These oven baked crispy tacos are so crunchy, you won’t believe they’re not fried!
We’re also saving fat and calories by using ground turkey instead of ground beef, but not sacrificing any of the flavor.
These amazingly crunchy tacos are an easy weeknight meal that will please the whole family. Because after all, taco night is still the best night!
Ingredients for Crispy Tacos
Here’s what you’ll need to make these oven baked tacos:
- Ground turkey. Either 93% lean or 85% lean will work well in this recipe. If you prefer a different kind of taco meat, feel free to use ground beef, chicken or even plant-based protein crumbles instead.
- Onion. You could opt for a white or yellow onion, or red onion if you prefer more of a bite.
- Taco sauce. You can usually find taco sauce at the grocery store in mild or medium heats, so use whichever you prefer.
- Cheddar cheese. As always, the sharper the better for the best flavor.
- Black beans. The easiest thing is to use a can of black beans. Be sure to rinse them with water first.
- Corn
- Corn tortillas. Although flour tortillas are awesome, if you want really crispy tacos, you’ve got to use corn!
How to Make Crispy Tacos
Make the Taco Filling
Start by dicing the onion nice and small. Then, put the diced onions and ground turkey into a skillet over medium heat until they’re thoroughly cooked. Now, turn off the heat and stir in the taco sauce.
Then, add the black beans and corn and mix everything together.
Prepare the Tortillas
It’s important to warm the tortillas in the microwave before working with them or they will break. So, warm them up and keep them covered with a dish towel while you assemble each taco.
If you notice the tortillas starting to break at any point, just pop them back into the microwave and reheat them for a few more seconds.
Assemble the Tacos
Working with one tortilla at a time, brush both sides with vegetable oil. The key to crispy taco shells is oil, so be sure to coat them with enough oil.
Now, put a few spoonfuls of the ground turkey mixture onto one half of the tortilla. Top it with some grated cheese and fold the other side of the tortilla over top. Press down gently with your fingers to make sure it stays put.
Then, transfer the taco to a sheet pan.
Bake the Tacos
Place the sheet pan into the oven and let the tacos bake for about 20 minutes.
Depending on your oven, you may need a few more minutes to get them golden brown and crispy.
Watch how to make Crispy Baked Tacos!
Serving Suggestions for Crispy Tacos
I’ve said it before and it bears repeating – taco nights are the best nights! Here are some ideas to round out your meal:
1. With rice and beans: Complete your taco meal with a side of flavorful Mexican rice and refried beans. Buy a boxed mix of rice or find my easy homemade recipe here.
2. With a green salad: hit your daily requirement for veggies with a fresh, green salad drizzled with cool ranch dressing.
3. With Southwest coleslaw: complement your Tex Mex meal with a side of crunchy Southwest slaw! You’ll love my light, mayo-free recipe.
4. Garnishes: serve these baked crispy tacos with all the fixins! Offer sour cream, taco seasoning, guacamole, salsa, hot sauce and pickled onions so everyone can customize their own taco. My favorite homemade dipping sauce is a simple combination of sour cream, pico de gallo and a squeeze of lime juice.
Variations and Substitutions
1. The meat: any kind of ground meat will work in this recipe. If you prefer lean ground beef, ground chicken or even shredded beef or chicken, go for it!
2. The oil: feel free to substitute olive oil for vegetable oil. They have similar smoke points and should have the same cooking times.
3. The cheese: try Monterey jack, a Mexican cheese blend or pepper jack cheese for a change of pace.
How to Store Leftover Crispy Tacos
Wrap any leftover tacos in aluminum foil or seal them in an airtight container. They will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
To restore the crispiness of your tacos, reheat them in a conventional oven or air fryer. Avoid reheating in the microwave, as the shells could become soggy.
When you make these crispy baked tacos, I’d love to hear about it! Drop a rating or leave a comment below. Enjoy!
For more taco recipes, try these:
- Baja Fish Tacos with Chili Lime Crema
- Baked Chicken Rolled Tacos (Taquitos)
- Honey Lime Chicken and Corn Tacos
Crispy Baked Tacos with Ground Turkey (Easy Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground turkey
- 14 corn tortillas
- 1 small onion, diced about 1 cup
- 1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese grated
- 1 cup black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 cup corn kernels
- 3/4 cup taco sauce
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- pickled onions garnish, optional
- fresh cilantro, chopped garnish, optional
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the ground turkey and onions until turkey is cooked and onions are tender, about 8-9 minutes. Break up the mixture into small pieces using a potato masher or wooden spoon. Remove from heat and drain any excess liquid.
- Pour the taco sauce, corn and black beans into the meat mixture and mix well to combine.
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Microwave the tortillas for 30 seconds and keep covered as you work with one at a time.
- Using a pastry brush, brush both sides of the tortilla with oil. Place some turkey mixture on one half of the tortilla. Sprinkle cheese over top. Gently fold the other half of the tortilla over, gently pressing down. Transfer to an ungreased baking sheet.
- Repeat the process with the remaining tortillas. If the tortillas start to break, heat them again in the microwave.
- Bake tacos for 20 minutes, until golden brown and crispy. Garnish with fresh cilantro and pickled onions, if desired.
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