When Taco Tuesday rolls around, these baked beef tacos with chili lime crema are always a hit. Theyโre made with seasoned ground beef, sautรฉed onion and bell pepper, tucked into tortillas with cheese, and baked until perfectly crispy. The real star? A quick homemade chili lime crema that adds the perfect punch of flavor to every bite. Whether you're feeding the whole family or just want an easy dinner with simple ingredients, this easy taco recipe is a delicious (and low-effort) way to make a bunch of crispy tacos at once.
Why Youโll Love These Baked Tacos
- Crispy & cheesy: Baking the tacos gives you that irresistible crunchy shell with melty cheese in every bite.
- Easy to prep: Simple ingredients and minimal steps make this the best way to whip up dinner fast.
- Family-friendly: A crowd-pleaser for kids and adults alikeโjust add your favorite taco toppings! Topped with a zesty chili lime crema for extra flavor
- Perfect for leftovers: The taco meat stores well for easy next-day lunches or quick dinners.
- Versatile: Swap in ground turkey or chicken for variety, or try different toppings like avocado or lime juice.
Try more of our favorite taco recipes:
Ingredient Notes
- Lean ground beef - can swap with another ground meat like ground turkey or ground chicken.
- White onion - can swap with yellow onion or red onions.
- Salsa - choose your favorite salsa or pico de Gallo.
- Tortillas - while we often use corn tortillas for this recipe, you can also use small flour or grain-free tortillas.
- Colby jack cheese - can swap with Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese.
- Greek yogurt - can swap with sour cream.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and measurements for these ground beef tacos.
Recipe Tips & Variations
- If you find the tacos popping open while baking, gently press down with a spatula or wooden spoon.
- If you're running short on time you can always add the filling to hard taco shells and top with shredded cheese.
- Serve alongside a can of refried beans or black beans and cilantro lime rice.
How to Make Crispy Baked Beef Tacos
For the full recipe instructions, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400ยฐF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until browned and cooked through, about 6โ7 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
Stir in chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and salsa. Cook for 1-2 more minutes until well combined.
Step 2: Add diced onion and bell pepper.
Step 3: Cook for 3-4 minutes until soft.
Step 4: Next, prepare the tortillas. Wrap the corn tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave for 30 seconds to make them pliable.
Begin assembling the tacos. Spoon a few tablespoons of the beef mixture into each tortilla. Sprinkle cheese on top of the meat mixture and fold gently in half. Place folded tacos side-by-side on the baking sheet. Lightly brush or spray the tops with oil.
Step 5: Bake for 15โ20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the tortillas are crisp on the edges. After the tacos have been in the oven for 2-3 minutes and the cheese has partially melted, you can gently press them closed with a spatula or wooden spoon to prevent them from popping open. Serve warm with any optional toppings like salsa, cilantro lime ranch, avocado, sour cream, or hot sauce.
Step 6: For the chili lime crema, add all ingredients to a small bowl and mix until combined. Season additionally as desired.
Crispy Beef Tacos FAQs
We recommend storing leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eating within 3-4 days.
Yes! We recommend freezing the beef mixture only. The best way to freeze this recipe is to cook the ground beef, onion, and bell pepper with seasoning, then cool completely. Transfer to a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag and freeze for up to 2โ3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating and assembling the tacos.
They are gluten free with the use of corn tortillas and dairy free with the omission of cheese. They are not vegan or vegetarian.
Other Easy Dinner Ideas With Ground Meat
If you make this crispy oven baked beef taco recipe, please let us know how it turns out in the comments below and/or rate the recipe! Donโt forget to tag us on Instagram to show us your finished productโit makes our day every time we see you trying the recipes we love!
Crispy Oven Baked Beef Tacos
Ingredients
For the tacos
- 2 teaspoons olive or avocado oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef (feel free to swap for lean ground turkey or chicken)
- ยฝ medium white onion, finely diced
- 1 small red or orange bell pepper, finely diced
- 1 ยฝ teaspoons chili powder
- 1 ยฝ teaspoons paprika
- 1 ยฝ teaspoons cumin
- 1 ยฝ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ยฝ cup salsa of choice (traditional or salsa verde will both work great)
- 12 (6-inch) soft corn tortillas (or flour or almond flour for gluten-free)
- ยฝ-1 cup shredded Colby jack cheese
For the optional chili lime crema
- โ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
- Juice of one lime
- 1-2 teaspoons chili powder
- ยผ teaspoon garlic powder
- ยฝ teaspoon Kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ยฐF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until browned and cooked through, about 6โ7 minutes. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Add diced onion and bell pepper and cook for 3-4 minutes until soft.
- Stir in chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and salsa. Cook for 1-2 more minutes until well combined.
- Next, prepare the tortillas. If using corn tortillas, wrap them in a damp paper towel and microwave for 30 seconds to make them pliable.
- Begin assembling the tacos. Spoon a few tablespoons of the beef mixture into each tortilla. Sprinkle cheese on top of the meat mixture and fold gently in half. Place folded tacos side-by-side on the baking sheet. Lightly brush or spray the tops with oil.
- Bake for 15โ20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the tortillas are crisp on the edges. After the tacos have been in the oven for 2-3 minutes and the cheese has partially melted, you can gently press them closed with a spatula or wooden spoon to prevent them from popping open. Serve warm with any optional toppings like salsa, cilantro lime ranch, avocado, sour cream, or hot sauce.
- For the chili lime crema, add all ingredients to a small bowl and mix until combined. Season additionally as desired.
Notes
- Save time/prep ahead:
- Make the meat mixture in advance: Cook the seasoned ground beef with onion and bell pepper in advance, then store it in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze it for later. This makes assembly quick and easy on busy nights.ย
- Prep the chili lime crema early: Mix the crema up to 3 days in advance and store it in the fridge. The flavors actually get better as it sits!
- Chop veggies ahead of time: Dice the onion and bell pepper and store them in a sealed container to streamline cooking time during a busy evening.
- Assemble and refrigerate: You can fully assemble the tacos (without baking), place them on a baking sheet, cover with foil, and refrigerate for up to 8 hours. When ready, bake as directed.
- This recipe is gluten free with the use of corn tortillas and dairy free with the omission of cheese. It is not vegan or vegetarian.
- The recipe can be found on My Fitness Pal by searching "BWB Baked Beef Tacos." The nutrition content provided for each recipe is an estimate created through the My Fitness Pal database. Please be aware that the nutritional content of each recipe may vary based on the products you use, the precision of your measurements, and the source you use to obtain nutrition data. While we try to provide accurate information, we give no guarantee regarding the accuracy of the nutritional information provided.
Jake
These were so so good! I am definitely going to make these again!
Olivia & Annie
So glad to hear these tacos turned out well for you Jake! Thanks for sharing!
Trevor Paskett
Made this with a group of of teenage boys. Doubled the recipe. We dressed the tacos with cheese before baking. The boys smashed these! No leftovers. 10/10 would recommend!
Olivia & Annie
We're so glad to hear these were a hit for everyone! Thanks for your rating and review!