Crispy Beef & Cheese Baked Tacos with Creamy Cilantro Sauce
Crispy Beef & Cheese Baked Tacos with Creamy Cilantro Sauce
Ingredients
For the Beef Filling
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 white onion, diced, reserving some for garnish
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1/3 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 2/3 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 10 flour tortillas
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
For the Creamy Cilantro Sauce
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 handful cilantro
- 2 tablespoons lime juice, from 1 lime
- 1 tablespoon mild Taco Bell sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
For Serving
- 1 fresh cilantro, chopped, as needed
- 1 white onion, diced, reserved from earlier
Instructions
- 1
Place the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Break up the ground beef with a wooden spoon or spatula and cook until it is browned, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat from the pan.
⏱️ 7 min
- 2
Add the majority of the diced white onion (reserving a small amount for garnish later) to the cooked ground beef in the pan and stir to combine. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the onion begins to soften.
⏱️ 3 min
- 3
Add the minced garlic to the beef and onion mixture, then stir well. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 1 min
- 4
Add the taco seasoning, chili powder, and cayenne pepper to the pan. Stir thoroughly to incorporate the seasonings with the beef.
⏱️ 2 min
- 5
Pour in the beef broth. Continue to cook the mixture, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has mostly reduced and absorbed, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat.
⏱️ 7 min
- 6
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 400
- 7
Lay the flour tortillas out on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle the avocado oil over the tortillas. Use your hands to rub the oil evenly on both sides of each tortilla.
⏱️ 3 min
- 8
Place a spoonful of the prepared beef filling onto one half of each oiled tortilla.
⏱️ 3 min
- 9
Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese and shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the beef filling on each tortilla.
⏱️ 2 min
- 10
Fold each tortilla in half to create a taco shape, pressing gently to secure the filling. Arrange the assembled tacos on the baking sheet.
⏱️ 3 min
- 11
Bake the tacos at 400°F for 12-15 minutes, making sure to flip them halfway through the baking time, until they are crispy and the cheese is melted and slightly browned.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 400
- 12
While the tacos are baking, prepare the creamy cilantro sauce. In a tall blending cup, combine the Greek yogurt, sour cream, cilantro, lime juice, mild Taco Bell sauce, salt, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder.
⏱️ 3 min
- 13
Use an immersion blender to blend all the sauce ingredients until completely smooth and creamy. Alternatively, transfer to a small food processor or blender and process until smooth.
⏱️ 2 min
- 14
Transfer the crispy beef and cheese baked tacos to a serving platter. Pour the creamy cilantro sauce into a small bowl for dipping. Garnish the tacos with the reserved diced white onion and chopped fresh cilantro before serving.
⏱️ 2 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Crispy Beef & Cheese Baked Tacos with Creamy Cilantro Sauce
For the Beef Filling
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 white onion, diced, reserving some for garnish
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1/3 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 2/3 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 10 flour tortillas
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
For the Creamy Cilantro Sauce
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 handful cilantro
- 2 tablespoons lime juice, from 1 lime
- 1 tablespoon mild Taco Bell sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
For Serving
- 1 fresh cilantro, chopped, as needed
- 1 white onion, diced, reserved from earlier
Instructions
- 1
Place the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Break up the ground beef with a wooden spoon or spatula and cook until it is browned, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat from the pan.
⏱️ 7 min - 2
Add the majority of the diced white onion (reserving a small amount for garnish later) to the cooked ground beef in the pan and stir to combine. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the onion begins to soften.
⏱️ 3 min - 3
Add the minced garlic to the beef and onion mixture, then stir well. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 1 min - 4
Add the taco seasoning, chili powder, and cayenne pepper to the pan. Stir thoroughly to incorporate the seasonings with the beef.
⏱️ 2 min - 5
Pour in the beef broth. Continue to cook the mixture, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has mostly reduced and absorbed, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat.
⏱️ 7 min - 6
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 400 - 7
Lay the flour tortillas out on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle the avocado oil over the tortillas. Use your hands to rub the oil evenly on both sides of each tortilla.
⏱️ 3 min - 8
Place a spoonful of the prepared beef filling onto one half of each oiled tortilla.
⏱️ 3 min - 9
Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese and shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the beef filling on each tortilla.
⏱️ 2 min - 10
Fold each tortilla in half to create a taco shape, pressing gently to secure the filling. Arrange the assembled tacos on the baking sheet.
⏱️ 3 min - 11
Bake the tacos at 400°F for 12-15 minutes, making sure to flip them halfway through the baking time, until they are crispy and the cheese is melted and slightly browned.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 400 - 12
While the tacos are baking, prepare the creamy cilantro sauce. In a tall blending cup, combine the Greek yogurt, sour cream, cilantro, lime juice, mild Taco Bell sauce, salt, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder.
⏱️ 3 min - 13
Use an immersion blender to blend all the sauce ingredients until completely smooth and creamy. Alternatively, transfer to a small food processor or blender and process until smooth.
⏱️ 2 min - 14
Transfer the crispy beef and cheese baked tacos to a serving platter. Pour the creamy cilantro sauce into a small bowl for dipping. Garnish the tacos with the reserved diced white onion and chopped fresh cilantro before serving.
⏱️ 2 min