Touchdown Taco Cups Ground Beef (Printable)

Savory taco cups with seasoned ground beef, cheddar, and fresh toppings for easy, flavorful bites.

# What You Need:

→ Meat Filling

01 - 1 lb lean ground beef
02 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning
05 - 1/3 cup water

→ Taco Cups

06 - 12 small flour tortillas (6-inch)
07 - Cooking spray or vegetable oil

→ Toppings

08 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
09 - 1/2 cup sour cream
10 - 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
11 - 1/4 cup sliced green onions
12 - 1/4 cup sliced black olives
13 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
14 - 1 small jalapeño, sliced

# How-To:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a standard 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray or oil.
02 - Stack flour tortillas and warm in the microwave for 15–20 seconds to soften. Using a 4-inch round cutter, cut out circles and gently press each into a muffin cup, forming a shell.
03 - In a skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef and onion until browned, about 5–6 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
04 - Add garlic, taco seasoning, and water. Stir well and simmer for 2–3 minutes until sauce thickens. Remove from heat.
05 - Spoon an even amount of beef mixture into each tortilla cup. Top each with shredded cheddar cheese.
06 - Bake for 10–12 minutes until cheese is melted and edges of tortillas are golden.
07 - Let cool slightly, then top with sour cream, tomatoes, green onions, olives, cilantro, and jalapeños as desired. Serve warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Everyone gets their own perfectly portioned cup, so no fighting over the last bite
  • You can prep everything ahead and just bake when guests arrive
02 -
  • Warm the tortillas or they will crack when you try to press them into the muffin cups
  • Dont skip draining the beef or the cups will be greasy and soggy
03 -
  • Use a shot glass to gently press the tortillas into the muffin cups without tearing
  • Place a cookie sheet under the muffin tin to catch any cheese overflow