Oven Tacos

I found this recipe on Pinterest and thought it looked really good and easy.

I had previously pinned it when JoAnna, the girl I assist at the clinic, started talking about this oven taco recipe she had found on Pinterest and made the night before and her whole family loved! 

Once she said she made it and they all loved it, I knew I for sure wanted to try it out!

Things you'll need:

2 lbs ground beef

1 small onion, chopped

1 small can diced green chiles

1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce

1 (16 oz) can fat free refried beans

2 c. shredded Mexican blend cheese

18-20 hard taco shells

homemade taco seasoning OR store-bought package of taco seasoning

other mexican condiments--optional on the side

(tomato, lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo, etc.)

**a few hindsight tips/disclaimers**

• This makes A LOT of the meat mixture. I will half it next time I make it.
• Onion is not pictured/I didn't use it, because again, we were house/dog sitting and I forgot to bring it from our house.
• There is a homemade taco seasoning recipe that is suggested to make and use for this recipe. I had all the ingredients to make it, but again, we were not at our house during the week and I didn't feel like packing up 9 spices, so I just went with the store-bought packet. I will post the homemade recipe at the bottom though, incase you'd like to try it out. I will for sure next time!
• JoAnna said the first time she used just the regular taco shells (like I did) but the second time she got the "stand up" taco shells and said they were a lot easier to work with and fill up. She also suggested if you cook them with the shells not touching, they will cook crispier. Getting the "stand up" shells will help with that as well.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In larget skillet brown beef and onion.

Drain meat. Add chiles, beans, tomato sauce, and taco seasoning (I used only one of the packets of taco seasoning, although I used 2 lbs of meat. There's a lot of flavor from the other ingredients, so I think only one packet is enough).

Mix well and cook for a few minutes if mixture seems runny.

Spoon taco meat mixture into shells and place in 9x13 baking dish-standing up.

Sprinkle cheese over the top of each filled shell.

Place in oven and back at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes, until cheese melts (watch carefully-easy to burn shells)

Remove from oven and top with any additional condiments.

(From the blog I got the recipe)

Homemade Taco Seasoning:

1 tablespoon chili powder

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

In a small bowl, mix all together. Store in an airtight container.

I used all of this on 2 lbs of ground meat with a little water mixed in.

ENJOY!