Mini taco cups with seasoned beef (Printable)
Crispy tortilla cups stuffed with seasoned beef, melted cheddar, and classic taco toppings for easy handheld appetizers.
# What You'll Need:
→ For the Cups
01 - 12 small flour tortillas (6-inch) or 12 wonton wrappers
→ For the Filling
02 - 1/2 lb ground beef
03 - 1/2 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
06 - 1/3 cup tomato sauce
→ For the Toppings
07 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
08 - 1/2 cup sour cream
09 - 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
10 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
11 - 1/4 cup sliced black olives (optional)
12 - 1 small jalapeño, thinly sliced (optional)
# How to Cook:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray or oil.
02 - Cut tortillas into circles slightly larger than the muffin cups (about 4 inches diameter). Press each circle firmly into a muffin cup to form a shell. If using wonton wrappers, use one per cup.
03 - Bake the tortilla cups for 5-6 minutes until just starting to crisp. Remove from oven but keep in the tin.
04 - While cups bake, heat a skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
05 - Add chopped onion and garlic to the skillet. Cook for 2 minutes until softened. Stir in taco seasoning and tomato sauce. Simmer for 3 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat.
06 - Spoon the beef mixture evenly into the tortilla cups. Top each with shredded cheese.
07 - Return to oven and bake for 7-8 minutes, or until cheese is melted and cups are golden.
08 - Cool for 2 minutes, then carefully remove taco cups from the tin.
09 - Top with a dollop of sour cream, diced tomatoes, cilantro, olives, and jalapeño as desired. Serve warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- These little cups disappear faster than you can say touchdown at any gathering
- The portion control is built right in so you can try every topping combination
02 -
- Overfilling the cups makes them impossible to remove without breaking
- Letting them cool just those two minutes makes all the difference for structural integrity
03 -
- Use a biscuit cutter to make perfect tortilla circles every time
- A small cookie scoop works perfectly for portioning the beef mixture evenly