Taco Bell Crunchy Ground Beef Tacos {Copycat}

Mmmm…Taco Bell crunchy ground beef tacos! Every now and then I have a serious craving for them. Food, flavors and aromas are intertwined with memories. For many of us it’s that delicious slice of Americana that brings back sweet remembrances of the simple pleasures of childhood: lazy Saturday mornings, trips to the zoo, play dates with friends, and the occasional trip to Taco Bell. Although my family makes some of the best authentic Mexican tacos north of the border, some days I’m just hankering for the taste of Taco Bell’s crunchy ground beef tacos. Whenever a craving arises, it’s an indulgence that needs to be satisfied!

About Crunchy Ground Beef Tacos

I remember busy days out and about when my parents would cave in to childhood requests to stop by Taco Bell and pick up a few American fast-food ground beef tacos. Later, when I was in high school, a few of my good friends worked at Taco Bell. So I’d pop by their workplace to buy a few tacos and say hello. Today I’m sharing a healthier spin on these popular crunchy ground beef tacos, a staple of the Taco Bell menu. The most exciting part is sharing my super yummy Taco Bell copycat recipe: homemade taco seasoning for ground beef tacos.

Ingredients for Taco Bell Crunchy Ground Beef Tacos {Copycat}

Here’s the ingredients list for making delicious and crunchy ground beef tacos: preformed crunchy taco shells (from a box), lean ground beef, sour cream, iceberg lettuce, Roma tomatoes, shredded medium cheddar cheese, and my copycat Taco Bell taco seasoning recipe. Bottles of mild and hot taco sauce are optional. To create the homemade taco seasoning you’ll need: all-purpose flour, corn starch, Knorr Caldo Con Sabor de Res (granulated beef bouillon), paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, granulated sugar, and a surprise ingredient for an authentic Taco Bell flavor > natural unsweetened cocoa. You’ll also need 3/4 cup of water for this ground beef taco recipe.

How to Make Taco Seasoning for Ground Beef Tacos

Here’s how to make homemade Taco Bell taco seasoning for ground beef tacos: In a small bowl, add the all-purpose flour, corn starch, granulated beef bouillon, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, granulated sugar, and natural unsweetened cocoa powder. With a spoon, mix all the ingredients well. If you’re wondering about the need for salt, the granulated beef bouillon contains all the salt you need! However, once the ground beef is prepared if you’d like just a bit more salt, simply stir in a little extra granulated bouillon. Go ahead and dip your little finger into the mixture to have a taste. What do you think? You’ve just created a delicious homemade taco seasoning for ground beef tacos!

Crunchy Ground Beef Taco Recipe

In a deep skillet over medium heat, cook and brown the ground beef until there’s no more pink. While you’re cooking the beef, use a flat-edged wooden spoon or heat-safe spatula to break up the beef into little pieces. DRAIN OFF THE FAT. Add the homemade taco seasoning mix to the pan along with 3/4 cup of warm water. Stir to mix everything together. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and allow the mixture to simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

How to Make Copycat Taco Bell Crunchy Ground Beef Tacos

One by one, fill the preformed crunchy taco shells 1/3 of the way up with cooked ground beef. Next, add a thin layer of sour cream on top of the beef. Add a nice layer of shredded iceberg lettuce. Garnish the copycat Taco Bell ground beef tacos with diced Roma tomatoes and a light sprinkling of shredded cheddar cheese. At Taco Bell they call this version their Crunchy Taco Supreme. To elevate your homemade version of this recipe, add a more generous sprinkling of cheddar cheese and a few more yummy tomatoes! Mmmm…a healthier Taco Bell {copycat} recipe made at home.

Taco Tuesday Ground Beef Tacos

These quick and easy ground beef tacos are absolutely perfect for Taco Tuesday and Cinco de Mayo festivities! What’s awesome about this simple recipe is the set-up for large group parties. It’s a fantastic self-serve menu option. Simply lay the preformed taco shells in a nice basket or bowl lined with a pretty kitchen towel. Place the cooked ground beef taco meat in a small chafing dish with a burner beneath it, or in a crockpot to keep the meat warm. Use other nice bowls for the shredded lettuce, shredded cheddar cheese, and diced tomatoes. Many brands of sour cream now come in squeeze bottle containers that are perfect mess-free options for Taco Tuesday and Cinco de Mayo tablescapes. And don’t forget the hot sauce!

Recommended Kitchen Tools for Ground Beef Tacos

When making filling for ground beef tacos, I use my lovely Staub Universal Pan. It carries me through so many different recipes, and looks so beautiful sitting on my stovetop. For homemade seasoning recipes, I love my cute little spice jars. I have one set in my California kitchen and another set in my kitchen in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. For serving homemade ground beef tacos, stylish metal stands are absolutely perfect and very versatile. Use one side for serving two ground beef tacos or the second side for serving three. Below is another option for serving tacos to guests with larger appetites.

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Taco Bell Crunchy Ground Beef Tacos {Copycat Recipe}

Author Denay | Confetti and Bliss

A super delicious copycat recipe for Taco Bell ground beef tacos. The secret of this flavorful recipe lies in the unique homemade taco seasoning blend. This recipe's a keeper!

 

Ingredients

HOMEMADE TACO SEASONING

• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon corn starch
• 2 + 1/2 teaspoons granulated beef bouillon (Knorr Caldo Con Sabor de Res)
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon natural unsweetened cocoa powder

CRUNCHY GROUND BEEF TACOS

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• Homemade taco seasoning recipe (above)
• 3/4 cup warm water
• Preformed crunchy taco shells (from a box)
• Sour cream
• Iceberg lettuce, shredded
• Roma tomatoes, diced
• Medium cheddar cheese, shredded
• Optional: mild and/or hot taco sauce

Instructions

HOMEMADE TACO SEASONING

In a small bowl, add all of the taco seasoning ingredients: all-purpose flour, corn starch, granulated beef bouillon, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, granulated sugar, and natural unsweetened cocoa powder. With a spoon, mix all the ingredients until well combined.

CRUNCHY GROUND BEEF TACOS

1. In a deep skillet over medium heat, cook and brown the ground beef until there's no more pink. While you're cooking the beef, use a flat-edged wooden spoon or heat-safe spatula to break up the beef into little pieces. DRAIN OFF THE FAT.
2. Add the homemade taco seasoning to the pan along with 3/4 cup of warm water. Stir to mix everything together. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and allow the mixture to simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Do a taste test. If your ground beef needs a touch more salt, simply sprinkle in a little bit more granulated beef bouillon and mix well.
3. Fill the taco shells 1/3 of the way up with cooked ground beef. Add a thin layer of sour cream on top of the beef. Add a nice layer of shredded iceberg lettuce. Garnish the round beef tacos with diced Roma tomatoes and a sprinkling of shredded cheddar cheese. 

Courses Lunch, Snack, Dinner, Late Night, Taco Tuesday, Party

Cuisine American, Mexican, Tex-Mex

CRUNCHY GROUND BEEF TACOS RECIPE > PIN IT TO PINTEREST

Save this delicious Taco Bell CRUNCHY BEEF TACOS RECIPE for later! For safe keeping, pin it to Pinterest!

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TACO BELL CRUNCHY GROUND BEEF TACOS {Copycat} > YOUR THOUGHTS

Do you love the taste of Taco Bell crunchy ground beef tacos but have been looking for a healthier homemade version? What do you think of this Taco Bell copycat recipe? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!