Crispy Ground Beef Tacos

No one can resist the crunch.

By
Laurel Randolph
Laurel Randolph
Laurel Randolph
Laurel has over 10 years of experience developing recipes and writing about food. She is the author of 4 cookbooks, including the bestselling "The Instant Pot Electric Cookbook."
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated June 03, 2024
Laurel Randolph
Crispy ground beef tacos on a plate at a table setting with glasses of beer, bowl of diced tomatoes, and a table napkin

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

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.
Crispy ground beef tacos on a plate at a table setting with glasses of beer and a table napkin

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

Make It a Taco Night

Crispy Ground Beef Tacos

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 40 mins
Servings 4 servings
Yield 8 tacos

You can use store-bought crispy tortilla shells instead of making them from scratch. If you choose to do so, skip the first two steps and heat the shells according to the package directions.

This recipe was developed by Jasmine Smith.

Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • Canola oil, for frying

  • 8 (5 to 6-inch) white or yellow corn tortillas

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to season the tortilla shells

  • 1 pound (85/15) ground beef

  • 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped (about 3/4 cup)

  • 3 garlic cloves, minced

  • 1 tablespoon chili powder

  • 3/4 teaspoon cumin

  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce

  • 1/2 cup water

  • Optional toppings: shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, salsa, sour cream

Method

  1. Fry the tortillas:

    Pour the canola oil into a large, deep skillet to a depth of 1/4 inch. Heat over medium heat. Line a sheet pan with paper towels and set aside. 

    Working with 1 tortilla at a time, carefully place the tortilla in the hot oil and cook until lightly brown on one side but still soft, about 30 seconds. Using tongs, fold the tortilla in half to form the shape of a taco shell. Fry, holding with tongs to keep the tortilla’s shape, until lightly golden, 15 to 20 seconds per side.

    Simple Tip!

    If your tortilla closes up while frying, gently pry it open using the tongs to make a shell. It will stay malleable until it cools.

    corn tortillas shallow frying in a cast iron skillet for crispy ground beef recipe

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley
    corn tortilla folded in half while fried in cast iron skillet for crispy ground beef recipe

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley
  2. Drain and salt the taco shells:

    Transfer the taco shell to the prepared sheet pan. Sprinkle evenly with salt and turn the shell to face open-side down to drain. Repeat with remaining tortillas. Discard the oil from the skillet, and carefully wipe clean.

    fried tortilla resting in a paper towel lined baking tray for crispy ground beef recipe

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley
  3. Cook the beef, onion, garlic, and spices:

    Heat the cleaned skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef, onion, garlic, chili powder, cumin, oregano, cayenne, and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon to crumble the meat, until browned and no pink remains, 5 to 6 minutes. 

    Push the beef to one side of the pan and tilt it to allow the fat to pool on the opposite side. Spoon off and discard the fat.

    ground beef, onions, and seasoning cooking in a cast iron skillet for crispy ground beef recipe

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley
    cooked ground beef and onions in the cast iron skillet for crispy ground beef recipe

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley
    excess fat removed from ground beef mixture for crispy ground beef recipe

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley
  4. Add the tomato sauce:

    Stir in tomato sauce and water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has reduced and thickened to coat the ground beef, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat.

    tomato sauce added to cooked ground beef in the cast iron skillet for crispy ground beef recipe

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley
    tomato sauce cooked down in the ground beef mixture for crispy ground beef recipe

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley
  5. Serve with toppings:

    Fill each taco shell with about 1/3 cup of the ground beef mixture. Top with your desired toppings. Serve immediately. 

    Leftover ground beef can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Store the shells in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.

    Love the recipe? Leave us stars and a comment below!

    taco filling added to fried taco shells for crispy ground beef recipe

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley
    Crispy ground beef tacos on a plate a board with bowl of diced tomatoes, bowl of shredded cheddar cheese, and lime wedges

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
292 Calories
11g Fat
30g Carbs
22g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 292
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 11g 14%
Saturated Fat 3g 14%
Cholesterol 42mg 14%
Sodium 740mg 32%
Total Carbohydrate 30g 11%
Dietary Fiber 5g 19%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 22g
Vitamin C 7mg 37%
Calcium 76mg 6%
Iron 4mg 22%
Potassium 395mg 8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.