Oven Baked Cheesy Tacos

These cheesy oven baked tacos are my go-to when I want tacos that are crispy, melty, and low effort without babysitting the stove. I brown the ground beef with onions and garlic, season it well, then let it simmer in taco seasoning and tomato sauce so every bite is packed with flavor. Once the shells are filled and layered with cheddar and smoked gouda, the oven does the rest. The shells get perfectly crisp while the cheese melts into the meat, holding everything together. When they come out, I finish them with fresh toppings for that contrast of hot, cheesy filling and cool crunch on top. It’s tacos, but easier, cleaner, and honestly more satisfying.

Why You’ll Love Oven Baked Tacos Better

Oven baked tacos give you the best of both worlds. You get crispy shells without frying and perfectly melted cheese that actually stays inside the taco instead of falling out. Baking them all together saves time, reduces mess, and makes it easy to serve a full batch at once. No flipping, no broken shells, just consistent, cheesy tacos every single time. Once you make tacos this way, it’s hard to go back.

Cheesy Oven Baked Tacos

These cheesy oven baked tacos combine seasoned ground beef, two kinds of cheese, and crispy taco shells, all baked together for a hands-off, mess-free taco night the whole family will love.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 6

Ingredients

  

Ingredients

• 12 hard taco shells
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 cup water or beef broth
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup shredded smoked gouda cheese
• 1 medium onion diced
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 cup tomato sauce or salsa

Optional Toppings

• Shredded lettuce
• Diced tomatoes
• Sour cream
• Salsa
• Diced onions

Instructions

 

• Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Arrange the hard taco shells upright in a baking dish so they are standing and supported.
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and diced onion. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, breaking up the beef as it cooks, until fully browned and the onions are soft. Drain any excess grease.
• Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Sprinkle in the taco seasoning and stir to coat the meat evenly.
• Pour in the water or beef broth and add the tomato sauce or salsa. Stir well and let the mixture simmer for about 5 minutes, until slightly thickened and flavorful.
• Spoon the beef mixture evenly into each taco shell. Fill generously, but do not overstuff.
• In a bowl, combine the shredded cheddar and smoked gouda cheeses. Sprinkle the cheese mixture generously over the filled taco shells.
• Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and the taco shells are lightly golden and crisp.
• Remove the tacos from the oven and let them cool for 2 minutes. Add your favorite toppings like lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, salsa, or onions. Serve warm.

Video

Recipe Tips

Stand the taco shells tightly next to each other in the baking dish so they don’t tip over while baking. This keeps the filling in place and helps the cheese melt evenly inside each taco.

Keyword baked tacos, oven baked tacos, taco recipes

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