CRISPY BAKED GROUND BEEF TACOS (GRAIN-FREE, DAIRY-FREE)
on Jul 30, 2023, Updated Jul 30, 2024
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These Crispy Baked Beef Tacos are like a mashup between a bean burrito and a crispy taco, and nobody is mad about that! All the crunchiness of a fried taco without the excess oil and grease, they’re dairy-free, gluten-free, and perfect for nearly everyone craving a Mexican-inspired meal.
If you need an excuse to have more tacos in your life, then I’ve got the recipe for you. I used to be obsessed with bean burritos in high school (shout out to Burrito Boy in Eugene, Oregon for satisfying my endearing cravings). But since I’ve matured, these tacos have, too.
I start by making well-seasoned ground beef, then stuffing that in some grain-free tortillas and gluing everything together with a can of refried beans. Baking them in the oven with a sheet pan on top allows for the exterior to get so crispy and delicious — they’ll look and taste as if they were deep-fried.
Now, as far as toppings go, the world is really your oyster. I tend to serve mine up with shredded iceberg lettuce for some freshness, diced tomatoes, cilantro, and a quick and easy jalapeño crema. I’ve included that recipe below as well because it’s just too good to keep it to myself.
So the next time Taco Tuesday rolls around, surprise your guests with these crunchy tacos. They’ll be delighted by their perfectly crispy exterior and the flavorful, slightly spicy meat filling.
Key Ingredients for Crispy Baked Beef Tacos
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- Ground Beef: This is the classic taco meat and for good reason! Ground beef is quick to cook and taco seasoning packs a punch of flavor. If I’m cooking this for just myself and my husband Kyle, I sometimes serve any extra seasoned beef mixture for taco bowls the next day. I look for organic, grass-fed, grass- finished beef whenever possible. You can typically find this at Whole Foods or buy it online.
- Taco Seasoning: @sietefoods is the master of most Mexican food ingredients, and their taco seasoning really is top-notch. I love the brand because their products are all gluten-free and dairy-free.
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Pin It- Green Chilies: Slightly smoky, a bit spicy, and full of peppery flavor, green chilies make for the perfect addition to this ground beef recipe. I keep a can on hand for any taco night or when I want to make my 20-Minute Rotisserie Chicken Soup.
- Refried Beans: If you want to make your own refried beans, all the power to you. But to make this meal quick and easy, I use a can of beans. Be sure to look at the ingredient list, as many varieties include unnecessary added ingredients, including oils and sugar. Again, @sietefoods is my go-to choice here — their vegan refried black beans are simply perfection.
- Grain-Free Tortillas: The key to choosing the right tortillas is ensuring they are pliable. You’re going to pile the beef and beans on one side of the tortilla, flipping the other half on top like a sandwich. I warm up the @sietefoods cassava flour tortillas on the stove for a second or two until they are easy to bend. You can also warm them up wrapped in aluminum foil in the oven for a few minutes. If you aren’t gluten-free, any flour tortillas should work here.
- Toppings: Let’s be real: Tacos are fun because of the toppings. For this recipe, I like to include shredded iceberg lettuce, diced tomatoes, and chopped cilantro on the side. Then, everyone can top their crispy taco as they see fit. For something a little extra, I also like to pair this with my simple jalapeño crema, which is made with jalapenos, avocados, lime, and salt. Look at the Notes section below for the full recipe!
How to Make Crispy, Crunchy Beef Tacos
First, preheat the oven to 400°F.
Heat a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the ground beef and diced onion to the pan. Break the beef up as it cooks using a wooden spoon. Cook until the beef is nice and browned, about 5 to 7 minutes.
Using a dry paper towel, drain off any excess grease. Add the minced garlic, taco seasoning, and salt. Allow everything to cook together for another minute or so.
Make a well in the center of the meat and add the tomato paste. Stir it for a minute on the pan to develop some flavor before incorporating it into the rest of the beef mixture.
Next, add the can of diced green chiles and stir to combine. Cook for 5 to 7 more minutes.
While the meat mixture finishes cooking, warm up the refried beans in a separate pan. You’re not looking to cook them; just heat them so they can be spread easily. Get your tortillas ready by warming them up. I do this by placing them right over the gas top stove, but you could also warm them in the oven or on a skillet.
Take a baking sheet and line it with parchment paper. Take one of your taco shells and scoop a large dollop of the refried beans, followed by ¼ cup or so of the ground beef mixture. Fold the tortilla in half and repeat with all your remaining shells until all the filling is gone.
Spray the tops of the tortillas lightly using either avocado or olive oil spray. This will help ensure they get really crispy!
Place another sheet pan directly on top of the tacos and let them bake for 13 to 15 minutes. The second baking sheet just helps them stay closed while they cook.
Remove the sheet pan off the top and set the oven to broil. Let the tacos crisp up under the broil for about 2 minutes. Watch closely and remove when the tops are just golden brown.
Take the pan out of the oven and serve with your toppings, such as shredded lettuce, tomatoes, chopped cilantro, and my jalapeño crema (see the Notes section below for that recipe!)
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Other Dairy-Free Tacos To Try:
CRISPY BAKED GROUND BEEF TACOS (GRAIN-FREE, DAIRY-FREE)
Ingredients
Tacos:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small white onion, small diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning (I used Siete taco seasoning)
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 4-ounce can diced green chiles
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 can refried beans (I used Siete)
- Grain-free tortillas (I used Siete cassava flour tortillas)
- Avocado or olive oil spray
Garnishes:
- Iceberg lettuce
- Diced tomatoes
- Cilantro
- Jalapeño crema (see Notes below for recipe)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Heat a large saute pan over medium heat.
- Add the ground beef and diced onion to the pan, breaking up the beef into small pieces using a wooden spoon. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes until the beef is browned.
- Drain off all but 1 to 2 tablespoons of accumulated juices. I do this by sopping it up with a dry paper towel.
- Add the garlic, taco seasoning, and salt. Cook for another minute, stirring the seasonings into the meat.
- Make a well in the center of the meat and add the tomato paste, stirring for a minute before incorporating it into the rest of the mixture.
- Add the diced green chiles and stir to combine. Cook for 5 to 7 more minutes.
- While the meat mixture finishes cooking, warm the refried beans in a separate pan so they are easily spreadable. Heat your tortillas so they are pliable, either in the microwave or on the stovetop.
- When the meat finishes cooking, assemble the tacos on a parchment-lined sheet pan by adding a generous smear of refried beans and about ¼ cup of ground beef mixture to one-half of the tortilla. Fold the tortilla in half.
- Repeat for the remainder of your tacos. Spray the tops of the tacos lightly with avocado or olive oil spray.
- Place a sheet pan on top of the tacos and bake for 13 to 15 minutes. This ensures the tops stay closed while cooking.
- Remove the sheet pan off the top of your tacos and set the oven to broil. Broil for 2 minutes so the tacos get nice and crispy, watching closely so they don’t char too much.
- Remove from the oven and serve with toppings/dips of your choice. I used iceberg lettuce, cilantro, tomatoes, and homemade jalapeño crema. ENJOY!
So good!
These are AWESOME! I used the Siete Almond Flour tortillas for myself and regular flour for my husband. Super easy to put together!
My husband after devouring these: “These are the best homemade tacos we’ve ever made.” And we make tacos OFTEN. These will for sure be our go-to tacos from now on. Delicious!!
OMG this makes me so happy!!! Thank you for taking the time to share this feedback!