Description
Baked Chipotle Beef and Melted Cheese Tacos are a perfect combination of bold flavors and gooey cheese, all encased in a crispy tortilla shell. This recipe takes traditional tacos to the next level by infusing them with a smoky, spicy chipotle sauce, then baking them to golden perfection. The melted cheese, savory ground beef, and tangy chipotle sauce make each bite irresistible. It’s a must-try dish for taco night or any time you want to impress your guests with a delicious twist on a classic favorite.
Ingredients
1 can red enchilada sauce
1/4 cup canned chipotle chilies in adobo
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 cinnamon stick
2–3 tablespoons salted butter
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
- Combine all ingredients, except the cinnamon and butter, in a blender. Blend until smooth.
- Pour the sauce into a skillet set over medium heat. Add the cinnamon stick and butter. Fill the empty enchilada sauce can with water, add it to the skillet, and simmer over medium-low heat until the sauce is well combined and steaming. Season with salt to taste. Set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef, onion, and taco seasoning over medium heat. Break up the meat as it cooks and cook until browned, about 10 minutes. Add 3/4 cup water and reduce the heat to medium. Let the mixture simmer until the sauce has thickened around the meat, about 5 minutes.
- Dip each tortilla into the chipotle sauce, coating both sides. Place the dipped tortillas on a baking sheet. Add a small handful of shredded Mexican cheese to one half of each tortilla, then spoon the beef mixture over the cheese. Add another sprinkle of cheese on top of the beef.
- Fold each tortilla in half and press down to close. Bake the tacos for 10 minutes, then flip each taco and bake for another 5 minutes or until crispy and golden.
- Serve the tacos with a squeeze of lime, fresh cilantro, sliced avocado, and a side of grilled corn. You can also serve extra chipotle sauce for dipping.
Notes
- You can swap ground beef with ground chicken, turkey, or even shredded beef for a different flavor. Ground pork also works well in this recipe.
- For a meat-free version, substitute the ground beef with a plant-based protein like crumbled tofu or a meat substitute such as tempeh or seitan.
- To make the tacos spicier, add more chipotle chilies or a few dashes of hot sauce to the chipotle sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 taco
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
