These ground beef tacos dorados (fried tacos) are packed with deliciously seasoned ground beef, onions, diced jalapeños, two types of cheese, and are a delicious way to enjoy crispy tacos.
If you love tacos, and you love anything fried, then I have a recipe for you. These tacos dorados are stuffed with delicious taco filling and then fried in the pan to crispy, golden perfection. They’re an easy recipe, and they take very little time, making them the perfect weeknight dinner. They’re also great for making in large batches and bringing to any potluck for something a bit different from the usual casseroles that are often on the table. When my kids were in school, I made these fried tacos quite frequently. They made a great dinner, and they could be reheated the next day for after school snacks. That made my life easier because my kids and their friends ate like they were starving!
Tacos Dorados with Ground Beef
These delicious fried tacos start with deliciously seasoned lean ground beef, onions, and jalapeno peppers. Then I stuff that mixture into a soft corn tortilla along with two different kinds of cheese and fry it up until it’s crispy and golden brown on the outside and full of melty cheesy, beefy goodness on the inside. Because they’re not deep-fried, the cleanup is minimal, which is another great bonus, too! It’s a family favorite that everyone loves.
Why You’ll Love These Tacos Dorados
- It’s an easy weeknight dinner recipe and a new way to enjoy crispy tacos.
- They’re delicious, cheesy, super flavorful, and so easy to make.
- You can top these super crispy tacos with your favorite taco toppings or enjoy them simply fried with meat and cheese.
Tacos Dorados Tips and Variations
This is an incredibly easy recipe to make, however, I still have a couple of tips to help you make them the best that they can possibly be. You’ll also find some great variations that you can try, as well.
Tips
- Don’t overfill your tacos. You want all that tasty filling to stay in the shells, not spill out everywhere when you’re frying them.
- Always drain your beef after cooking. No matter how lean it is, all beef will render some fat when cooked, and you don’t want greasy tacos.
- It’s important to let your tacos sit on a plate with paper towels before serving so excess grease can be absorbed.
Variations
- Try making this recipe with shredded chicken, turkey, pork, or beef.
- You can make a seafood version of this recipe using shrimp, crab, or fish.
- Add your favorite toppings like avocado, elote, or refried beans.
Taco Topping Ideas
- Avocado
- Shredded lettuce
- Tomato
- Black olives
- Refried beans
- Guacamole
- Salsa
- Pico de Gallo
- Sour cream
- Queso fresco
What to Serve with Tacos Dorados
- Chips and salsa
- Corn pudding
- Mexican coleslaw
- Jicama with mango slaw
- Spanish rice
- Mexican rice
- Mexican black beans
- Elote
Tacos Dorados FAQ
If you have questions about this recipe, then I have the answers for you. The following FAQ answers the most commonly asked questions about tacos dorados.
What are tacos dorados?
Tacos dorados are literally golden tacos. They get the name from the golden color they get when they’re fried.
What oil do you fry tacos in?
The best oil for frying corn tortillas is corn oil. Other good choices are vegetable oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, or sunflower seed oil. Any oil with a high smoke point and neutral flavor will work.
How hot should oil be for frying tacos?
Your oil should be about 375 degrees. If the oil is too cool, the tacos will be too greasy. If the oil is too hot, the tacos will be too crunchy.
How do you keep fried tacos from getting soggy?
First, you have to make sure your oil is at the right temperature so they fry correctly, eliminating initial sogginess. After that, frying the tacos does the rest. Frying them creates a sort of barrier that helps keep them from absorbing any liquid in the filling or toppings too quickly.
How do you make crunchy tacos crunchy again?
Place the tacos on a baking sheet. Then, bake them in a 350-degree oven for about 10 minutes until they crisp up again.
Why are my fried corn tortillas soggy?
Your oil probably wasn’t hot enough. If the oil is too cool, the tortilla will take too long to cook, resulting in the tortilla absorbing the oil.
How to Store and Reheat Leftover Tacos Dorados
The best way to store these tacos is to keep the ingredients separate. That way, the shells don’t get soggy. The beef will stay good for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and the remaining ingredients will easily last that amount of time.
If you do have leftover tacos, reheat them by placing them on a baking sheet in a 350-degree oven for about 10 minutes until they get crispy again. They won’t be AS crisp, but they’ll still be good.
Tacos Dorados Ingredients
It only takes a few simple ingredients to make this recipe. You’ll find them all easily at your local grocery store.
- Lean ground beef
- Jalapeno
- White onion
- Slap Ya Mama
- Garlic powder
- Ground cumin
- Black pepper
- Red pepper flakes
- Monterey jack cheese
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Corn tortillas
- Vegetable oil
How to Make Tacos Dorados
Making this recipe is incredibly easy. It only takes a few minutes and a few simple steps.
Step 1: Cook the Beef and Veggies
Add ground beef, onions, and jalapenos to a large skillet or frying pan and cook over medium heat until the beef is no longer pink and the onions and peppers are tender. Then, add the Slap Ya Mama, garlic powder, cumin, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir and drain excess grease.
Step 2: Make the Tacos
Wipe the pan you just used to make the beef mixture clean, add the oil, and heat it to 375 degrees. Then, use tongs to place one tortilla at a time into the oil and fry for a minute. Flip the tortilla, then, add the cheese, meat, and more cheese. Fold the tortilla over the filling to create a taco and fry to golden brown.
Step 3: Drain and Serve
Remove the tacos from the pan and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess oil. Serve with your favorite toppings and sides and enjoy!
Try These Delicious Tacos Dorados Today
These crispy, golden brown tacos dorados are the perfect dish for Taco Tuesday, a fun addition to any potluck, or to make just because. They come together quickly and easily, and they’re so tasty everyone always loves them. Give them a try, and I know you and your family and friends will love them as much as we do!
More Delicious Tacos You’ll Enjoy
BBQ Brisket Tacos – A delicious taco recipe loaded with tender brisket, barbecue sauce, and crispy onion strings. These are perfect for lunch, dinner, or to serve at a party.
Spicy Chicken Tacos – A flavorful crock pot chicken recipe that is serve in soft corn tortillas. A great addition to your Taco Tuesday menu.
Rib Eye Street Tacos – Delicious tacos
And, here are some delicious Breakfast Tacos from our other blog, Deliciously Seasoned, you might enjoy as we.
Tacos Dorados with Ground Beef
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef
- 1 jalapeno, seeds removed, diced
- 1 white onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon Slap Ya Mama
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 cup Monterey jack cheese, shredded
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 12 corn tortillas
- Vegetable oil, for frying
Instructions
- In a large skillet or frying pan, add ground beef, onions and jalapeno and cook over medium heat until meat is no longer pink and onions and peppers are tender. Add Slap Ya Mama, garlic powder, cumin, black pepper and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine and drain any excess grease.
- In the same pan, wipe clean, and heat oil over medium high heat.
- Using tongs, place one corn tortilla at a time into the hot oil, flip over and carefully add cheese, meat mixture and more cheese to one side of the tortilla.
- Fold in half and fry until crispy and golden.
- Remove from the pan and place on a plate lined with paper towels to drain off any excess oil.
- Place tacos on a serving platter and serve with your favorite toppings.
Notes
Nutrition
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Can you tell me how much oil in a standard size pan? Am I to cover the taco or just enough to fry them?
Also approximately how much meat filling per taco?
This sounds so good! Can’t wait to make them!
Hi Lori,
I would just use enough oil to fry them in. Depending on the size of the tortillas, I would add a couple tablespoons of meat mixture if it fits, more or less, as needed. I hope you enjoy these tacos, they are super good. :)
Do you have a video showing how to fill? I’m confused about whether the are filled while still in the oil?
Hi Julie,
No, I don’t have a video yet but as you are frying the tortillas, after you flip it over, then you add the cheese, meat mixture and more cheese to one side of the tortilla as it is still in the pan. Then fold the other side of the tortilla over the filling and continue frying until crispy and golden. I hope this helps. :)
What is Slap Ya Mama? Hot sauce or spices?
Hi Sue, Slap Ya Mama is a Cajun spice. Very flavorful and a favorite spice I use all the time. :)