My husband’s secret favorite meal is crispy ground beef tacos. It’s only a secret in that he never outwardly wishes for it, but if he has an opportunity to eat a crispy taco, he jumps at the chance.
The combo is nostalgic for both of us. We both had moms who regularly browned a couple of pounds of ground beef in a skillet with a taco seasoning packet, warmed up store-bought crispy tortilla shells, and set out toppings like cheese, lettuce, and tomato for family dinner. And we both loved it.
Now that we’re all grown up and fixing our meals every night of the week, we’ve leveled up our beef taco game with a homemade spice blend and homemade crispy tortilla shells. The shells are surprisingly easy to make using regular old corn tortillas, and you don’t need as much oil as you’d think.
This is the kind of meal that brings the whole family together, and everyone has fun adding their toppings. The sounds of crunch crunch will fill your home along with laughter. What’s better than that?
Shortcuts for Busy Nights
While this recipe is quick and easy, it can be made lightning fast with a few simple substitutions:
- Swap the spices (chili powder, cumin, oregano, cayenne, and salt) for 1 1/2 tablespoons of taco seasoning. Add salt to taste.
- Swap the corn tortillas and oil for store-bought crispy tortilla shells. Skip the first two steps and heat the shells in the oven before filling.
Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley
