Beef Taco Cups are a fun twist on your typical taco night! Not only are they incredibly healthy but they’re incredibly delicious and easy to make.

Beef taco cups on a cooling rack.

If you’re ready to get creative with taco night, this recipe is for you!

Whether you’re making them on your own or with your loved ones, it’s sure to be a blast (and delicious too).

One of my favorite things about tacos is that you can make them with your favorite toppings. Not everyone wants the same toppings on their tacos which makes this recipe perfect for all.

You can make the Taco Cups and fill them all individually depending on your taste buds.

The crispy taco cups are made out of soft tortillas. Once baked, they give that perfect taco crunch!

What are you going to fill your Beef Taco Cups with? And then pair the taco cups with this delicious Aperol Margarita!

Main Ingredients to Make Mini Beef Tacos

Ingredients in bowls to make Beef Taco Cups.

Ways to Make the Homemade Taco Cups

  1. Ramekin: You can use a ramekin as seen in the photos below. Spray the ramekin with olive oil spray. Make sure it covers completely. Form the tortilla into the ramekin and press the tortilla into the sides of the dish to form a cup shape.
  2. Muffin Tin: You will need to use extra mini tortillas or the shells will stick up a bit out of the muffin molds. This is fine if you prefer to not trim the shells to a smaller size. Put into the oven and bake for 13-15 minutes.
  3. Back of Muffin Tin: Spray the back of a muffin tin with olive oil or any non-stick spray. Form the tortilla around the muffin molds. Press it firmly to form a cup shape. Put into the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes.
Taco Cup in a small ramekin to be baked.

How to Make the Beef Taco Cups

  1. Heat a skillet over medium heat. once heated. Add the diced peppers and onions to the pan
  2. Once translucent and slightly caramelized, add the ground beef to the skillet
  3. Break up the ground beef with a spatula and mix until finely ground. While the beef is cooking, let’s make the taco cups!
  4. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F and spray the bottom of a muffin pan with olive oil spray
  5. Take your mini tortillas and form the cups. I used the ramekin method but you can use any method mentioned above
  6. I suggest only making 4 at a time so that they aren’t overcrowded
  7. Bake for 13-15 minutes and tortillas are browned and crisp. Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes
  8. Repeat steps 5-7 for the remaining taco cups
  9. By now the beef will be cooked and we can put our taco cup together!
  10. Take your taco cup and fill it with about a 1/4 cup of ground beef. Top with the cheese and salsa
  11. (Optional) Put the taco cup back in the oven for 2-4 minutes until the cheese is melted
  12. Remove from the oven and top with the shredded lettuce and any other toppings you desire!
  13. Enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best tortillas to use for this recipe?

I suggest using any flour tortilla but my favorite tortillas to use for these taco cups are the whole wheat carb friendly ones from Trader Joe’s.

Can I use other meat than beef in this recipe?

Yes! You can use any ground meat in this recipe that you desire.

Should I put all of the taco cups together at once?

I like to fill the taco cups fresh as I eat them. If you make them all at once and have leftovers, that’s okay! See below how to store.

How can I store this?

Store empty taco cups in a Ziploc bag for up to 3 days. Store finished taco cups with filling and toppings in an airtight container up to 5 days.

Can I reheat these taco cups if there are leftovers?

You could reheat in a microwave but you won’t get that good crisp! For that crunch factor, reheat in the oven at 350 degrees F for 6-8 minutes.

Beef Taco Cups on a cooling rack ready to be eaten.
5 stars (5 ratings)

Beef Taco Cups

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Yield: 8 taco cups
Beef Taco Cups are a fun twist on your typical taco night! Not only are they incredibly healthy but they're incredibly delicious and easy to make.

Ingredients
 

  • 8 small tortillas
  • olive oil spray
  • 1 lb ground beef, or any ground meat
  • 2 red peppers, diced
  • 1 sweet onion, diced
  • 1 package taco seasoning
  • 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese, optional
  • salsa/pico de gallo, optional
  • shredded lettuce, optional

Equipment

  • 1 muffin pan optional
  • small ramekins

Instructions
 

  • Heat a skillet over medium heat. once heated. Add the diced peppers and onions to the pan
  • Once translucent and slightly caramelized, add the ground beef to the skillet
  • Break up the ground beef with a spatula and mix until finely ground. While the beef is cooking, let's make the taco cups!
  • Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F and spray the bottom of a muffin pan with olive oil spray
  • Take your mini tortillas and form the cups. I used the ramekin method but you can use any method mentioned above
  • I suggest only making 4 at a time so that they aren't overcrowded
  • Bake for 13-15 minutes and tortillas are browned and crisp. Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes
  • Repeat steps 5-7 for the remaining taco cups
  • By now the beef will be cooked and we can put our taco cup together!
  • Take your taco cup and fill it with about a 1/4 cup of ground beef. Top with the cheese and salsa
  • (Optional) Put the taco cup back in the oven for 2-4 minutes until the cheese is melted
  • Remove from the oven and top with the shredded lettuce and any other toppings you desire!
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup, Calories: 182kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 15g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.4g, Cholesterol: 50mg, Sodium: 487mg, Potassium: 306mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 1435IU, Vitamin C: 42mg, Calcium: 111mg, Iron: 2mg
Author: Jessica Selensky
Course: dinner, lunch, Snack
Cuisine: Mexican
Keywords: beef taco cups, healthy taco cups, healthy tacos, taco cups, taco snack

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