Taco Shell Bake Recipes

OVEN BAKED TACO SHELLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Spread out the tortillas and microwave until extremely soft and pliable. Depending on your microwave this can take between 1-3 minutes. They should be hot and really pliable when you take them out.
• You can wrap them in a moist paper towel to make them even softer. Immediately wrap in a towel or place in a ziploc bag to keep them warm. Keeping them soft is the key to not having them break in the oven.
• Then carefully spray each tortilla with cooking spray on both sides. Sprinkle with lime juice and seasoning if using. Gently drape over the oven grates, pressing down ever so lightly. I press mine over two grates so that the taco shells stand up nicely and have lots of room to press things in.
• Repeat with remaining shells and then bake for 8-10 minutes until brown and crispy. These can go from perfect to burnt quickly so be sure to keep an eye on them.

TACO-FILLED PASTA SHELLS

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in taco seasoning and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Stir in cream cheese until melted. Transfer to a bowl; cool. Chill for 1 hour., Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Gently toss with butter. Fill each shell with about 3 tablespoons of meat mixture. Place 12 half of shells in a freezer container. Cover and freeze for up to 3 months. , To prepare remaining shells, spoon 1 cup salsa into a greased 9-in. square baking dish. Top with remaining stuffed shells and 1 cup taco sauce. Cover and bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with 1 cup each of cheeses and 1-1/2 cups chips. Bake 15 minutes longer or until heated through. Serve with sour cream and onions. , Freeze option: To use frozen shells, thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours (shells will be partially frozen). Spoon 1 cup salsa into a greased 9-in. square baking dish; top with shells and 1 cup taco sauce. Cover and bake at 350° for 40 minutes. Uncover. Sprinkle with 1 cup each of cheeses and 1-1/2 cups chips; proceed as directed.

TACOS IN PASTA SHELLS

Steps:

• In a large skillet, brown beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Add cream cheese, salt and chili powder; mix and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain. Toss cooked shells in butter.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Fill shells with beef mixture and arrange in a 9x13 inch baking dish; pour taco sauce over shells. Cover with foil and bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes.
• Remove dish from oven and top with Cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese and tortilla chips; return dish to oven to cook for 15 minutes more.
• Top with sour cream and onions; serve.

HOW TO MAKE BAKED TACO SALAD SHELL BOWLS

Steps:

• If using 10-inch tortillas, set 2 empty food cans 3 to 4 inches apart on a 14x17-inch foil lined baking sheet.
• If using 12 or 13-inch tortillas, set 1 food can on baking sheet.
• Drape a foil square over the top of each can.
• Fill a pizza pan (one that's at least 3/4-inch deep) or another appropriately rimmed container with about 1/2 inch of warm water; add 1/4 teaspoon of olive oil.
• Quickly immerse a tortilla in the water, then lift out and let drain.
• Drape the damp tortilla over the foil on the empty food can (if you place it slightly off-center the shell with have a dramatic higher flair to one edge).
• If you have room on the pan for another tortilla, add another 1/4 teaspoon oil to the water, dip a tortilla, and drape it over the other can.
• Bake the taco salad shells in a preheated 450 degree F oven until they're lightly brown and firm enough to hold their shape, which will take about 4 to 5 minutes.
• Using pot holders, carefully lift the shells off the cans and place them cup-side-up on the pan; the edges on larger tortillas might need support when the shells are inverted so loosely crumple some foil into 4-inch balls and push them against areas that sag.
• Return the shells to the oven and bake until they're crisp, about 2 to 3 additional minutes.
• Let cool on rack.
• Repeat all steps until you have enough shell bowls for your meal.
• Enjoy!

FANTASTIC TACO CASSEROLE!

Steps:

• Set oven to 350 degrees.
• Cook beef, onion, bell pepper, chili flakes and garlic until beef is no longer pink; drain then season with seasoning salt and black pepper (or cayenne pepper).
• Stir in water, taco sauce, green chiles, half of the olives and taco seasoning mix (you can use 2 packages of seasoning mix if desired for this).
• Cook over low heat for about 6-8 minutes.
• Layer HALF of broken shells on bottom of greased 13x9 baking pan; cover with HALF of meat sauce, then sprinkle with 2 cups (or to taste) cheddar cheese.
• Repeat with remaining broken taco shells, meat sauce and then top with remaining cheese (to prevent the cheese from getting hard, you can sprinkle on the last 10 minutes before the end of baking time and return to oven until melted).
• Bake for 20 minutes or until bubbly, and cheese is melted.
• After baking, sprinkle with remaining olives, tomatoes and green onions.
• **NOTE** I sometimes drizzle bottled salsa sauce (mild or spicy) on top of the ground beef and then on top before baking.

TACO BAKE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Spray a 9x13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
• Cook ground beef and onions in a skillet over medium heat until beef is browned, 7 to 10 minutes; drain grease. Stir in water and taco seasoning; cook, stirring often, until thickened, about 2 minutes. Add refried beans, salsa, olives, and green chiles. Cook and stir over low heat until ingredients are warmed through, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Place half of the taco shells in the bottom of the baking dish. Pour in half of the ground beef mixture; sprinkle with half of the Cheddar cheese. Repeat with remaining taco shells, ground beef mixture, and Cheddar cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and bubbly, 20 to 25 minutes.

1-DISH TACO BAKE

Steps:

• Brown ground beef and drain. Add taco seasoning and mix well.
• Mix batter ingredients together in a pre-sprayed 9-1/2-inch deep dish pie plate.
• Top batter with taco meat filling. Pour salsa evenly over meat; sprinkle with shredded cheese and corn chips.
• Bake by placing in a COLD oven; set temperature to 350 degrees F. Bake for 30 minutes or until done.

OVEN BAKED TACOS

Steps:

• Brown ground beef and drain.
• Add taco seasoning, refried beans and tomato sauce.
• Heat until blended.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Spray a glass 9x13 pan with oil.
• Spoon taco filling into taco shells and stack them side by side in pan.
• When shells are filled, top each with shredded cheese.
• Bake for approximately 15 minutes, watching so they do not brown too much.
• Top with remaining ingredients, if desired.