Description
These Baked Chipotle Beef and Melted Cheese Tacos feature a smoky, spicy chipotle sauce combined with seasoned ground beef and gooey melted cheese. The tacos are baked to perfection, creating a deliciously crispy and cheesy treat served with fresh lime, cilantro, avocado, and optional grilled corn.
Ingredients
Scale
Chipotle Sauce
- 1 can red enchilada sauce
- 1/4 cup canned chipotle chilies in adobo
- 2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2-3 tablespoons salted butter
Tacos
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef or chicken
- 1 yellow onion, sliced
- 2-3 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 16-20 corn tortillas
- 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese
- Limes, cilantro, avocado, and grilled corn for serving
Instructions
- Make the Chipotle Sauce: Combine red enchilada sauce, canned chipotle chilies in adobo, dried oregano, and apple cider vinegar in a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour the sauce into a skillet over medium heat. Add the cinnamon stick and butter. Fill the empty enchilada can with water and add to the sauce. Simmer over medium-low heat until well combined and steaming. Season with salt as needed.
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 425° F to prepare for baking the tacos.
- Cook the Beef: In a large skillet, cook ground beef, sliced onion, and taco seasoning over medium heat. Break up the meat as it cooks until browned, about 10 minutes. Add 3/4 cup water, reduce heat to medium, and simmer until the sauce thickens around the meat, about 5 minutes.
- Assemble the Tacos: Dip each corn tortilla into the chipotle sauce, coating both sides. Place the dipped tortillas on a baking sheet. Add a small handful of mixed shredded Mexican and Monterey jack cheese to one half of each tortilla, then spoon the cooked meat over the cheese and add a sprinkle of more cheese. Fold the tortillas in half, pressing gently to close.
- Bake the Tacos: Bake the assembled tacos in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Flip each taco and bake for an additional 5 minutes until the cheese melts and the tortillas are crispy.
- Serve: Serve the baked chipotle beef tacos with a squeeze of lime, fresh cilantro, slices of avocado, and optional grilled corn. Use extra chipotle sauce for dipping if desired.
Notes
- Taco Seasoning: Combine 2 tablespoons chili powder, 2 teaspoons chipotle chili powder, 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, 2 teaspoons ground cumin, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 2 teaspoons onion powder, and 2 teaspoons salt for homemade taco seasoning.
- For extra smoky flavor, add a little smoked paprika to the chipotle sauce.
- Use chicken as an alternative protein to beef for a lighter variation.
- Warm the tortillas briefly before dipping in sauce for easier handling.
- Grilled corn pairs wonderfully with these tacos for a southern-inspired side.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
