Taco Cups (All the Flavor, None of the Crumble)

Tacos are great. Crumbling taco shells all over your shirt? Less great.

Enter taco cups. Wonton wrappers pressed into a muffin tin, baked until crispy, then filled with taco meat and cheese. They hold together perfectly. One bite. No mess. Everyone wants the recipe.

Ingredients

Makes 12 taco cups.

  • 24 square wonton wrappers
  • 1 lb (450g) ground beef (or turkey)
  • 1 packet taco seasoning (or 2 tbsp homemade)
  • ⅓ cup water
  • 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
  • Cooking spray

Toppings:

  • Sour cream
  • Diced tomatoes
  • Sliced olives
  • Jalapeños
  • Fresh cilantro
  • Hot sauce

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Preheat and Prep

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Spray a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray.

Step 2: Press Wontons

  1. Place one wonton wrapper in each cup. Press down and up the sides.
  2. Spray lightly with oil. Layer a second wrapper on top, rotated 45 degrees.
  3. Press again. Spray with oil.

Step 3: Pre-Bake

  1. Bake empty shells for 5 minutes until lightly golden.

Step 4: Cook Taco Meat

  1. While shells bake, brown ground beef in a skillet. Drain fat.
  2. Add taco seasoning and water. Simmer 5 minutes until thickened.

Step 5: Fill and Bake

  1. Fill each cup with taco meat. Top with shredded cheese.
  2. Bake another 5-7 minutes until cheese melts and edges are crisp.

Step 6: Top and Serve

  1. Let cool 2 minutes. Run a knife around edges to release.
  2. Add toppings. Serve warm.

Summary

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 15 minutes | Total Time: 25 minutes

Yield: 12 taco cups

Difficulty: Easy

Storage Notes

Refrigerate:

Store baked (un-topped) taco cups in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat at 350°F for 5-7 minutes. Add fresh toppings after reheating.

Freeze:

Freeze baked, unfilled shells for up to 2 months. Reheat from frozen at 375°F for 5 minutes, then fill with hot taco meat.

Make Ahead Hack:

Cook taco meat up to 3 days ahead. Assemble and bake when ready.

Not For Microwave:

Microwave makes wonton shells chewy. Always use oven or air fryer to reheat.

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