Mini Taco Cups Delight (Printable Version)

Crispy tortilla cups filled with spiced beef and melted cheese, topped with fresh salsa and avocado.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meat

01 - 9 oz ground beef (or ground turkey/chicken)

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

02 - 1 small onion, finely diced
03 - 1 garlic clove, minced

→ Seasonings

04 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
05 - ½ teaspoon ground cumin
06 - ½ teaspoon paprika
07 - ½ teaspoon salt
08 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Base & Dairy

09 - 12 small flour tortillas (street taco size or cut larger tortillas into 4-inch rounds)
10 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
11 - ½ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

→ Toppings (optional)

12 - ½ cup salsa
13 - ¼ cup sour cream
14 - 1 small avocado, diced
15 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
16 - 1 small tomato, diced
17 - Jalapeño slices (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin.
02 - Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until no longer pink, about 4 to 5 minutes.
03 - Add diced onion to the skillet and cook for 2 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook an additional 30 seconds.
04 - Sprinkle chili powder, ground cumin, paprika, salt, and black pepper over the meat. Stir well and cook for 1 more minute. Remove from heat.
05 - Press each tortilla round into muffin tin cups, folding edges as needed to create a cup shape.
06 - Divide the beef mixture evenly among the tortilla cups. Top each with shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese.
07 - Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, until tortillas are crisp and cheese has melted.
08 - Allow cups to cool for 3 to 5 minutes. Top with salsa, sour cream, diced avocado, tomato, chopped cilantro, and jalapeños if desired. Serve warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They're crispy on the outside, soft inside, and actually easier to eat than regular tacos without the mess.
  • You can prep them ahead, reheat quickly, and no one knows you cheated by using a muffin tin.
  • Kids will eat them, adults will ask for the recipe, and you'll feel like a genius for thirty-five minutes of actual work.
02 -
  • Don't skip the cooling time in the muffin tin—they need those few minutes to set, or you'll end up with beef and cheese rolling across your plate.
  • The tortillas will crisp up more as they cool, so they might feel slightly soft right out of the oven; this is perfect and exactly what you want.
03 -
  • Press the tortillas into the muffin cups while the beef is still warm—they'll mold more easily and hold their shape better in the oven.
  • Don't go overboard with toppings or they'll get soggy; add them right before serving so they stay fresh and crisp.
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