Mini Taco Cups with Beef (Printable Version)

Crispy tortilla cups filled with seasoned beef, melted cheese, and fresh toppings for a fun twist on tacos.

# What You 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 Make It:

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 with a spoon, 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 brown.
08 - Cool for 2 minutes, then carefully remove taco cups from the tin using a small spoon or offset spatula.
09 - Top each cup with a dollop of sour cream, diced tomatoes, cilantro, olives, and jalapeño as desired. Serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything you love about tacos in a neat, handheld package that will not fall apart
  • Perfect for parties because people can grab and go without needing a full plate setup
02 -
  • Do not skip the pre-bake step or your tortilla bottoms will get soggy from the meat filling
  • Let the cups cool for those 2 minutes or they will fall apart when you try to remove them
03 -
  • Use a shot glass to press the tortillas into the muffin cups for perfectly tight corners
  • If your tortillas keep cracking, warm them in the microwave for 15 seconds before cutting

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