Taco Cups Ground Beef Cheese (Printable Version)

Savory ground beef and melted cheese in crispy tortilla cups, perfect for quick savory bites.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meat & Protein

01 - 1 lb ground beef, 85% lean recommended

→ Seasoning & Flavor

02 - 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning mix
03 - 1/3 cup water
04 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
05 - 1/2 tsp onion powder

→ Tortilla Base

06 - 12 small flour tortillas, 6-inch rounds

→ Cheese & Toppings

07 - 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese or Mexican blend
08 - 1/2 cup salsa plus extra for serving
09 - 1/2 cup sour cream, optional
10 - 1/4 cup sliced green onions, optional
11 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, optional

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F and spray a 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray.
02 - Using a round cookie cutter or glass rim, cut each tortilla into circles that fit snugly into muffin cups. Press tortilla circles into cups, folding edges as needed.
03 - In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef until browned, breaking up with spoon for 5-6 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
04 - Add taco seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and water to beef. Stir well and simmer 2-3 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat.
05 - Spoon 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons of seasoned beef mixture into each tortilla cup. Top with salsa and shredded cheese.
06 - Bake for 10-12 minutes until cheese is melted and tortillas are golden and crispy.
07 - Remove from oven and cool 2-3 minutes before removing cups from tin. Garnish with sour cream, green onions, and cilantro if desired. Serve warm with extra salsa.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything you love about tacos in a adorable handheld format that guests cant resist grabbing
  • The crispy cheese edges against the warm seasoned beef create this perfect bite that keeps you reaching for just one more
  • They come together in under 40 minutes but look like you put way more thought into them
02 -
  • Work quickly once the beef is cooked because trying to fill cold tortilla cups with room temperature meat makes them soggy faster
  • If your tortillas are cracking when you fold them into the cups, wrap the stack in damp paper towels and microwave for 20 seconds
03 -
  • Use kitchen scissors to snip the green onions and cilantro right over the platter for the freshest garnish
  • If making ahead, bake them fully, cool completely, then freeze. Reheat at 375°F for 8-10 minutes

Return