It’s hard to beat Taco Bell when you need a quick, inexpensive meal. While nothing quite replaces grabbing tacos from the drive-thru, this homemade version comes surprisingly close—and you may already have most of the ingredients in your pantry.
The secret is the seasoned ground beef. Instead of relying on a store-bought taco seasoning packet, this recipe combines pantry staples like chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and masa harina to recreate Taco Bell’s signature flavor and texture. The addition of beef bouillon adds a savory depth that gives the meat its familiar fast-food taste.
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Once the beef is ready, all that’s left is assembling the tacos. Fill crispy taco shells with seasoned meat, then top them with shredded lettuce and cheddar cheese for the classic Taco Bell experience. If you want to dress them up, diced tomatoes, sour cream, sliced jalapeños, or your favorite hot sauce all make great additions.
These tacos come together quickly, so they work for busy weeknights, game days, or anytime a Taco Bell craving strikes. Serve them with Mexican rice, refried beans, or chips and salsa for an easy meal the whole family will enjoy.
Taco Bell tacos recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Cuisine: Mexican
Description
Skip the drive-thru with these easy Taco Bell copycat tacos featuring savory homemade seasoned beef tucked into crispy taco shells with classic lettuce and cheddar cheese.
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 lbs lean ground chuck
- 1 1/2 tablespoons masa corn flour
- 4 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon instant minced onion
- 1/2 teaspoon beef bouillon
- 12 taco shells
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 head shredded lettuce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a small bowl, whisk together the masa harina, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, seasoned salt, paprika, cumin, garlic salt, sugar, dried minced onion, and beef bouillon until well combined.
- Brown the beef. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground chuck and cook, breaking it into small crumbles with a spatula, until no longer pink. Drain any excess grease.
- Season and simmer. Stir the taco seasoning mixture into the beef, then add ¾ to 1 cup of water. Mix well and reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated and the meat is thick and well coated.
- Warm the taco shells. Arrange the taco shells in a baking dish and bake for 7 to 10 minutes, or until crisp and warmed through. Let them cool for a minute or two before filling.
- Assemble the tacos. Spoon a few tablespoons of the seasoned beef into each taco shell. Top with shredded lettuce and cheddar cheese. Add diced tomatoes, sour cream, salsa, or your favorite taco toppings, if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 503
- Sugar: 1.1 g
- Sodium: 653.3 mg
- Fat: 23.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 41.5 g
- Protein: 32.3 g
- Cholesterol: 82.1 mg
