Oven-Baked Cheesy Tacos (Crispy & Loaded) You’ll Love
These oven-baked tacos are loaded with seasoned beef, melty cheese, and crispy shells. A fun, mess-free way to enjoy tacos that’s perfect for parties or weeknight dinners.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 10 tacos
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound ground beef (or turkey/chicken)
1 packet taco seasoning (or 2 tbsp homemade blend)
½ cup tomato sauce or salsa
Salt & pepper, to taste
10 small taco shells (corn or flour, warmed)
2 cups shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
Toppings:
1 cup shredded lettuce
½ cup diced tomatoes
½ cup diced red onion
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Optional Toppings:
Sour cream
Jalapeños
Guacamole
Hot sauce
Instructions
Prep Oven & Pan:
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a baking dish or line with foil.
Cook Filling:
In a skillet over medium heat, add olive oil. Sauté onion and garlic until fragrant.
Add ground meat, breaking it up while cooking.
Stir in taco seasoning, tomato sauce or salsa, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes.
Assemble Tacos:
Fill each taco shell with meat mixture and top with shredded cheese.
Arrange tacos standing upright in baking dish, side-by-side.
Bake:
Bake for 10–15 minutes until cheese is melted and taco shells are crisp.
Top & Serve:
Remove from oven. Top with lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro.
Add sour cream, guacamole, or hot sauce if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
Use ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
For extra crispiness, lightly toast taco shells before filling.
Can be made ahead and baked just before serving.
Perfect for meal prep—store assembled tacos in fridge for up to 24 hours.
