Oven Tacos

Do you have certain "nights" at your house? Pizza night, taco night, spaghetti night? Oven Tacos would make a fun change for any night. 

The baked flavor and crispiness that you get in the oven really enhances the taco filling. I especially like the way the texture of the hard taco shell changes as it bakes- the bottom of the shell becomes a little more chewy, while the top edges crisp up.

Baked tacos are a little easier to eat, too. The filling stays put with the cheese melted over it, and the chewier texture prevents the crunchy-shell-fall-aparts. And serving dinner couldn't be easier: the dish of hot, already-made tacos, a plate of toppings, and you're done!




Oven Tacos
Makes 18 to 20 tacos, depending on how full you fill the shells. 
You can halve this recipe to get about 10 tacos.

Ingredients:
2 lb. lean ground beef

1 can refried beans
8 oz can tomato sauce
1 pkg taco seasoning (I used my homemade taco seasoning)
1 and 1/2 cups shredded cheese
18 to 20 hard taco shells
toppings, such as lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, avocado, cilantro, etc.

Directions:
1. Brown ground beef and drain off any fat. Stir in refried beans, tomato sauce, and seasoning. Bring to a simmer and mix well.
2. Remove from heat. Spoon meat mixture into taco shells (fill shell about 1/4 to 1/3 full, to leave room for cheese and toppings), standing them up in a 9 X 13 pan as you go.
3. Tuck a couple of tablespoons of cheese onto each filled taco.
4. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes, or until heated through and just starting to brown.



Recipe adapted from Lynn's Kitchen Adventures


May have been shared with some of these fun parties!



36 comments:

  1. Oh, I love this idea--a little different texture for the taco shell, plus the melted cheese keepin' that filling in better! Thank you for this recipe, Joy. Have a great weekend!

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    1. Linda, thank you!! I hope you had a wonderful birthday- I love your cupcakes I saw on FB! Thank you for your comment, and enjoy your weekend!

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  2. When my children were young we did have certain nights for certain things. I love tacos and this recipe sounds so good.

    I can't find your list of followers for me to follow your blog.
    Beth

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    1. Hi, Beth! Thank you so much for coming by, and for the comment! Let me see if I can figure out how to find the list you want. One way to follow Yesterfood is to subscribe by email (toward the top on the right), but I’ll check into the other!

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  3. These look so wonderful. My main dislike for tacos is that by the time you get them made, they are cold. This totally eliminates that problem! I chose this post as my hosts' favorite on Foodie Friends Friday, so it will be featured on the Daily Dish Magazine tomorrow! Thanks so much for sharing! Please come back by today to vote.

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    1. Oh, my gosh, I am so excited!! Thank you very much! :) I really do enjoy Foodie Friends Friday- it makes a huge difference when the hosts are as nice and as involved as all of you guys are. It really makes FFF stand out!

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  4. I love Mexican food!! What a great idea to bake them in the oven:) Pinning!!

    Thank you for joining in to Lets Get Social Sunday!! Happy Hopping!!

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    1. Hi, Evelyn! Thank you for the visit, for pinning, and for hosting Let's Get Social Sunday!!

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  5. I have never heard of oven tacos! They sound really good. I love a really crunchy taco and this recipe sounds like that's just what they would be!! Thanks for sharing. I would have never thought of putting tacos in the oven! Happy Monday!!

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    1. Rachel, thank you so much for coming by and for your sharing your nice comments! I wish you a Happy Monday as well! :)

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  6. These tacos look so yummy and easy to make! Pinning to make for my family this week! :) Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday!

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  7. Tacos/nachos/fajitas are my favorite kind of food! This is a great idea, and sounds so yummy. :)

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    1. Hi, Jaimie! I'm so glad you came by- thanks for the visit and for commenting! :)

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  8. Thank you for sharing them with Foodie Friends Friday!

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    1. My pleasure, Lois! Thank you for the visit! :)

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  9. What a great idea! I always hesitate to make tacos because of the breaking issue, plus my husband finds a cold taco plus cold salad toppings cools down the meat too fast. This is the perfect solution, and your tacos look scrumptious. Thank you for sharing this post with the Gallery of Favorites.

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    1. Thank you so much, April! I always enjoy Gallery of Favorites!

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  10. I've never thought about this but it makes so much sense! I love the concept of your site too! Family traditions through food are one of my favorites! :) Thanks for sharing with us at Real Housemoms for Fabulous Fridays.

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    1. Aubrey, thank you very much! I just linked up with Fabulous Fridays again this week, and was so happy that you featured the Oven Tacos! Thank you, and thanks for hosting a really fun party!

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  11. This sounds like a great idea. I like to put my taco in the microwave after putting in the cheese to melt it, but putting them in the oven would solve that and it would keep them hot longer. Thanks for the awesome tip!

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    1. Connie, thanks for the visit and the comment! :) I will have to try your microwave tip when it gets hot and I don't want to turn on the stove! ;)

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  12. You had me totally drooling at the picture. As soon as I shop and buy taco shell's this is going on my table, Total YUM

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    1. Thank you, Lynn! Hope you like them as much as we do! Thanks for coming by!

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  13. Sounds wonderful!!
    Thanks for sharing at Saturday Dishes. Pinned to the party board ~ Paula

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  14. With that ooey-gooey cheesy photo, I have to give this a try. I've never baked tacos. Thanks for a great idea.

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    1. Lea Ann, they really are delicious, and so easy! :) Thank you for stopping by!

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  15. Thanks for linking up at Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop. I pinned it!
    Blessings,
    Diane Roark
    www.recipesforourdailybread.com

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    1. Diane, thank you so much for pinning, and for hosting Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop! :)

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  16. I have never tried baking tacos before, but it looks like such a great idea! Considering I practically need a bib to eat tacos, with the mess I make, the whole "holding everything in" aspect really sounds like something I need to look into :-) Thanks for sharing and linking up to What'd You Do This Weekend. Stopping by to let you know I will be featuring this later tonight on this week's linkup! Pinned!

    --Ashley @ PioneerMomma.com

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    1. Ashley, I’m so happy you liked them- we really do like them fixed this way! I will look forward to seeing your features! :) Love What'd You Do This Weekend!

      Hope you have a great week!

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  17. What a great way to make a lot of tacos at once. I love that melty cheese. I will be trying these next time we have "taco night." Thanks for sharing, Joy!

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    1. Made them last night and we all loved them. Even my husband who normally doesn't like hard taco shells. He liked these b/c of the different texture and b/c they didn't fall apart. Thanks for an awesome taco night!

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    2. Michelle, I'm really glad that you and your family enjoyed these- and thanks so much for letting me know! :)

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