more than two tablespoons pooling in the pan, otherwise you'll lose flavor and moisture.
- Warm the taco shells right before serving, not earlier, or they'll soften and lose their snap by the time you sit down to eat.
- Season the beef filling to taste before assembling; the toppings are mild, so the meat needs to carry most of the flavor.
03 -
- Toast your spices in the hot pan for a full minute before adding liquid; this step unlocks deeper, more complex flavors that boxed seasoning mixes can't match.
- Use a shallow spoon to fill the shells instead of a ladle, so you can control the amount and avoid overfilling.
- Serve everything family-style on a big platter so people can build their own tacos at the table, which keeps the shells crispy and the vibe relaxed.