How To Make A Taco Salad Shell
Spray taco shell molds and place on baking sheet. If you do not have molds, no worries!! You can use a oven safe dish. I like to use a medium size Pyrex dish. Put it upside down and lay tortilla over
Add one tortilla per mold
Bake at 375F in oven for 10-15 minutes or until crispy and no longer limp.
Wonderfully crispy and crunchy!
Ready for taco salad now!! You can also use these shells for holding dips and chips.
Fill with your favorite lettuce and toppings! I like tomato, onion, sour cream, cheese and avocado ranch. For mor creative ideas, HannahsFoodJourney.com
- 2.0 Large flour tortillas
- 2.0 Salad shell mold or Oven safe glass bowl
- Butter or olive oil
More Mexican Recipes You Need
- this taco tater tot skillet has been such a hit on my blog. People cant get enough of it. Have you tried it yet? If not, do now. This is a delicious and filling meal idea.
- easy enchiladas that are full of flavor. My kids request this meal every.month.
- breakfast burritos are perfect for feeding a crowd or when needing an on-the-go breakfast. These can be made fresh or ahead of time and frozen.
Lastly let me say again you cant go wrong with this fun and inspiring meal idea. This recipe is a great way to mix up how you do tacos. Taco salad shells are perfect for your family dinner, next party and more.
Lets connect on social media. When you make one of my recipes, tag @eatingglutenanddairyfree on Instagram. I wanna see. And leave me a 5 star rating if you enjoyed the dish.
Eat well and feel well,
Jill
How To Make Taco Salad Bowls:
Little Dairy on the Prairie Pro Tip: Before you start making the tortilla bowls, find oven-safe bowls that the tortillas will fit in. Its okay if the shells stick up a little bit over the rim of the bowl.
STEP 1: Microwave tortillas for a few seconds until they are soft. It helps keep them from tearing if theyre pliable.
STEP 2: Spray tortillas with cooking spray on both sides.
STEP 3: Set tortilla in bowls. Crumple a piece of aluminum foil in a loose ball that fits inside the tortilla.
STEP 4: Bake tortilla bowls. Let cool in the bowls before removing.
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Taco Salad Recipe With Homemade Tortilla Shell Bowls
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Taco salad has been my go-to meal lately. It is so yummy, healthy, delicious and versatile. Some may call them tostadas, but this is the ultimate taco salad recipe made with homemade tortilla shell bowls.
It took me a few times to master these tortilla bowls. I love the ones you get at a Mexican restaurant that are so bubbly and crispy. I think those might be deep fried, so I made the healthier choice and perfected these by cooking them in the oven.
You can make this taco salad vegan, vegetarian or use substitutions for any of the ingredients to suite your dietary needs and tastes. I usually serve this family style so that my kids will pick out what they want from all the ingredients or toppings.
Aside from the amazing edible tortilla bowl, there are so many possibilities for making this the best taco salad ever! For protein, you can add any combination of carne asada, chicken, fish, pork and beans. Ive really enjoyed mine with black beans and chicken.
Because I love ranch so much, I love pouring some homemade ranch on top. You can also add a dollop of sour cream, guacamole, salsa, pico de gallo or your favorite hot sauce.
This meal is so easy and great to have when you dont know what to do about dinner. Usually I already have most of these ingredients in my kitchen anyways.
Tips For The Best Taco Bowl Shells
- If you have one nearby, a local Hispanic market will carry fresh tortillas. You can often find them at your favorite grocery store!
- If your tortillas are tearing, try warming them in the microwave or stovetop first. This makes them softer to help shape into bowls without tears.
- Experiment with sizes. Mini tortillas are great for kids or smaller servings, and larger burrito-sized tortillas are great for hungry guests.
- For an extra indulgent touch, line the bowl with cheese!
- If youre making several at once, place bowls on baking sheets. This will allow you to put them in the oven and remove them with ease.
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How To Fry Taco Shells
Frying tortillas into tacos shells is the method most commonly used by famous fast-food chains, taco stands, and food trucks across the USA. For this method, you need plenty of hot vegetable oil to create crunchy taco shells. For that reason, it’s really not the healthiest option, but the results are super delicious!
*You need the oil to be sizzling hot, or you won’t get crispy hard taco shells! The oil should be at least a hot 350 degrees Fahrenheit if you were to temperature check it.
Easy Homemade Taco Shells From Scratch
Simple homemade taco shells from scratch: tacos are not difficult to make at all with my easy step-by-step recipe and picture guide. Give this one a try!
Why would you want to try my recipe for taco shells at home?
Sure you can easily find ready made taco shells in your local supermarket but those are usually the crunchy kind.
I honestly prefer the soft taco shells actually.
So here is a great summer recipe for you to try out when you are in for a challenge: homemade taco shells from scratch!
Do you like making flour doughs at home?
Then this recipe for taco shells is right up your alley!
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Can You Make Tortilla Bowls With Corn Tortillas
Yes and no. Yes, you can follow this exact process, with corn tortillas, to make crunchy corn tortilla bowls.
However, its hard to find extra-large corn tortillas so the bowls will not be as large.
Also, there will be small bubbles from frying, but you will not get the massive bubbles with corn tortillas, that you do with flour tortillas.
Beef Taco Salad With Homemade Tortilla Bowls
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I honestly cant tell you the last time I had taco salad.
Oh wait, yes I can two weeks ago. When we made these.
But before that I mean. Taco salad was always this oddly unappealing concept, something my mom would order when wed go out to eat, that Id side-eye skeptically as I plowed down my greasy cheese enchiladas.
Because when youre craving Mexican food, salad is usually the last thing to come to mind.
Maybe Im maturing in my tastes because these days, I can definitely see the appeal. I thought it might just be a grown-up thing, this Americanized dish we call taco salad, but then I realized, you can eat the entire bowl. I mean, cmon. What kid wouldnt enjoy that? .
This recipe comes from The Best Mexican Recipes, the newest release from the Editors at Americas Test Kitchen. Their Complete Cooking for Two is still one of our favorite cookbooks to date, and so we were confident this book of Mexican recipes would not disappoint.
There are a number of very authentic-sounding recipes in the book, which I appreciate, but it does mean that they are often time consuming and complex, which was surprising to us for an ATK cookbook
This beef taco salad is a different story, and its a stellar example of the kind of delicious, impeccably flavored food I expect from ATK. Its simple AND flavorful. Even after making your own tortilla bowls, youll be sitting down to eat in about 30 minutes.
Its like Hamburger Helper, only not.
Yield:
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What Do You Need To Make Taco Salad Bowls
- your favorite flour tortillas
- olive or canola oil spray
- tray
- Make Dessert Bowls Coat with cinnamon sugar for a delicious dessert bowl! Its perfect for serving strawberries and cream, fruit salad, homemade ice cream and more!
As I mentioned before, theyre so easy! No fuss, no mess. They are the perfect addition to your weeknight dinner. Theres nothing better than a warm, toasty tortilla bowl filled with all your favorite Mexican flavors! See the recipe card below for the full recipe!
Events To Serve Taco Salad Shells
- at ladies luncheons
- a bridal or baby shower
- in a taco bar
- for a Super Bowl party
- at family gatherings
- for a church meal with a Crock-pot of taco meat
- during Taco Tuesday with your family
- to celebrate Cinco de Mayo
- at a work potluck and keep in mind.
- I recently read a lady baked over 150 of these for a luncheon she was having! #thatsalotofshells #soundslikefun
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Homemade Taco Bowls Are So Easy
Homemade Taco Bowls are perfect for family dinner, parties and more. I love that you can make these all sorts of different ways.
Everyone loves Mexican Monday or Taco Tuesday when I fix these yummy homemade taco shells for dinner.
They are super easy to make, frugal and everyone loves to eat them. I would say is a hit all around!
Faqs About Taco Salad Shells
How to store taco salad bowls?
Store them in an airtight container for up to 2 days at room temperature, or up to a week in the fridge.
Can I freeze tortilla bowls?
Yes! You can freeze them for up to 3 months in an airtight container. I dont recommend it though. They take up a lot of space in the freezer and theyre easy to make fresh! Freeze the tortillas instead and make bowls when youre ready.
Can I use corn tortillas?
Yes! Make corn tortilla bowls the same way. Theyre a great gluten free option!
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Baked Taco Shells Are Just As Good As Fried
May 13, 2016
A few months ago I fried up some taco shells at home by dipping corn tortillas in a skillet full of hot oil.
Then I tried baking them instead of frying them, and I havent gone back to the frying pan since.
Youve got lots of options on how to bake a batch, so here are some of the key details to keep in mind if you want a healthier version of the classic hard taco shell.
Make Ahead And Freezing Instructions:
To make ahead: Everything can be prepped a day or two in advance. Reheat the meat mixture in the microwave or in a skillet, and serve hot.
To freeze: Allow meat mixture to cool completely and store in freezer-safe bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat on the stove or in the microwave.
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Baked Tortilla Bowls Variations:
- Cheesy Taco Shells Remove aluminum foil ball during the last two minutes of baking. Sprinkle grated cheese on the insides of the bowls.
- Mini Shells To make mini taco cups turn a muffin tin upside down and press the street taco shells or small tortillas between the bottoms of the cupcake cups.
- Corn Tortilla Bowls Corn tortillas are smaller. Either use a smaller bowl or the bottom of a muffin tin.
- Dessert Shells Sprinkle the inside of the bowls with cinnamon and sugar before baking. These are fantastic with vanilla ice cream!
How To Make Taco Salad:
For a crowd, or if uncertain of your guests preferences, set up a build-your-own taco salad bar.
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How To Make Crunchy Tortilla Chips
Instead of making homemade crunchy taco shells, you can turn your wraps into homemade crunchy tortilla chips. You can bake your tortilla chips in the oven for a crispy yet healthy alternative to standard chips you find in the store.
Make Them In A Cast Iron Pan
From all 3 methods, my favorite way to make them is in the cast iron. It is easier to shape the tortilla and you can also leave it in there after you add the ingredients. The taco bowl is crisp and holds shape when you load it with ingredients.
Lightly spray the inside of a 9 cast iron skillet. Take that first tortilla and mold it inside the cast iron. Use a ramekin to push the bottom of the tortilla to the edges. The ramekin will also help to flatten the base of the taco bowl. Spray the inside of the burrito and place it in the oven for 25-30 minutes or until the shells have browned / hardened.
I used this taco shell in my Mexican Street Corn recipe and it didnt get soggy! How cool is that?
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How To Make Taco Bowls
Ive seen some homemade taco bowl methods around the Internets over the years, but this is the only way Ive found to make a really huge bowl a bowl big enough to hold a full salad.
If youre interested, the way to make smaller bowls is just to use the underside of a muffin tin. Those are pretty tiny though. You can also use smaller ramekins for a mid-sized bowl.
To start, its important that your tortilla is warm and flexible and also lightly coated with oil so it doesnt stick to the ramekin later.
I used a little spray oil on my tortilla and then warm the tortilla over medium heat for a few seconds per side.
Then lay the tortilla over your ramekin. I recommend working on a baking sheet just so you can easily move the whole thing to the oven.
I used 10 inch tortillas for this and a 16 ounce ramekin. If you had more than one of these ramekins you could really pop these out pretty quickly actually.
Next I wrap the tortilla with foil so it holds the tortilla tightly around the ramekin.
You will need to kind of crimp the tortilla so it folds nicely around the ramekin.
Bake this tortilla bowl for about 15 minutes at 350 degrees.
You can make other parts of the meal like the beef mixture or chop toppings while your bowls bake obviously.
After fifteen minutes, take the foil off of the boil and the taco bowl shells should hold their shape!
Then bake it for another 10 minutes so the shell gets really crispy and delicious.
I recommend using a fork to gently lift the shell off.
Prepare The Tortillas First
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Air Fryer Taco Salad Bowls
If you have a round air fryer, you can try this way of creating them for a change:
Begin by spraying both sides of your tortilla with cooking spray, then fold it into a piece of foil just slightly larger than the tortilla shell. Place it into the bottom of your air fryer and place a bowl on top to weigh it down. Cook until golden brown, remove from your air fryer and serve after it has cooled.
Homemade Tortilla Shell Bowls
Oh my gosh! I had the worst time trying to perfect these. I read so many blogs, watched so many YouTube videos and nothing worked.
There were methods of turning an oven-safe bowl upside down and placing the tortilla around it. There were methods that used molds or other cake or pie pans with aluminum foil balled up inside to keep the tortilla from caving in.
The problem I had is that the tortilla ended up sticking to the bowl or pan whether or not I used oil. Trying to pull it apart ended up in a big mess and a ton of shredded up no good tortilla strips.
I also tried tortillas of all kinds and they would burn around the edges but not get crispy in the middle. Talk about frustrating!
So this is what worked for meI combined all the methods I liked and came up with my own recipe for these tortillas bowls. I wanted a method where the tortilla wouldnt stick but it would cook thoroughly.
Heres the deal its all about the tortillas you use! The large burrito sized tortillas were too big. Both those and any other size didnt cook well. This is probably why the restaurants deep fry them.
Alas! The organic uncooked tortillas from Costco was the winner. They are smaller than regular tortillas but they are just the right size for even cooking and created the perfect tortilla bowl shape.
If you can find any uncooked tortillas, Id try those first!
Here is a step by step tutorial of what I did to make these amazing tortilla shell bowls for my taco salad:
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