Nani's Favorite Crispy Beef Tacos
These crispy beef tacos are a family favorite because they are crunchy, cheesy, and packed with flavor.
recipesbynani.comThere is something so satisfying about the crunch of a fried taco shell filled with perfectly seasoned beef. My grandkids always ask for these on Friday nights because they are fun to eat and taste so much better than anything from a drive thru.
The secret is using just enough cheese to glue the shell to the meat while it fries. If you want to keep them a little lighter, you can use a bit less oil in your pan, but do not skimp on that cilantro lime sauce for dipping.
🧺 Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 2/3 cup water
- 12 corn tortillas
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil for frying
👩🍳Instructions
- 1
Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat until it is cooked through, then drain any excess fat.
- 2
Stir in the taco seasoning and water, then let the mixture simmer for about five minutes until the sauce has thickened up nicely.
- 3
Whisk together the sour cream, lime juice, and chopped cilantro in a small bowl to make your dipping sauce and set it aside.
- 4
Heat the vegetable oil in a clean skillet over medium heat.
- 5
Place a tortilla in the oil for a few seconds to soften it, flip it over, add a spoonful of beef and a sprinkle of cheese to one side, and fold the tortilla in half.
- 6
Fry the taco for about two minutes on each side until the shell is golden brown and crispy.
- 7
Drain the tacos on a paper towel lined plate and serve them hot with the cilantro lime sauce on the side.
💡 Tips
You can prep the meat ahead of time and store it in the fridge until you are ready to fry. To reheat any leftovers, pop them in a warm oven for a few minutes so they stay nice and crunchy.
Made this recipe? Let us know how it went.
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