Touchdown Taco Cups Beef (Print Version)

Savory beef-filled taco cups topped with cheese and fresh veggies, perfect for bite-sized snacking.

# What You Need:

→ Beef Mixture

01 - 1/2 lb lean ground beef
02 - 1/2 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 clove garlic, minced
04 - 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
05 - 1/4 cup tomato sauce
06 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
07 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Taco Cups

08 - 12 small flour tortillas (street taco size, or large tortillas cut into 4-inch rounds)
09 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
10 - 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

→ Toppings

11 - 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
12 - 1/2 cup shredded lettuce
13 - 1/4 cup sour cream
14 - 1/4 cup sliced green onions
15 - 1/4 cup sliced black olives (optional)
16 - Fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray or oil.
02 - Warm tortillas slightly until pliable. Press each tortilla into a muffin cup, folding edges as needed to fit securely.
03 - In a skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and sauté onions until softened, about 2 minutes. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds more until fragrant.
04 - Add ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking up meat with a spoon, until browned and cooked through. Drain excess fat if needed.
05 - Stir in taco seasoning and tomato sauce; simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
06 - Spoon beef mixture evenly into tortilla cups. Top each with a mix of cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese.
07 - Bake for 12-15 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly and tortilla edges are crispy and lightly golden.
08 - Remove from oven and let cool in the muffin tin for 5 minutes to set.
09 - Top with lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, green onions, olives, and cilantro as desired. Serve warm.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • Theyre somehow more fun than regular tacos and way less messy to eat
  • You can prep everything ahead and bake them right before guests arrive
  • The crispy edges and gooey cheese center create the perfect bite every time
02 -
  • Cold tortillas will crack when you try to fold them into the muffin cups
  • Overfilling the cups makes them messy to eat and harder to remove from the tin
  • Letting them cool for those full 5 minutes prevents the toppings from sliding right off
03 -
  • Use kitchen scissors to cut large tortillas into perfect rounds without any waste
  • Place a small ball of foil in the center of each cup while baking to help them keep their shape

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