Taco Oven Bake
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If you’re like me, you love tacos. But, sometimes you don’t have the time to stand over a stove cooking them. That’s where this Taco Oven Bake recipe comes in! It’s an easy way to make tacos without having to do any of the hard work.
This recipe is sure to become a new family favorite.
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Plus, it’s a great way to use up any leftovers you may have.

And that’s how you make a Taco Oven Bake! I hope you enjoy this recipe, it’s one of my personal favorites.

As always, thanks for reading, and happy cooking!
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Why do I love this recipe?
- Quick and Easy
- Family Friendly
- Tasty Taco Tuesday Dish
- Versatile in toppings You Can Use

Are tacos fried or baked?
Taco shells that you buy in the store you will warm up in the oven on a baking sheet. This is going to heat up the shells and help release the flavor of the corn in the taco shell.
Now if you are making homemade shells they of course can be fried in oil. So the answer is it varies depending on the recipe and way you prepare your recipe.
How do you keep taco shells from closing in the oven?
There are several ways to keep taco shells from closing in the oven:
- Use a taco holder: You can use a specially designed-taco holder to keep the shells open while they bake in the oven. These holders are made of metal or plastic and have slots to hold the shells upright.
- Prop them open with foil: You can wrap a piece of foil around the bottom of each shell to keep it open. The foil will act as a brace and prevent the shell from closing.
- Bake them upside down: Another option is to place the taco shells upside down on a baking sheet and bake them in the oven. This will cause the shells to form a bowl shape, which you can then fill with your desired toppings.
You can serve up these cherry cheese tacos for a tasty dessert idea.

How do you keep hard tacos up?
You will stack the taco shells side by side in the 9×13 baking pan. This is going to keep the taco shells in the face-up position so you can fill them with your preferred taco filling.
If you find you don’t have enough shells to keep touching in the pan, ball up aluminum foil to place on the side to keep all the taco shells in the stand-up position.
If you love pasta, you might try this easy taco mac and cheese recipe as well for another Tex-Mex-style dish.

Ingredients:
- Onion
- Hard taco shells
- Taco seasoning
- Ground beef
- Mexican blend shredded cheese
- Rotel undrained
- Assorted toppings of your choice (sour cream, salsa, tomatoes, lettuce, etc.)

How to make these Oven Baken Tacos?
Step 1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees, and prepare a 9×13 baking dish.
Step 2. Line the taco shells in the baking dish so that they are standing up.
Step 3. Place the ground beef into a skillet over medium-high heat, and saute until browned completely. Drain any excess grease.

Step 4. Sprinkle the taco seasoning over the meat, and add in the Rotel. Stir to combine well.

Step 5. Simmer over medium heat until the liquid is gone.

Step 6. Place a layer of cheese into each taco shell.

Step 7. Then, add a layer of meat.

Step 8. Then, add a final layer of cheese on top.

Step 9. Bake for 15 minutes.
Step 10. Remove the tacos, and add assorted toppings of your choice before serving.

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Taco Oven Bake
Ingredients
- 1 Onion, chopped
- 12 Hard taco shells
- 1 Packet Taco seasoning
- 1 ½ lb Ground beef
- 2 c Mexican blend shredded cheese
- 1 can Rotel, undrained
- Assorted toppings of your choice, (sour cream, salsa, tomatoes, lettuce, etc.)
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Instructions
- Heat the oven to 400 degrees, and prepare a 9×13 baking dish.
- Line the taco shells in the baking dish so that they are standing up.
- Place the ground beef into a skillet over medium high heat, and saute until browned completely. Drain any excess grease.
- Sprinkle the taco seasoning over the meat, and add in the Rotel. Stir to combine well.
- Simmer over medium heat until the liquid is gone.
- Place a layer of cheese into each taco shell, and then add a layer of meat and a final layer of cheese on top.
- Bake for 15 minutes.
- Remove the tacos, and add assorted toppings of your choosing before serving.
Nutrition
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How to store and reheat this recipe?
Storing: To store the Oven Baked Tacos, place them in an airtight container or plastic bag and store them in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Reheating: To reheat the tacos, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and place the tacos on a baking sheet. Bake them in the oven for about 10-15 minutes, or until they are heated through and crispy. You can also reheat them in the microwave, but they may not be as crispy as they would be if baked in the oven.
Can I make this recipe in advance?
You can make the Oven Baked Tacos in advance, but it’s best to assemble them just before baking. The shells will become soft and lose their crunch if they sit with the filling for too long.
Can this Oven Baked Tacos recipe be frozen?
The Oven Baked Tacos can be frozen, but it’s best to freeze the shells and filling separately. To freeze the shells, place them in an airtight container or plastic bag and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To freeze the filling, place it in a separate airtight container or plastic bag and store it in the freezer for up to 2 months.
When you’re ready to use them, thaw the shells and filling in the refrigerator overnight, and then assemble and bake the tacos as directed in the recipe.
Taco Oven Bake
This a great dinner idea for the whole family to enjoy. These baked tacos are easy, and quick prep for a fantastic busy weekend dinner.

More Tacos ideas?
Breakfast Tacos – Appetizing Breakfast Tacos!

Cherry Cheesecake Tacos – It’s perfect for parties or family gatherings.

Best Ever Shrimp Tacos – Super healthy with great flavors!
