Touchdown Taco Cups Beef (Printable)

Bite-sized taco cups filled with seasoned beef, cheese, and fresh toppings, perfect for game day snacks or appetizers.

# What You Need:

→ Meat Filling

01 - 1 pound lean ground beef
02 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 packet (1 ounce) taco seasoning
05 - 1/3 cup water

→ Taco Cups

06 - 12 small flour tortillas (6-inch)
07 - Cooking spray or vegetable oil

→ Toppings

08 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
09 - 1/2 cup sour cream
10 - 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
11 - 1/4 cup sliced green onions
12 - 1/4 cup sliced black olives (optional)
13 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
14 - 1 small jalapeño, sliced (optional)

# How To Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a standard 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray or oil.
02 - Stack flour tortillas and warm in the microwave for 15–20 seconds to soften. Using a 4-inch round cutter, cut out circles and gently press each into a muffin cup, forming a shell.
03 - In a skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef and onion until browned, about 5–6 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
04 - Add garlic, taco seasoning, and water. Stir well and simmer for 2–3 minutes until sauce thickens. Remove from heat.
05 - Spoon an even amount of beef mixture into each tortilla cup. Top each with shredded cheddar cheese.
06 - Bake for 10–12 minutes until cheese is melted and edges of tortillas are golden.
07 - Let cool slightly, then top with sour cream, tomatoes, green onions, olives, cilantro, and jalapeños as desired. Serve warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They disappear faster than any appetizer I have ever served and people actually hover around the platter waiting for the next batch
  • The tortilla shells get perfectly crispy in the oven while staying sturdy enough to hold generous toppings
  • You can prep everything ahead and bake them right before guests arrive
02 -
  • Warming the tortillas before cutting them prevents cracking and makes them much easier to shape into the muffin cups without tearing
  • Do not overfill the cups or the beef mixture will spill over the edges while baking and make a mess of your muffin tin
  • Let the beef mixture cool slightly before filling the cups so the tortillas do not get soggy from the heat
03 -
  • If you do not have a round cutter, use a clean bowl or small plate to trace circles on the tortillas with a knife
  • Place the empty tortilla cups in the oven for 3 minutes before filling if you want extra crispy shells

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