Easy Crispy Baked Tacos (gluten-free)

These Crispy Baked Tacos are the ultimate dinner recipe for taco lovers. Use any ground meat you want and these are perfection. They are cheesy, crispy and a family favorite.

You guys know I have an obsessed with quesadillas, enchiladas and tacos over here. So it was only a matter of time until I shared my baked taco recipe! Think: crispy, crunchy tacos made in the oven and the tortillas are filled with cheesy meaty goodness.

These crispy baked tacos are a favorite. They’re so easy to make and the taco meat you whip up with these is unbelievable. My husband says this is the best taco meat I have ever made and that’s because of the method and the spice ratio we are using. Plus I love that even if you use chicken, turkey or beef these turn out great. Just need to use ground meat and you are set.

These tacos get golden, crispy and this recipe is great for kids too or a larger crowd. It is simple enough for a quick weeknight dinner idea or even a fun game day recipe to do. You can serve these with your favorite dips or taco toppings like guacamole, salsa or sour cream.

I cannot wait to hear what you think of these! Let me know if you make them soon.

What ingredients are in these Crispy Baked Tacos:

• Olive oil – or your favorite cooking oil
• Ground meat of choice – chicken, turkey or beef work well
• Sweet onion – diced well. I do prefer sweet onion over others for flavor in this
• Garlic cloves – or use garlic powder if you prefer
• Chopped green chiles – I buy these by the can about 4.5 ounces it comes in
• Onion powder, smoked paprika, dried oregano, ground cumin
• Cilantro – if you don’t love cilantro, you can omit too
• Lime – I use fresh lime juice but if you have bottle lime juice, just use 1 tablespoon 
• Shredded cheese – I recommend using Mexican cheese or cheddar cheese
• Refried beans – warmed
• Flour tortilla of choice – I used these almond flour tortillas 

How to make oven-baked tacos:

1. Warm oil in large skillet over medium heat then add onion and garlic and cook until browned
2. Add in the ground meat and be sure to crumble it as it cooks and cook for 3-5 minutes (strain any excess fat)
3. Stir in green chiles and spices and cook until ready
4. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro and lime juice
5. Preheat oven to 425 degree F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper
6. Lay out tortillas across a greased baking sheet
7. Spread some refried beans across half then add some ground meat followed by cheese 
8. Fold over to seal and repeat with remaining tortillas (you may have leftover ingredients depending on the size of tortillas)
9. Drizzle a little oil across the top or cooking spray then cook in oven until crispy, about 10-12 minutes
10. Serve while warm with desired toppings like guacamole, salsa and sour cream

FAQs and tips on making crispy baked tacos:

• What kind of toppings do you serve? Chunky guacamole, salsa, sour cream, really anything you want! Even a quest of sorts would be delicious.
• Do these tacos taste good leftover? These are best enjoyed fresh from the oven but you can totally reheat the leftovers on stovetop or back in oven. Microwave would make them soggy. But for optimal taste and texture, serve fresh from oven.
• Can I prep these tacos ahead of time? You can make the meat ahead of time but assemble the tacos and cook right before eating.
• What kind of meat works best for this recipe? Any ground meat works! So turkey, chicken or beef can all be used.
• Can I serve this to my kids? Is it spicy? It is more on the mild side and my kids love this. If you do want spice, add some diced jalapeños to the meat when you cook it or hot sauce to the tacos!

A few other delicious Mexican-inspired recipes:

EASY Sheet Pan Quesadillas

Copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza (gluten-free)

Grill Pan Steak Tacos with Chimichurri Sauce

INSANE Mexican Street Corn Taco Casserole!