Oven-Baked Tacos

These oven-baked tacos are filled with what I consider to be the best taco meat ever and cheese, then baked in 15 corn tortillas, making them perfect for a crowd-pleasing dinner or meal prep option. They’re incredibly easy to prepare, and the recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to freeze extras for later.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 can refried beans
• 1 can tomato sauce
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 oz grated cheese
• 12 tortillas/taco shells

Instructions:

1. Prepare Taco Shells: Begin by preparing the taco shells. You can either purchase them from the store or make them yourself. If opting to make them at home, it’s a game-changer. Simply use tortillas and cooking spray. We prefer small, soft “taco” tortillas. While flour tortillas work well, corn tortillas are also a tasty alternative.
2. Steam Tortillas: To steam the tortillas, dampen paper towels and wring out excess moisture. Arrange the tortillas with the damp paper towels on a plate and microwave them (we recommend doing 6 at a time). Keep an eye on them; it usually takes about 30 seconds to steam. Once steamed, lightly spray each side with cooking spray and place them over two oven rack bars. Placing a baking tray underneath to catch any oil from the cooking spray is a good idea. Bake at 350-375 degrees for 7-10 minutes until they turn golden and crispy. Remove from the oven and set aside.
3. Prepare Filling: In a large skillet, brown the ground beef. Once cooked, drain off any excess fat and return it to the skillet. Over low heat, add the refried beans, taco seasoning, and about half to two-thirds of the tomato sauce (adjust the amount according to desired consistency; you want the filling to be thick enough to prevent the tacos from becoming soggy). Mix well.
4. Assemble Tacos: Arrange the baked taco shells in a lightly greased casserole dish, standing them upright. Fill each shell with the meat mixture, ensuring they are evenly filled. Sprinkle grated cheese over the top.
5. Bake: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake the assembled tacos for approximately 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

These oven-baked tacos are sure to be a hit with everyone at the dinner table. Enjoy your delicious homemade tacos!