Touchdown Taco Cups Beef (Printable)
Flour tortilla cups filled with spiced beef, melted cheese, and fresh garnishes for a tasty bite.
# What You'll Need:
→ Beef Mixture
01 - 1/2 lb lean ground beef
02 - 1/2 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 clove garlic, minced
04 - 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
05 - 1/4 cup tomato sauce
06 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
07 - Salt and pepper, to taste
→ Taco Cups
08 - 12 small flour tortillas (street taco size or large tortillas cut into 4-inch rounds)
09 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
10 - 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
→ Toppings
11 - 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
12 - 1/2 cup shredded lettuce
13 - 1/4 cup sour cream
14 - 1/4 cup sliced green onions
15 - 1/4 cup sliced black olives (optional)
16 - Fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray or oil.
02 - Warm tortillas slightly until pliable. Press each tortilla into a muffin cup, folding edges as needed to fit securely.
03 - In a skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and sauté onions until softened, about 2 minutes. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds more until fragrant.
04 - Add ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking up meat with a spoon, until browned and cooked through. Drain excess fat if needed.
05 - Stir in taco seasoning and tomato sauce. Simmer for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
06 - Spoon beef mixture evenly into tortilla cups. Top each with a mix of cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses.
07 - Bake for 12–15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly, and tortilla edges are golden and crispy.
08 - Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Top with lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, green onions, olives, and cilantro as desired. Serve warm.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- Each cup is like having your own personal taco with the perfect ratio of filling to crispy shell
- They are handheld adorable and disappear faster than you can bake them
02 -
- I once skipped warming the tortillas and half of them cracked while folding which still worked but looked a little sad
- Do not skip the cooling time or you will burn your fingers and lose half your cheese to the muffin tin
03 -
- If you want to prep ahead cook the beef mixture and grate the cheese the day before then just assemble and bake when guests arrive
- Use kitchen scissors to cut the tortillas if you need to resize them it is so much easier than using a knife