Crispy Taco Cups: Quick Weeknight Dinner Fun (Print Version)

Make weeknights special with this Easy Taco Cups Recipe! Crispy wonton cups filled with savory taco meat, cheese & fresh toppings.

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 15 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 12 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Dietary: Meat-lover friendly (can be adapted)

# Ingredients:

→ Base Ingredients

01 - 1 lb (450g) ground beef (85/15 or 90/10)
02 - 24 wonton wrappers
03 - 1 cup (110g) shredded cheese (Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Mexican blend)

→ Flavor Boosters

04 - 1 tbsp olive oil
05 - 1/2 small onion, finely diced
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 (1 oz / 28g) packet taco seasoning
08 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
09 - 1/2 cup (120ml) water or beef broth

→ Fresh Toppings

10 - Shredded lettuce
11 - Diced tomatoes
12 - Sour cream or Greek yogurt
13 - Salsa or pico de gallo
14 - Fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Optional Add-ins

15 - Sliced jalapeños
16 - Black olives
17 - Avocado or guacamole
18 - Hot sauce

# Instructions:

01 - First things first, let's get that oven preheated to 375°F (190°C). Grab your standard 12-cup muffin tin and, this is critical, spray each cup generously with non-stick spray. I can't stress this enough; learned that lesson the hard way! Now, gently press one wonton wrapper into each muffin cup, really pushing it down to form a little cup. It might not look perfect, and that's totally okay, hon. You'll see them start to crisp up in the oven, creating that lovely base for our Easy Taco Cups.
02 - While your oven is warming up, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add your ground beef and break it up with a spoon. Cook it until it's completely browned, no pink bits left! This is where your kitchen starts to smell amazing, I swear. Drain any excess fat, but don't go crazy; a little flavor is good. I always forget to have a bowl ready for the fat, leading to a frantic search for something to pour it into – oops!
03 - Reduce the heat to medium. Toss in your diced onion and minced garlic with the browned beef. Sauté them for about 3-5 minutes, until the onion softens and becomes translucent, and that garlic is super fragrant. Oh, the smell at this stage is just heavenly! Stir in the tomato paste and cook for another minute, letting it toast a bit. This really deepens the flavor of the filling for your Easy Taco Cups, giving it a richer, more complex taste. Trust me on this little step!
04 - Now for the good stuff! Add your taco seasoning and water (or beef broth) to the skillet. Stir everything really well, making sure the seasoning is evenly distributed throughout the meat. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low and let it cook for about 5-7 minutes. You want most of the liquid to be absorbed, leaving you with a perfectly seasoned, slightly saucy taco filling. I sometimes let it simmer a little too long and it gets dry, so keep an eye on it!
05 - Take your prepared wonton cups in the muffin tin. Spoon about 1-2 tablespoons of your delicious taco meat mixture into each wonton cup. Don't overfill them, or they might spill over and make a glorious, but messy, cheese puddle. Next, sprinkle a generous amount of shredded cheese over the meat in each cup. I usually eyeball it, because honestly, can you ever have too much cheese? This is where your Easy Taco Cups really start to look like something special.
06 - Pop the muffin tin into your preheated oven. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the wonton wrappers are golden brown and crispy, and the cheese is bubbly and melted. Keep an eye on them, as ovens can be quirky! Once they're done, let them cool in the muffin tin for a minute or two before carefully removing them with a knife or small spatula. Serve these warm Taco Cups immediately with all your favorite toppings. They'll be crispy, cheesy, and just begging to be devoured!

# Notes:

01 - Always, always spray your muffin tin generously; I learned that the hard way when my first batch of Taco Cups stuck like glue!
02 - Don't overfill the wonton cups with meat, or they'll spill over and won't get that nice, neat shape.
03 - Press the wonton wrappers firmly into the muffin tin to ensure they hold their cup shape during baking.
04 - For an extra layer of flavor, add a pinch of smoked paprika or a dash of hot sauce to the meat mixture.

# Equipment Needed:

01 - Standard 12-cup muffin tin
02 - large skillet

# Nutrition (Per Serving):

Calories: 250
Total Fat: 15g
Total Carbohydrate: 18g
Protein: 12g

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