Taco Tuesday

Although Erik & I celebrated Taco Tuesday a day early, it gives me the perfect opportunity to share with you our taco delight on the appropriate day! I would have gladly waited, but after deciding SATURDAY we wanted tacos, Tuesday just seemed too long to wait.  Especially after I did some taco research & discovered Baked Cheesy Tacos.

I took what I found from several recipes what we already had in the pantry/fridge and this happened...

Holy Yum!

Boooooonus! It was super simple to make.

1 lb ground beef

1 small onion, diced

1 small can green chilies

1 (16 oz) can refried beans

1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce

Taco seasoning (I made a homemade recipe, see below or use a packet of one)

1 cup shredded cheddar jack cheese

12 hard taco shells (I used those ones that have a flat bottom so they would stand up easier in the casserole dish)

Homemade Taco Seasoning (sorry I didn't measure any of this whatsoever...)

Garlic powder

Onion powder

Crushed red pepper flakes

Dried parsley 

Cumin

Paprika

Sea salt

Black pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a large skillet, over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef and onion.  Drain excess fat.  Add chilies, beans, tomato sauce, & taco seasoning. Stir well and cook for 3-5 mins.

Place taco shells in a casserole dish.  Spoon taco meat into shells.  Sprinkle with cheese & bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese has melted.  (Side note: I let it broil on low for the last minute & a half just so the cheese got a lil extra crispiness to it.)

Top with lettuce, salsa, black olives, sour cream, tomatoes, etc. etc. etc!

I can't believe the rest of the world kept inventing food after tacos.  Good try, world.