Fried Tacos Recipe is a twist on a classic recipe. You will love the crispy texture and amazing flavor for the perfect weeknight meal.
Being a mom of 8, I am an expert on making tacos. We make tacos about a every week in different variations. These fried tacos have become my kids most requested recipe because of how delicious they are.
Fried tacos is a recipe that I grew up on. The beef mixture is cooked and then layered in a taco shell. The shells are then folded and fried to a crispy texture and a flavorful insides. These deep fry tacos are perfect served to friends and family on taco night, a great appetizer and perfect for dipping into salsa.
If your family loves Taco Recipes as much as my family, then they are going to love these tacos. Make sure to check out these other taco dinner ideas – Easy Crockpot Taco Meat Recipe, Taco Pockets, and Taco Dorados Recipe.
Ingredients
- Ground Beef– We recommend using lean ground beef
- Onion– Chop into small pieces. Learn How to Freeze Chopped Onion
- Homemade Taco Seasoning – Use the packet or homemade
- Salsa – Try our Homemade Salsa Recipe
- Mexican Shredded Cheese Blend – Use your favorite shredded cheese
- Corn Tortillas – We find that corn tortillas work the best in this recipe
- Vegetable Oil (for frying) – Canola Oil is another option
Scroll to the recipe card for the full recipe details.
How to Make Fried Tacos
Step 1 – Brown the ground beef with the onions in a skillet until brown. Drain the excess grease.
Step 2 – Stir in the water, taco seasoning and salsa.
Step 3 – Spoon the taco filling onto each tortilla and top with the shredded cheese.
Step 4 – Heat the vegetable oil in a clean skillet over medium high heat. Cook the tacos for 2-3 minutes per side until both sides are browned. Then place on
paper towel lined plate.
Fried Tacos
Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground Beef
- ½ Onion diced
- 2 Tablespoons Taco Seasoning
- ½ cup salsa
- ¼ cup Water
- 2 Cups Mexican Shredded Cheese Blend
- 12 Corn Tortillas
- Vegetable Oil for frying
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 pound ground beef and ½ diced onion. Cook for 7-8 minutes, breaking up the beef as it cooks, until the beef is browned and the onion is softened.
- Drain any excess grease.
- Stir in 2 tablespoons taco seasoning, ½ cup salsa, and ¼ cup water. Simmer for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened and the flavors are combined.
- Warm 12 corn tortillas in the microwave for 30 seconds to make them easier to fold.
- Place the tortillas on a clean work surface. Divide the taco meat evenly among the tortillas and top with 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend, dividing the cheese evenly between the tacos.
- Fold each tortilla in half, gently pressing to help them stay closed.
- Pour enough vegetable oil into a large skillet to cover the bottom by about ½ inch. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F.
- Carefully fry 1-2 tacos at a time for 2-3 minutes per side, or until both sides are golden brown and crispy.
- Transfer the cooked tacos to a plate lined with paper towels to drain any excess oil.
- Repeat with the remaining tacos. Let them cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- Heating Oil – Make sure that the oil does not get too hot when frying or the tacos will burn. We recommend heating hot oil over medium heat in a large skillet.
- Cooking Meat Mixture – When combining the meat mixture ingredients, allow the ingredients to simmer for best results.
- Flipping Tacos – When frying the tacos in the skillet, we recommend using tongs to flip the tacos. This helps them to stay together while frying them golden brown.
- Change the Meat – Feel free to change the meat to what you prefer. You can use shredded pork, chicken, ground turkey or a combination of turkey and beef.
- Taco Seasoning – We make homemade taco seasoning, but you can easily use store bought packets. Feel free to add in a teaspoon of cayenne pepper for an extra kick to the flavor.
- Tortillas – In this recipe, we think corn tortillas fry the best, but feel free to use flour tortillas.
Nutrition Facts
Favorite Taco Toppings
Beef Tacos can topped with many different toppings. When we make these for friends and family we like to make a taco bar. Here are some of our favorite toppings.
- Shredded Lettuce
- Diced Tomato
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Fresh Cilantro
- Sour Cream
- Slice Jalapeno Peppers
- Guacamole
- Hot Sauce
Frequently Asked Questions
Refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
These tacos are great served for a weeknight meal or for a game day party. We like to serve with Black Beans, Cilantro Rice, and Refried Beans. Make sure to add a side of chips and queso for a complete meal idea.
If your taco shells turn out greasy, it could be because the oil is not hot enough. Make sure it is hot oil and we recommend only frying one taco at a time depending on your skillet size.
Yes, after you have prepared the fried tacos we recommend placing on a baking sheet and placing in the freezer. Allow the tacos to freeze for about 2 hours. Then place in a freezer safe container and they will stay fresh for up to 3 months.
More Easy Taco Recipes
If you try these Fried Tacos, make sure to leave us a comment. We love hearing from you.
