Mini Taco Cups Crispy Bites (Printable)

Crispy tortilla cups loaded with seasoned beef, cheese, and fresh toppings, perfect for quick gatherings.

# Ingredient List:

→ Meat

01 - 9 oz ground beef (or ground turkey/chicken)

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

02 - 1 small onion, finely diced
03 - 1 garlic clove, minced

→ Seasonings

04 - 1 tsp chili powder
05 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
06 - 1/2 tsp paprika
07 - 1/2 tsp salt
08 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Base & Dairy

09 - 12 small flour tortillas (street taco size or cut larger tortillas into 4-inch rounds)
10 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
11 - 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

→ Toppings (optional)

12 - 1/2 cup salsa
13 - 1/4 cup sour cream
14 - 1 small avocado, diced
15 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
16 - 1 small tomato, diced
17 - Jalapeño slices (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin.
02 - Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until no longer pink, about 4 to 5 minutes.
03 - Add diced onion and cook for 2 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
04 - Sprinkle chili powder, ground cumin, paprika, salt, and black pepper into the skillet. Mix thoroughly and cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat.
05 - Press each tortilla round into the muffin tin cups, folding edges to fit and create a cup shape.
06 - Divide the beef mixture evenly among tortilla cups. Top each with shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese.
07 - Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes until the tortillas are crisp and the cheese is fully melted.
08 - Allow to cool for 3 to 5 minutes. Add salsa, sour cream, diced avocado, tomato, cilantro, and jalapeño slices as desired. Serve warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They're fun to build at the table, so everyone customizes their own toppings instead of you playing food service all night.
  • One batch bakes in 12 minutes, making weeknight dinners feel less exhausting than they actually are.
  • A single recipe serves four people as a main or stretches to six as appetizers—that flexibility is goldworthy.
02 -
  • Don't skip the cooling step in the tin—pull them out too early and the tortilla will still be soft and flop over like it's giving up.
  • The cheese blend matters; pure cheddar alone can get stringy and tough, but adding Monterey Jack keeps everything creamy and tender.
  • Greasing the tin properly saves you from heartbreak; use your fingers to rub a light coat of oil into every cup, even the sides.
03 -
  • Press the tortillas firmly but gently into the tin; you want them to hold their shape but not tear, and a little water on your fingertips helps them stay pliable.
  • Divide the filling by eyeballing instead of measuring—it's faster and honestly more forgiving than you'd think, and slight variation never matters.
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