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This Ground Beef Baked Tacos recipe is the perfect taco recipe for any party or gathering! Prepare these baked tacos ahead of time and allow family or guests to add their own toppings.

Do you need to cook tacos for a crowd?
Do away with the taco buffet and try some ground beef baked tacos instead. For each pound of ground beef, you can make 12 of these mini baked tacos in less than 30 minutes.
These baked tacos are perfect for a crowd. No need to have each person stand and scoop out the seasoned taco meat. Just grab a baked taco, select your toppings and enjoy!

Baked tacos are like the perfect blend of taco and quesadilla
If you had asked me one month ago, “whats your favorite taco?”, I probably would NEVER say ground beef. They are sometimes dry and the toppings tend to fall out as you eat. These baked ground beef tacos completely change that for me.
First, cook the ground beef taco meat with simple seasonings and tomato paste. The result is a moist, but not too wet taco meat that is perfect for the baked tacos.
Then, bake the ground beef in a small street taco shell with lots of shredded cheese. Once they are finished you can open them up and add the toppings inside or just layer toppings on top and enjoy with a fork and knife.

What kitchen tools will I need to make these Ground Beef Baked Tacos?
- Frying pan
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring cups
- Sheet pan
- Parchment paper

What ingredients will I need to make these simple beef tacos?
You will be amazed at how easy it is to make these baked tacos with just a few simple ingredients. Feel free to put your own spin on this recipe!
If you prefer to use ground turkey, that will work too. If you are a vegetarian, feel free to use some crumbled tofu or tempeh in place of the ground beef.
- Ground beef
- Salt
- Pepper
- Chili powder
- Garlic powder
- Smoked paprika
- Cumin
- Cayenne pepper powder
- Tomato paste
- Shredded Mexican cheese blend
- Street taco size white corn tortillas

Let’s make some Ground Beef Baked Tacos!
Step 1: Prepare taco meat
First, preheat the oven to 425F. Then, combine salt, black pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, cumin, cayenne pepper powder in a small bowl.
Next, mix tomato paste and water in a separate bowl and set to the side. Then, heat a frying pan over medium heat and add the ground beef to the pan.
Then, allow the ground beef to brown for 5 minutes and break it into crumbles as it browns. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the spice mixture and tomato paste and water to the pan.
Finally, mix in the tomato paste and seasonings and saute until completely cooked about 2-3 minutes.
Step 2: Assemble the baked beef tacos
Then, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lay 6 corn taco shells on the baking sheet and cover with shredded cheese. You will need to do this twice to make all 12 of the baked tacos.
Next, place 2 tbsp of taco meat on one side of each taco (see picture above).
Step 3: Bake the tacos
Then, place the baking sheet to the oven and cook for 3 minutes.
After 3 minutes, remove the tacos from the oven and fold each in half and press down lightly to ensure the tacos stay folded. Then, return the baking sheet to the oven and cook for 5 minutes.
Step 4: Enjoy!
Finally, remove the baked tacos from the oven and repeat steps 8-12 to make the next 6 tacos. Allow the tacos to cool slightly, add toppings and enjoy!

What toppings should I add to these ground beef tacos?
You can get as creative as you want with these beef tacos. Some of my favorites are shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, fresh avocado, and cojita cheese. I also always serve my tacos with a batch of pickled red onions!
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!


Ground Beef Baked Tacos
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Saute and Bake
- Cuisine: Mexican American
Description
Make these delicious ground beef baked tacos for a simple dinner or a gathering!
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper powder
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp water
- 3 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
- 12 street taco size white corn tortillas (about 5.5″ in diameter)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425F
- Combine salt, black pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, cumin, cayenne pepper powder in a small bowl
- Mix tomato paste and water in a separate bowl and set to the side
- Heat a frying pan over medium heat and add the ground beef to the pan
- Allow the ground beef to brown for 5 minutes and break it into crumbles as it browns
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the spice mixture and tomato paste and water to the pan
- Mix in the tomato paste and seasonings and saute until completely cooked about 2-3 minutes
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lay 6 corn taco shells on the baking sheet and cover with shredded cheese – You will need to do this twice to make all of the baked tacos
- Place 2 tbsp of taco meat on one side of each taco (see picture above)
- Add the baking sheet to the oven and cook for 3 minutes
- Remove the tacos from the oven and fold each in half and press down lightly to ensure the tacos stay folded
- Return the baking sheet to the oven and cook for 5 minutes
- Remove the baked tacos from the oven and repeat steps 8-12 to make the next 6 tacos
- Allow the tacos to cool slightly, add toppings and enjoy!
Keywords: ground beef baked tacos, easy baked tacos, simple beef tacos
Can’t wait to try these with ground turkey, no more soggy tacos!!
yay!!
So easy to make and so delicious!! I ate 6 within minutes! A must make especially on game day!
★★★★★
Just made these and OMG!! I used pork spare ribs as I had them in the fridge. Browned them first and then threw in crock pot all day. Everything else as per the recipe. So freaking good. It even got a “honey. you can make these again” approval from the hubby. Keep up the great work @mad_about_food❤️
Yay!! Thank you!!
These are. So. Good! My non-taco fan husband said it was some of the best food he’s ever eaten. And the ground beef! Oh my gosh. I’ll NEVER buy a seasoning packet again. Delicious, unique, simple. The tomato paste made it so savory. Thanks, Madeline!
ah YAY! I am so glad! and I agreed. no more need for a taco packet!
So I am not a fan of corn tortillas but holy moly these were so delicious and I didn’t even notice they were corn!! Love the taco spices, so much more flavor than the packets and healthier since I know what’s going into my food. Great taco Tuesday recipe to have and with definitely be making again, and again, and again!!
Amazing!! I am so glad thank you!
Made this tonight! Wow! So good!
yay so glad!!
The tastiest taco to ever touch my tongue!! They are DELICIOUS!! My daughter requested them for her birthday party lunch over take-out from her favorite restaurant!
Aw so glad your daughter likes them!! Thank you!!
WOW! Wish I could eat this everyday and every night! I loved the flavor of the meat so much. Baking the tacos was so simple. I mixed in diced mushroom with the meat for a little more veg and it was so perfect. Also used cashew siete tortillas and they baked so well. Had leftovers the next day (without reheating bc i was so hungry) and the taco was still so crisp and delicious!
★★★★★
YAY! SO glad you enjoyed!! thank you for sharing! Im gonna need to try the mushroom addition
These were fantastic! So simple and took less than 30 minutes to pull together. Perfect for game day and husband approved!
★★★★★
SO glad you enjoyed!! Thank you!!
Made these for dinner with a friend last night, and they were SO GOOD! We had a fair amount of leftovers, so I wrapped two in foil at a time and stuck them in the fridge. When my sister got home from night shift, she took them out of the fridge, unfolded the foil, and reheated them in the airfryer and she said they were delicious as leftovers! Thanks for the awesome recipes, Madeline!
SO glad!! Thank you for sharing!
These are so delicious! Perfect for a group, so everyone can add their own toppings. Plus the topping don’t really fall out if you put them inside after the tacos are baked. Not nearly as messy as our usual tacos.
amazing!! thank you!!
These are delicious! My husband LOVED them, and both of my picky kids liked them too. Definitely make a batch of madaboutfood pickled red onions to go with these. Will be making these again for sure!
Ah so glad!! YEs the pickled onions are the perfect compliment!
Made these tonight. YUM! Definitely hit the spot and surprisingly filling. My husband also loved them. He requested I make these again for football Sunday with my father in-law in two weeks.
★★★★★
amazing!! Perfect Sunday football food. Thank you!!
I have large men (hence, larger eaters) in my home. To tell you how these went over—my husband had 5, my son had 6, and I got ONE. Good thing my other son wasn’t home. Mad About Food for President!!! #crunchytacoheaven!
★★★★★
hahaha I am SOO glad!! Next time a double batch in your home!
Can I use flour tortilla shells instead of corn?
yes definitely!!
These were SO good! Super easy and tasty meal. Would definitely make again!
Thank you! So glad to hear that !
The taco meat is SO GOOD. This is my forever go-to taco meat recipe from now on. I also really like the concept of a baked taco – melting the cheese and getting the soft tortillas a little crisp are game-changers.
★★★★★
Thank you!! so glad you enjoyed!
These are the best tacos ever! No more taco seasoning packet for me. So flavorful and so easy to make.
★★★★★
Absolutely amazing! Easy to make and swapped turkey for beef!
★★★★★
awesome!! thank you!!
My fiancée and I love this recipe and eat it almost once a week. So easy to make and keep in the fridge!
★★★★★
So glad!! Thank you!!
yay!! Thank you!!
These were great! I meal prepped them earlier this week and just threw them in the air fryer at 360 for 2-3 minutes to reheat and they’re crunchy and fantastic. So easy, will definitely be making again!!
wonderful! I loooove reheating them in the air fryer
These were absolutely delicious! I don’t eat beef so I made them with ground chicken and it was super yummy!
★★★★★
YAY! I am soo glad!
Super simple, delicious recipe! I’ve made this twice, both with flour tortillas, and the second time I browned the beef with 1/2 onion, diced. Good stuff. This is for sure going in/already in the regular rotation.
★★★★★
wonderful!! So glad! Thank you!
AMAZING!
Already shared with friends and family, right after dinner tonight! So easy and delicious! Definitely becoming a regular for a weekday meal!
★★★★★
so great!! Thnank you!!
These have become a regular favorite in our house. I make the spice mix ahead of time to store in the cabinet so my S/O can start prepping the meat before I get home if I’m running late. They also make great leftovers for work the next day.
★★★★★
amazing!! thank you!!
These are INCREDIBLE! We devoured them. So easy and so much flavor. I’ve made them with both Turkey and beef. So good! I love finding a new easy weekday meal!
wonderful!! thank you!
So good! I use the seasoning mix every time I make tacos now.
amazing!! love that!
Made these a few weeks ago and they were a hit! So yummy and a nice change from our usual taco nights.
★★★★★
yay! thank you!!
These are delicious and super easy. My picky 8 year old even devours them! Thank you for the yummy recipes!
★★★★★
so wonderful!! thank you!!
Seriously so good! My 3 year old asks for them almost daily when asked what he wants for dinner so we do them at least twice a week! I’ve done them with flour tortillas and it turned out fine as well!
★★★★★
amazing!! Surely kid approved. And glad that swap works too 🙂
Just made these and they’re sooo delicious and simple! My husband was also a huge fan. I saved the second half to make fresh tomorrow–and next time I will let them cool off a little more. They were so delicious I ate them too hot! Lol
★★★★★
ahahhaha i don’t blame you for digging into them piping hot!!
The tomato paste is a GAME CHANGER! These are definitely the best tacos I’ve made at home. The look on my husband’s face when he saw them and when he took the first bite were truly priceless. I’ve sent this recipe out to my whole family! So delicious, wouldn’t change a thing about them. 🙂
★★★★★
wow!! thank you so much!!