Description
Zesty Mexican-inspired Taco Salad Cups bring explosive flavor to your table with crispy tortilla shells cradling seasoned ground beef, fresh vegetables, and tangy cheese. Compact and portable, these mini delights deliver a complete fiesta in one delicious bite you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 avocado, diced
Base and Wrappers:
- 12 small flour tortillas
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil
- 1 packet taco seasoning
Toppings and Garnishes:
- 1 cup (240 ml) shredded iceberg lettuce
- 1 cup (240 ml) halved cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) finely chopped red onion
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) chopped cilantro
- Sour cream (for serving)
- Salsa (for serving)
Instructions
- Craft crispy tortilla vessels by lightly coating each round with olive oil and carefully molding them into a muffin tin, creating cup-like shapes that will transform into crunchy edible containers.
- Transfer the prepared tortilla cups into a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C), allowing them to bake until they develop a golden, firm texture, approximately 10-12 minutes.
- While tortilla cups are crisping, heat a skillet over medium flame and thoroughly cook ground beef, ensuring it browns evenly and releases excess fat through careful draining.
- Enhance the meat’s flavor profile by generously incorporating taco seasoning, stirring to distribute the spices uniformly throughout the crumbled beef.
- Construct layered cups by first adding a hearty portion of seasoned beef as the foundational element inside each crisp tortilla vessel.
- Build subsequent layers by artfully arranging fresh, crisp lettuce, followed by vibrant diced tomatoes, creating a colorful and textural base.
- Sprinkle shredded cheese across the layers, allowing it to slightly melt from the residual warmth of the beef and tortilla cups.
- Distribute finely chopped onions and creamy avocado chunks to introduce additional depth and complexity to the salad cups.
- Complete the presentation by crowning each cup with a dollop of smooth sour cream and a generous spoonful of zesty salsa.
- Finish by delicately garnishing with fresh cilantro leaves, adding a bright, herbaceous note to the complete dish.
Notes
- Customize tortilla types by using whole wheat, corn, or gluten-free options for dietary needs.
- Make crispy cups extra sturdy by using slightly thicker tortillas and pressing firmly into muffin tin.
- Prep tortilla cups ahead of time and store in airtight container to save cooking time during meal preparation.
- Replace ground beef with plant-based alternatives like seasoned black beans or crumbled tofu for vegetarian version.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg