Crispy Chipotle Chicken Tacos with Cilantro Lime Ranch.
Weeknight style Cheesy Baked Crispy Chipotle Chicken Tacos with Cilantro Lime Ranch…and all the toppings. Because loaded tacos are just better. Ground chicken seasoned with a smoky chipotle chili spice mix, stuffed into hard shell tacos, topped with cheese, and oven-baked. These tacos are crunchy on the outside, but spicy and cheesy inside. Serve each taco with a creamy, cooling cilantro lime ranch sauce, and a mix of your favorite taco toppings. They come together in minutes and are so delicious…the perfect weeknight dinner. Bonus, the chipotle chicken is great as a leftover. Pile it high onto your favorite tortilla chips for some seriously delicious nachos or serve it up atop greens for a Mexican inspired salad.
As a kid, tacos were a weeknight staple in our house. I’ve touched on this before, but my dad cooked tacos for dinner at least once or twice a week for multiple years straight. It probably wasn’t until I started to take over the cooking around the age of fourteen that we started to switch things up. So yes, the typical weeknight ground beef taco was a staple, and my dad had them down to a T.
He’d make his tacos with ground beef and store-bought taco seasoning. Then he’d simply stuff the meat into tortillas with a little cheddar cheese and nothing else. Well…maybe some lettuce for my mom and I. But no beans, no avocado, not even cilantro or a squeeze of lime. Very, very basic, and it’s just what my brothers wanted. At the time, I didn’t know any better, so I greatly enjoyed these tacos too. I took mine in a hard shell and oven-baked for extra crispiness on the outside, and soft and cheesy inside.
And there you have it.
That’s my childhood taco story. Did we ever get sick of eating tacos? Honestly, I don’t think we did. I’m pretty sure that we were the ones requesting taco night so often. We loved it and still do! I’m always making tacos, whether it’s these quick skillet chicken tacos, my favorite Caribbean shrimp tacos, or these saucy instant pot BBQ chicken tacos. Tacos are still on the menu every couple of weeks.
But my absolute go-to taco?
It’s these. They’re classic, so simple, cheesy, crunchy, and SO GOOD. I love them, my brothers love them, and pretty much every other human who enjoys Mexican food (even just a little) enjoys these crunchy tacos.
To make these weeknight chicken tacos…
It is SIMPLE.
Pick up some ground chicken, turkey, or even ground beef. Just be sure to use what your family loves most! Simply brown the meat, add seasonings, and stuff into hard tacos. Then top with cheese, and bake in the oven until melted and crisp.
Doesn’t get any easier, but yet this is a dinner that everyone loves.
I do have a few little secrets however that make these tacos better than the rest.
The seasoning blend.
Over the years, I feel like I’ve kind of perfected the taco seasoning mix. It’s just a touch spicy, a little smoky, and hinted with garlic. I use a mix of chipotle chili powder (key ingredient) and smoked paprika to keep the taco meat extra flavorful. Most tacos mixes use regular chili powder, but I’ve always found that to lack flavor. Using chipotle chili powder adds the perfect amount of spiciness.
I like to use a good amount, so be sure to adjust this to your family’s taste level. Start with two teaspoons and work your way up to three if you like things spicy!
My Shells? I make them at home.
Well, kind of, and the shells aren’t technically a part of the recipe. BUT I’m including it in the notes. Instead of using store-bought taco shells I like to take corn tortillas, stuff them with the taco meat plus cheese, then oven bake them until the tortillas are crispy. I rub each tortilla with olive oil and then flip them halfway through cooking. This is key to getting the tacos extra crispy on both sides.
If you have a couple extra minutes, I would highly recommend making your own “shells”. They’re very, very good…and much healthier than store-bought too!
That cilantro lime ranch? You need it too.
Most tacos are topped with sour cream, but trust me this cilantro lime ranch is so much better, but it’s also not your average ranch.
I used fresh cilantro and plenty of lime in place of the usual herb mix and stirred in some pickled jalapeños for a spicy, tangy kick. This is the perfect sauce to dollop onto each cheesy, crunchy taco.
If you wanted to take the toppings a step further, I would recommend a pineapple salsa or mango salsa. But you all know me, I love a good fruity salsa. Oh, and maybe add a nice margarita too. This spicy mango marg is my personal favorite.
If you make these weeknight Crispy Chipotle Chicken Tacos with Cilantro Lime Ranch, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Watch the How To Video:
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Weeknight Cheesy Baked Chipotle Chicken Tacos with Cilantro Lime Ranch.
Key Ingredient: chicken
Crunchy on the outside...spicy and cheesy inside. Serve each taco with a creamy, cooling cilantro lime ranch sauce, and a mix of your favorite taco toppings.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pound ground chicken, beef, or turkey
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 2-3 teaspoons chipotle chili powder, use to your taste
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper, use to your taste
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 12 hard shell tacos (see notes for homemade option)
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese
Cilantro Lime Ranch
- 1 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- 3/4 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 cup pickled jalapeños, chopped + 2 tablespoons brine
- juice from 2 limes
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
-
1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
2. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over high heat. When the oil shimmers, add the ground chicken and onion. Cook, breaking up the meat as it cooks, until the chicken is browned, about 5 minutes. Add the chipotle chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, oregano, and salt. Add 3/4 cup water. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the sauce has thickened slightly around the chicken, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the cilantro.
3. Line the taco shells up on a sheet pan or in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Transfer to the oven and bake 5 minutes. Evenly divide the meat among each taco shell and top with cheese. Bake 10 minutes, until the cheese has melted.
4. Meanwhile, make the ranch. Combine all ingredients in a glass jar and shake or stir until creamy.
5. Serve the tacos topped with ranch, avocado, red onion, and any other desired toppings.
Recipe Notes
For Easy Homemade Hard Shells: Warm 8-12 corn tortillas for 30 seconds to 1 minute in the microwave, until pliable. On a baking sheet, rub the tortillas with olive oil. Lay each flat and then layer evenly with cheese and chicken. Fold the other half of the tortilla over the filling, gently pushing to adhere (see above photo). Transfer to the oven and bake for 5-8 minutes, then flip and cook another 5 minutes more, or until the cheese has melted and the tortillas are crisp.
Our Favorite Recipes
30 Minute Vietnamese Beef and Crispy Rice Bowl.
I want to make these bc they look delish! I have a question: do you rub the olive oil on one or both sides of the corn tortillas? Thanks
Hi Karen! I rub both sides with olive oil! I feel like it tastes better that way haha! I hope you love this recipe! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Looks incredible! I was curious if tofu crumbles or even chickpeas could be substituted as a non-meat protein?
Hi Mia! I have not tried this, so I am unsure how it would turn out for you! I would think good though! Please let me know if you try! xTieghan
I really like this recipe. Usually, we go for the soft tacos, but I want to try them This way with crispy shells for a change. Thanks for this recipe.
I hope you love them this way! Let me know how they turn out for you Joyce! xTieghan
These tacos look amazing! I totally need to try them out asap!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
I hope you do!! Let me know how these turn out for you Paige! xTieghan
These look so good and I’ve printed the recipe. I especially like your idea for oven baking them. Your childhood taco story sounds like about how I used to fix them for my kids, just didn’t know any better. The lime and cilantro dressing sounds wonderful!
Thank you so much Dewana! I hope you try this recipe and it brings back some good memories! xTieghan
love these crispy and home-made shells too, much better than packaged tortillas, thank you!
Yes!! Thank you so much Sabrina! I hope you try this recipe! xTieghan
These look absolutely amazing! Cannot wait time make them!
Thank you so much Lindsay! I hope you love these! Let me know how they turn out for you! xTieghan
tacos… I’m in!
I mean…always! Right?! Haha thank you Ruth! xTieghan
The recipe for your corn tortillas is missing. The recipe notes only say how to cook the tacos…
Hi! Yes, the recipe notes state how to make soft shell tortillas into hard shell! I hope you try this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan
I make my tacos like this but in the air fryer. So quick and they turn out nice and crunchy (have to watch them because they cook quickly). I just spray some oil on the outside of the shell before baking. Going to try your sour cream next time I make them. Sounds good.
Ooo I will have to try that! Sounds so good! Thank you Celeste! xTieghan
duh. I just realized you don’t make your own corn tortillas, and that’s why I couldn’t find the recipe. you just tell us how you turn soft tortillas into folded crispy ones. sorry about that.
You mentioned Smokey chipotle spice as key, but I’m not seeing it in your recipe
Hi Gail! It is 2-3 teaspoons chipotle chili powder, use to your taste! I hope you love this recipe! Let me know how it turns out for you! xTieghan
Love is tacos! Tacos are love! Enjoying these for lunch with my sweet right now. We are very into them! Thank you Tieghan. Happy Valentine’s Day
Happy Valentine’s Day to you! I agree, tacos are love!! Haha! I am so glad you are loving this recipe Resa! Thank you! xTieghan
@gail The chipotle powder is listed right above the smoked paprika in the recipe ingredients. The word “smokey” is not used because it is not a part of the actual name for chipotle powder. Chipotle powder is made from smoked, ground jalapenos. 🙂
Just tried these tonight. Is over supposed to be 325 instead of 425? Mine started burning are 2 minutes.
Hey Whit! The temp is correct. Is it possible your oven just runs really hot? or Is your oven a convection oven? Maybe try 375 next time?
Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you!! xTieghan
How do you keep the taco shells folded closed w/o them popping back open? Mine never stay closed. I would need a toothpick to keep them closed but I don’ t see you using any toothpicks… What is your secret? P.S. Your tacos look SO delicious! I wish I could eat them right now. They look so professional. These photographs and food styling look really colorful, amazing and professional as well. Be encouraged. 🙂
Hi!! If they are popping up I would place another baking sheet on top of them! Let me know if this works for you! Thank you so much! xTieghan
These look incredible! Trying to make these today and I’ve been hunting for the video you made of these. Cannot remember if the video was on your Instagram stories? Is it possible for you to point me in the right direction. Also ordering both your books on pay day!!! IN LOVE! Thanks so much x
Hi Maddie! Yes, I made these on my story on Instagram! I hope you love both of the books! Let me know what you try! Thank you! xTieghan
These were simply delicious, thank you Tieghan!
I used beef mince instead of chicken, and flatbreads instead of corn tortillas for the ‘homemade hard shells’, then served with carrot/beetroot/apple slaw and the cilantro lime ranch. Keeper 😀
Yum!! I am so glad this recipe turned out so well for you, Bonnie! Thank you for trying this! xTieghan
I made these this week, with ground turkey instead of chicken. They were a hit, in fact as a sit here writing this my son is eating leftovers for breakfast. The family has decreed that this recipe is a keeper. Thank you Tieghan for coming through with yet another irresistible recipe.
Thank you so much for trying this recipe!! I am so glad you loved it! xTieghan
Just made these and they are fantastic. Super easy and quick too! I made the homemade corn shells and they are definitely worth it. The spice mix will be my go to for all taco meat. The chipotle pepper and smoked paprika are key.
Thank you so much Alycia! I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
I made these mini with street taco shells. Great for an appetizer!
Ooo yes! Love that! Thank you! xTieghan
HBH is my go-to for weekly meal planning, so I’ve been trying to make a point of writing a review for the recipes I try out. Just made these for lunch and are chowing down right now! They’re delicious! I didn’t have any chipotle chili powder, so I opted to use a few chopped up chipotles in adobo sauce (And then added in a bit of the sauce too) since that’s something I pretty much always have on hand. I also went for ground turkey instead of chicken, which is an equally delicious alternative. I think I’ll be making this again next week and will be trying it with beef!
As someone who wasn’t born in the US but lives here now, ranch is something I’ve never really liked or grown accustomed to. But this cilantro lime “ranch” variation is something I can totally get behind! It’s refreshing, a little spicy and tangy (love the addition of the brine from the jalapenos) and garlicky!
Hi Shannon! Thank you so much for this! I am so glad you have been loving my recipes and I hope you continue to!! Also, glad you like this ranch! Way better than the bottles stuff! xTieghan
Hi! Would the cilantro lime sauce keep for more than a day?
Hi Priya! Yes, the sauce will keep for 1 week in the fridge. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you!! xTieghan
I tried this tonight. I struggled to get the shells to work. I brushed them with olive oil. The edges were crispy but the inner parts were not. I still think they were good. The filling was good. The lime ranch crema was good. I even put cilantro in it and I don’t like cilantro. My boys liked it. I think it has great potential. I tried a shell w/out brushing oil on it too. That was a tad crispier but not 100% perfect either. I also added green pepper to the meat mixture because I needed to use one up. I would still make this again and try the shells again! I did like the flavors! I don’t want the review to depend on the shells but that is what is keeping me from offering a five star rating. (You definitely need the oven at 425.)
Hi Shelli! I am glad you enjoyed these but sorry the shells were a problem! Did you brush both sides with olive oil? xTieghan
Made these Saturday night. Best tacos ever! Love the sauce as well. So easy. Wrapped the extra tacos in wax paper and froze them. Hope they defrost and crisp up for easy weeknight dinners. Seriously, the best taco meat spice combination I have ever tried. Hate using the package mixes with all the chemicals so this is my new go-to spice blend. Thanks !
Thank you so much Melinda! I am really glad you enjoyed this so much! xTieghan
HBH – Thank you for inspiring me to enjoy cooking again … I have tried so many of your recipes and they are all fabulous. This taco recipe is yet another wonderful creation and meal. Best, Sandra.
Hi Sandra! Thank you so much! I hope you continue to enjoy my recipes! xTieghan
My sons and I loved this dish. Tasty, just enough heat. I used corn tortillas as explained in your tip. My tortillas broke. Picking them up was tricky. Will make them again.
Hi Bernadette! I am so glad you all enjoyed this one! Please let me know if there are any questions I can help you with! xTieghan
These were amazing! Would absolutely make them again. I also would recommend the homemade taco shells. So easy & delicious!
They really make the difference haha! I am so glad you enjoyed these Abi! Thank you! xTieghan
Made this tonight, it turned out great! Loved baking the tacos for something different and the herby ranch was a delicious addition!
Be careful not to put too much olive oil on the shells before filling them, I had a some casualties on the first few :).
Hi Lindsay! I am so glad these turned out so well for you! Thank you for trying them! xTieghan
Made these last night and they were absolutely delicious!!!
So glad you enjoyed these tacos, Zee! Thank you! xTieghan
Made short rib barbacoa but had to try the homemade shells…unbelievable. I will never buy hard shells again!
Thank you so much Heather! So glad you loved these! xTieghan
Never ever had any taco recipe so good in my life, thanks Tieghan! For anyone who is struggling with getting their taco shells to stay in the folded position, we went the unhealthier route and flash fried them in a skillet and folded the tortilla over just so it was pliable enough to stay on the baking sheet, then finished them in the oven. It made them easy to stuff and the oil was already on the tortilla! Served ours with mango, pickled red onion, avocado and that creamy cilantro ranch OMG
Ooo sounds amazing as well! Thank you so much for trying this Alyssa! xTieghan
Made this last night and it was great. Good flavor and the dressing was amazing.
I am so glad to hear that Tina! Thank you so much! xTieghan
Wowowowow. Made these last night. Super fast. For the ranch, I used Trader’s Joe’s Hot and Sweet jarred jalapenos. I used them also in your ranch recipe for the buffalo chicken pull apart bread. It definitely brought the ranch up to a different level!
For this recipe, I used flour tortillas (hubby and I don’t care for corn) and the result was AMAZING, they came out tasting similar to flautas but healthier, obviously, since they were baked not fried. I only brushed oil on the outside, BTW.
Hubby demanded this be on the regular dinner rotation, said that if he was served this at a restaurant he’d be blown away, and that it’s one of the best meals I’ve ever made.
Big hit! Thanks again! 🙂
Ok yes!! That is such an amazing compliment! I am really glad you both enjoyed this recipe so much, Kristen! Thank you! xTieghan
Oh my, these were so good. I would recommend omitting the red pepper flakes until you have tasted the heat level. Mine were a bit spicy. The oven part worked great. They were nice and crunchy without deep frying. Thanks Tieghan!
Thank you Patricia!! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Made these last night for dinner. Loved the taste of the taco. Loved the cilantro lime sauce. i liked the homemade taco shells, but my husband wants traditional shells next time
Thank you so much Sheri! I hope you love this with traditional shells as well! xTieghan
Loved these tacos and so did my husband! He said they were the best ever! Will add this to my “archives” 🙂
Thank you!
Amazing! Thank you so much Karen! xTieghan
Wow. These are delicious and so easy to make! The sauce is finger licking good!!! Adding to our weekly rotation for sure!
So amazing to hear! Thank you so much for trying this Stacy! xTieghan
I made these tonight – so good! What is your favorite brand for corn tortillas? Mine were soft on the underside (but still good!) and not super easy to fold over.
Hi Andrea! I usually use Mission brand! Please let me know if there are any questions I can help you with! xTieghan
I really enjoyed this recipe!. I used 2 teaspoons of the Chiptole chili…..and it was a little spicy, will cut back next time. That Cilantro Lime Dressing is to die for!!!!!!! Going to try the Creamy butternut squash alla vodka pasta next. All your photos are great. I want to cook everything.
Aw you are too sweet! I hope you love all of the recipes you try Susan! Thank you so much! xTieghan
I made these Tuesday and they were amazing! We loved the heat of the spices and especially the lime sour cream. The technique of crisping up the shells in the oven was a game changer for me and will do this from now on since we prefer crispy shells. My husband requested them again for next week!! We had leftover taco meat do today I made quesadillas using the leftovers for lunch and they were fantastic, again dipping each bite in the lime sour cream.
Wow such a winner! So glad this turned out so well for you both Cindi! Thank you for trying it! xTieghan
OH EM GEE!! I made these this week as my meal prep and they were so epic I sometimes ate them for breakfast because I couldn’t wait for lunch.The ranch is so insanely delicious and healthy (I used low fat yoghurt)!! For meal prep, I just heated the tacos for 10 mins at 350 and they were instantly warm and cheesy again.
I did make a minor adjustment: Instead of ground chicken, I used breasts. Seared first before starting my sauce, simmered them for 30 mins in the spices and water, then shredded the chicken into it the reduced sauce. Also, Instead of toppings, I used whole green leaf lettuce leaves and wrapped them around my taco! I put chopped tomato and the ranch right in the taco and ate the whole thing with my hands. So unreal.
Thank you so much Hannah!! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Hi, Tieghan!
I saw that the recipe calls for 1/4 c of cilantro to be added to the meat. Is that pulled from the 3/4 cup you included in the ingredient list for the cilantro lime ranch, or is it in addition to?
Can’t wait to try to this recipe!
Another great recipe! Made two nights in a row!
That is so amazing! Thank you so much Rebecca! xTieghan
You are a taco genius!!!! DELICIOUS!!!!
I am so glad you enjoyed this Melissa! Thank you! xTieghan
Can’t wait to make these this week! Since before Christmas most of our meals have been from you, and I’m so grateful since they’ve all been fantastic! What do you usually serve as a side?
Aw that is amazing to hear! Thank you so much Jessica! I would most likely do a side of Spanish rice of refried beans! xTieghan
I couldn’t get our corn tortillas to not crack. I think I bought a junky brand. Despite the messy meal, they were delicious.
Hi Francie! I am so glad you still enjoyed this meal! Did you put enough oil on them maybe? Lmk! xTieghan
LOVED THESE! They were so yummy… I always feel like my homemade tacos are sort of “meh,” but no longer. We used ground chicken, which i feel is a lot more juicy than ground turkey. They also re-heated super well in the oven which is a plus because this made a ton of food for us. They have a sneaky heat to them which I really appreciated. Delish!!!
Haha love to hear that! Thank you for giving these a try, Catherine!! xTieghan
The spice mix was PERFECT! So yummy, and I’ll be using this tortilla hack for forever. Ranch was a bit too tart from the yogurt we used, so I’ll try sour cream next time.
Hi Deborah! Thank you so much for trying these tacos! So glad they turned out so well for you! Also, I hope you like it more with sour cream! xTieghan
I made these tonight and they were fantastic! I made half with corn tortillas and half flour tortillas. The family loved them, thank you.
Amazing! Thank you for trying this Kim! xTieghan
These are sooo good! The ranch sauce is everything!
Yes!! So glad you enjoyed this Heather! xTieghan
Made these tacos tonight for dinner with ground beef. I didn’t have chipotle chili powder at the house, but I did have some chipotle chilis in adobo sauce, so I just minced a couple of those up and tossed it in with the other spices.
The cilantro lime ranch sauce was super tasty and we loved the tang of the pickles jalapeños in it. The tortilla shells were super satisfyingly crunchy and still gooey in some spots with the cheese — yum. My only trouble was keeping the tortillas in place when I filled them. They kept wanting to flip back open, but it wasn’t a big deal in the end.
Thanks! I’ll be adding a printout of the recipe to our favorites binder.
Aw so glad you enjoyed this recipe so much Melissa! Thank you so much for trying it! xTieghan
This recipee is not an authentic Mexican taco we dont use ranch dressing that sounds awful , this is like the Chipotle restaurant and other restaurants that just say its Mexican food but its not.
Hi Oscar! Thank you so much for this. I stated in my post that this is Mexican inspired… not authentic. I always try to use my own flavors and put my own spin on recipes! I hope you understand! xTieghan
These were so good and easy! I premade the chicken and then used my air fryer to cook them each night. Baking it all together to create the homemade hardshell tacos took it above and beyond! The sauce was tasty, sortof like a spicy jalapeno crema!
I am so glad this turned out so well for you Giselle! Thank you so much for trying it! xTieghan
Made these last night and they were so delicious! Since I didn’t have chipotle powder I added some canned chipotles to the meat instead and it came out great. The sauce was also such a good addition and making the taco shells was SO good! Will definitely be making these again!
Hi Emily! That is so great to hear! Thank you for trying this recipe! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan, I made these tacos last night for supper and they were delicious! Easy, cheesy and crispy!
The sauce is the perfect compliment to the spicy meat. The only difference is that I used flour tortillas because that’s what I had. Keep up the good work and I look forward to your Sunday email of Nine favourite things.It’s the perfect way to start the day.
Thank you so much Linda! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Made with whole wheat tortilla and the crispy shell method. Yum!!
Amazing! Thank you Anjali! xTieghan
I totally made these, even folded the corn tortillas over as suggested. So dang good. I used a sheet pan on top for first 5 minutes until some of the cheese melted so they would stick together. The trick to keeping them closed, even a little, until you can get the pan on them is to not overfill. I had trouble with the first few. But oh my, were they worth it. That dressing was to die for. My daughter came to visit for a weekend and I made these as a special dinner for her with cilantro lime rice and an elote-ish corn salad. It was a perfect dinner, and I think that fold-over method will be the only way I will make tacos from now on.
Hi Kim! I am so glad these turned out so well for you! Thank you so much for trying this! xTieghan
Delicious recipe as usual. I didn’t feel like chopping an onion so I added some leftover caramelized onions I had on hand, I highly recommend it. I also used Chihuahua cheese, again highly recommend, it’s super melting and creamy. This is also pretty spicy, I eased off the chipotle and skipped the crushed red pepper, I like how it is customizable. The dressing is also phenomenal, I used sour cream and made as directed but added a little fresh parsley too.
Amazing! I am so glad this turned out so well for you Ali! Thank you! xTieghan
hi! I made this yesterday, and it was really yummy; however, when i added the water to the meat it didn’t thicken just evaporated. Is there something I missed? Is it possible to make another sauce to coat the ground beef?
Hi!! That sounds correct. The water is meant to evaporate and the meat does not get coated in a sauce. You can add enchilada sauce if you want a saucy taco. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you!! xTieghan
Your pictures don’t look like ground chicken to me lol!
Well, I am not sure what to tell you haha! It is ground chicken! I hope you try this recipe, Steven! xTieghan
These were so good- made them as written with the jalapeño ranch. Everyone loved them (reminded my kids of the frozen taquitos they love only better). Served with salad and black beans —-A+!!!
Thank you so much Jill! I am so glad you enjoyed this! xTieghan
Hi! Great recipe. Are these pickled red onions in your photos? And what toppings in addition to the recipe would you recommend if you had to choose? Thanks!
Hi Anne! Yes, those are pickles red onions! There are so many toppings you could choose from, but some of my favorites are avocado, shaved lettuce, and sour cream. I would stick to toppings you usually put on tacos! xTieghan
So delicious! I made them last night, used store bought hard shells and they worked great. Definitely will be a repeat!
Thank you so much Patti! I am so glad to hear that! xTieghan
I made these last night and they were amazing, tha sauce especially!
The only problem I had was my tortillas pretty stubbornly refused to fold so I let them lay flat & stacked another oiled one on top. The whole family really liked them and luckily since we’re isolating I had everything to make it on hand! I’m going to try again using cauliflower soon
Thank you so much Antoinette! I am so glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
These were soooo good. A new favourite at our house!
Yes!! That is so amazing to hear! Thank you Jules! xTieghan
I don’t have any ground meat on hand. Would I be able to make shredded chicken if I use boneless skinless chicken breast in the Instant Pot with this seasoning and maybe some broth?
Hi! I would actually just cut the raw chicken into bite size chunks, then cook that as directed. That will be great! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you!! xTieghan
I made these tonight and the flavor was delish! I however totally failed at the homemade hard shells. I don’t know what happened, if it was too much oil not enough, or if the tortillas were old. They stuck to the pan and kind of crumbled. I want to try again. Any suggestions of what may have gone wrong?
HI! Sounds like a combination. Try using fresh tortillas (make sure they are not dried out) and plenty of oil to ensure they do not stick. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I am so glad you love this recipe! Thank you!! xTieghan
Literally the best homemade tacos I’ve ever made/had!
So happy to hear that Jessie! Thank you so much for trying these! xTieghan
Tried these last night and they were a hit!!
Thank you so much Chandra! xTieghan
Sooooo good! We made this last night with what we had on hand. Everyone loved the corn tortillas in the oven! I can tell this will become a staple in our house! Thank you for recipe!
I love to hear that! Thank you so much for trying this Michelle! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan! Big fan of your blog and have both your books now too! (Your newest one is my favorite cookbook that I own). Absolutely love your recipes and everything I’ve cooked has always turned out so well!
Quick question on this recipe – I really want to make it but don’t have an electric hand mixer. Will you get the same results mixing by hand or is it best to have a handheld mixer?
Also total aside, but I always admire your dinnerware and I’m currently in the market if you have any suggestions for reactive glazed/rustic dinner & serve ware! Thanks! Diana
Just answered on the correct thread 🙂
What would happen if I used flour tortillas? Would they crisp up like the corn tortillas?
Hi Jess,
The corn tortillas will definitely be more crispy, but if flour is all you have these will still turn out great!
Quick, easy and to to die for!
Amazing! Thank you so much Melissa! xTieghan
Surprisingly easy recipe for how tasty they are. Will be making agaian and again & recommending to others!
Thank you so much Christina! xTieghan
These were SO good. I love the spice blend – I don’t like buying taco seasoning from the store because it’s so often loaded up with MSG etc, so loved making my own out of all things I had. I loved everything about this! So easy and tasty! Thank you!
I completely agree! I am so glad you enjoyd this one, Emily! Thank you for trying it! xTieghan
Hi. Made these and they were a big hit. Are your red onions pickled? And if so, what do you do to them?
Hi Mary! They are, but I just buy them like that! It is a bit easier. If you want, there are plenty on pickling recipes on the internet! xTieghan
My family really enjoyed the tacos. Delicious. Easy to make. Thanks for the recipe.
Thank you so much Janet! That is so amazing to hear! xTieghan
This spice blend is amazing! It might be by new go to taco seasoning. I did have an issue with the ranch though- mine is suuuuper watery. I’m using Full fat daisy sour cream and I even added less liquid than the recipe states. I did use an immersion blender, could that be it? Any tips?
Hi Natalie,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe! The immersion blender could be your issue, you only need to mix with a spoon. Hope this helps, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
These are so delicious…. love the spice and the ranch sauce.?
Thank you Anna! xTieghan
I finally found a blog that shares my love for smoked paprika! These were great and super easy. My shells weren’t staying folded at first, so I popped them in the oven flat and once the cheese started melting I was able to fold it over and have it stick. They did crack but it still stayed together and turned out perfect and crunchy…just not as pretty as her pictures 🙂 Thank you for the easy weeknight meal that will be added to the rotation.
Thank you so much Tara! I am so glad these turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Did you post the recipe for your homemade taco shells? I can’t seem to find it and I would really like to try it. Thank you!!!
Sarah
Hi Sarah! I just use corn tortillas, brush both sides with olive oil and bake to get hard shells! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
this is the first recipe of your’s I have made! they were SO good! I plan on making some of your others now xx
Thank you so much Elizabeth! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Shut your face these are freaking amazing!!! We LOVED them and will be definitely making them often. Thank you
Haha I am so glad you loved them! Thank you so much Melissa! xTieghan
So good and easy! My family said they were the best homemade tacos they’ve had. The best part was hands down the cilantro lime ranch…I mashed two avocados to add, and it was SO GOOD!!! Thanks Tieghan 🙂
Thank you so much Maggie May! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
So delicious ! I didn’t read the part about microwaving the tortillas so they broke but they were still delicious. Next time I’ll microwave them! On an unrelated note, I love the cursive font you use on the headings for your posts. Do you mind sharing the name of it/if it’s available somewhere to download or buy ?
Hi Elle! I am really glad this one turned out so well for you! Thank you for trying it! I will link the font below! xTieghan
https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Bentham
This was on my quarantine cooking bucket list! (Several of your recipes are on there ) and it was the perfect taco, had a little bit of everything we love, the crispy, spicy, cheesy-ness! And the sauce ! Yum! Perfect quick weeknight dinner. Thanks for the inspiration !
Yes! I am so glad you decided to make this one! Thank you Nina! xTieghan
Are the pickled jalapeños from a jar ?or can ?
Hi Desiree! Either should work great! I hope you love this recipe! xTieghan
Wow made these this evening and are delicious 👍👍🥰loved loved the ranch, I couldn’t stop trying it.
I bought corn tostadas by accident so hard to bend but delicious
Hi Helen! That is so great ot hear! I am so glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Wow, my sister and I are obsessed with these tacos. Growing up in California, when you see another taco recipe, you’re kind of like, “It’s a taco, what’s new?” But these are CRAZY good. The combination of smoked paprika and chipotle chili powder is really the key to the flavor burst in the taco! We adore the cool “ranch” on the top and in my opinion this recipe is not complete without pickled red onion. We add it every time! I suggest to make an easy side like cilantro lime rice that doesn’t overshadow the main dish! Thank you for this recipe!
Wow yes!! I am so glad you both are loving this recipe, Megan! Thank you for trying them! I hope you are staying well! xTieghan
So delicious!!!! Definitely will make this again. We used soft shell tacos and made them into the hard shells like the blog suggested and they came out incredibly crispy and yummy.
I am so glad you loved this Lindsay!! Thank you so much! xTieghan
This recipe was delicious! Our grocery stores are out of a lot of staples right now so I had to make some substitutions – beef instead of chicken and I had to make my own flour tortillas – but it still turned out amazingly! The ranch was particularly fantastic. Will definitely make again!
I am so glad you still were able to try it Sloane! Thank you so much! xTieghan
I Just made these tacos and they were amazing 😉. Thank you 🙏 so much for sharing your delicious recipe. The tacos were not greasy but they were crunchy. Yummy 😋
Thanks again
Thank you so much Malena! I am really glad this ended up turning out so well for you! xTieghan
Made these tonight & they came out really good! I got frustrated because the tortillas ripped down the fold while I assembled them, but they still stuck together so nothing fell out once they were baked. I also used 2 fresh jalapeños for the ranch instead of the pickled ones, so it came out extraaaa spicy.
Thank you so much Elise!! I am so glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
These chicken tacos are delicious. Love The cilantro lime! The addition of the chipotle chili powder gave it an amazing flavor.
Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Thank you for trying this Joanne! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Amazing cilantro lime ranch sauce!!
Thank you so much Albany! xTieghan
Great recipe- have made it twice in a few weeks! I can not get my taco shells to look like yours though. I rub both sides with olive oil but they still don’t come out as nicely browned and crunchy as yours seem to.
Hi Sallie,
Just want to check that you are using corn tortillas? Try warming them before coating in olive oil. I hope this helps, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
How do you fold the soft ones over without them ripping? I heated them in the mic like you said, then assembled, but when I went to fold, it wouldn’t stay and/or ripped in half. Like one of the comments suggested, i put a toothpick in, which saved some of them, but others look a mess!
Hi Kaitlyn,
I would highly recommend coating generously in olive oil after warming. This is key. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This was. HUGE hit! Question though: the corn tortillas weren’t that crispy. What could I have done wrong? Too much olive oil?
Hi Anne,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe! Next time be sure to coat in a generous amount of olive oil for crispiness. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Have you used small flour tortillas? That’s all I have. Thank you!!!!
Hi Roxy,
You can absolutely use those, they just may not get as crispy. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Do you ever think of making a BIG batch of your taco seasoning? I would LOVE that!!! Thanks!
Ooo that actually sounds like such a good idea! xTieghan
Wow just amazing!! I made these tonight and they were a huge hit!! Love all you recipes I’ve tried so far!!!
Thank you so much Samantha! I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Hi can I substitute corn tortillas for flour tortillas?
Hi Hira! Yes flour tortillas should work great for you! I hope you love this recipe! xTieghan
Amazing recipe! I stuffed some extra veggies in my tacos, delicious!! What brand of corn tortillas did you use? When I put mine in the oven they got too hard so I switched to flour.
Hi Julie! I use mission brand taco shells. I am really glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Made these 3 times now. AMAZING! Have been added every other week to our dinner rotation menu!
one question: Do you have a recipe for pickle jalapeño’s ?
Hi Amy! I am really glad you like this! I have a recipe for pickling veggies that I will leave below! I hope you love this! xTieghan
https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/quick-pickled-veggies/
I tried this recipe last month and now my people are making this recipe a tradition for every other Friday night. They party when they hear this is going to be made for dinner. Thanks, Tieghan!
Wow love that!! Thank you so much for trying these tacos! xTieghan
Can you use flour tortillas the same way?
Yes that should work fine! Thank you Brooks! xTieghan
We had these for dinner tonight. We loved everything about this recipe. They are absolutely delicious! My husband said, be sure to save the recipe! I made the homemade hard shells…..so much better!!!! We loved the cilantro lime ranch dressing. I used Greek yogurt. Thank you so much….next time, I need to make a fruit salsa as you suggested. I can’t wait to make them for our family.Sorry no picture!
Thank you so much Yvonne! Makes me so happy to hear that this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Great flavor! Cut way back on the spice and made triple batch of meat to feed 8 and it was perfect. I’m not sure how one batch feeds 6. I liked your homemade hard shell version but I had to switch to broil to get them to crisp up nicely after 20 min in the oven at 425°. Keeper recipe!
So happy to hear that! Thank you so much Abby!! xTieghan
Tastes amazing, quick and easy to make with ingredients on-hand. We have made these several times and I’m sure that it will be a staple on our family’s menu.
Thank you so much Lulu!! I am so glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
I made this tonight, but made it vegetarian by using cauliflower instead of chicken. I baked the cauliflower how I normally would, but with all the spices the chicken would’ve had. I added a little bit of dill to the cilantro ranch dressing too. Topped with shredded cabbage (I didn’t have lettuce), avocado, the cilantro lime dressing, green onions, and some Valentina or green tomatillos sauce if wanted. Thanks for another great recipe!
Thank you Amy!! I am really glad this one turned out so well for you!! xTieghan
These were ah-mazing!!! My family just devoured them. I snuck some of the cilantro lime ranch in the shells but everyone still wanted more of that ranch! So good! Your recipes are my go to’s. 😀
Aw that is so amazing to hear! Thank you so much for trying this recipe, Lisa! xTieghan
My family LOVED these. Such a quick and easy meal to throw together. We topped ours with thin slices of jalapeño and pickled red onion. I could drink the cilantro cream by itself. Thanks for the recipe. I will definitely be making these again, soon.
Yes that is amazing to hear! I am really glad these tacos turned out so well for you, Liz! xTieghan
Super good recipe. I had trouble with the corn tortillas splitting on the seam … but it didn’t change how delicious they were, just the need for more napkins. I’ve made one of your recipes every single night for dinner the past 4 nights. ALL delicious!!
I am so glad you loved these tacos, Amy! Thank you for trying them! xTieghan
Normally I don’t rate things, especially when I do not make the exact recipe. I used meatless crumbles and added a bag of roughly chopped baby spinach. I also used almond flour tortillas and aged havarti cheese (because it’s what I had handy). These were so amazing! I’m going to use some of the leftover filling on a roasted sweet potato tomorrow!
Amazing!! Thank you so much for trying this one, Elizabeth! xTieghan
I absolutely love this recipe! The only problem is the tortillas always split before they go into the oven. Any ideas ?
These were yummy! I’ve noticed with your crispy tacos and taquitos, my shells always crack! Do you recommend a certain brand corn tortilla, or do I need to microwave longer? Thanks!
Hi Lauren! I usually use mission brand and I think they work great! Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to help! xTieghan
I never comment on recipes because I always change up ingredients to my liking. I used ground turkey instead of the ground chicken and followed the recipe, this will be how I fix tacos from now on. What a great seasoning blend, I might add coriander when I fix it this weekend again. The cilantro ranch is perfect with it too.
I am so glad this one turned out so well for you, Barbara!! Thank you so much for trying it! xTieghan
I’ve made these before with chicken and made them again tonight with beef on our Blackstone Griddle. OMG they’re so good with fresh corn tortillas and that crema. 😋 Thank you so much for sharing this wonderfully delicious recipe. Looking forward to camping season with a bunch of friends.
Aw these will be amazing for camping! Love that! Thank you Jo! xTieghan
OMG these are so good! I don’t know how I’ll eat another taco again, made these with beef since we had that on hand. Very easy to make, these will definitely become part of our regular rotation of dinner recipes!
Love to hear that! Thank you for trying this Maddie! xTieghan
What temperature should I bake the flour tortillas?
Hi Lisa,
Bake the tacos at 425 degrees. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Can I make these in my air fryer?
Hi Caroline,
So sorry but I do not own an air fryer and I have never tried this so I would hate to advise the wrong way. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
What is that yummy looking red sauce next to the tacos in the pictures?? I need whatever that it is.
Hi Meghan,
It is a chipotle salsa, the recipe is located in the HBH Super Simple Cookbook. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
We made these for 4th of July and they were incredible! We did two versions: one chicken (exactly as written) and one black bean (as a vegetarian version). Both were so delicious! It was also worth the extra step to make our own hard shells. We’ll be making them again and again. Thank you!!!
Thank you so much Alyssa!! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Made this for our weekly taco Tuesday night and they were delicious! I followed the recipe precisely. My favorite part is the sauce. I’ve made the sauce for every taco night since. I actually just finished a batch for tomorrow’s carne asada (HBH recipe also) tacos! I love your recipes so much. You’re also my favorite to follow on IG!
Aw you are too kind! I am really glad you enjoyed this recipe, Michele!! xTieghan
Made these last night. My family went crazy for these! There is something about the seasoning mixture that really makes it stand out. And the sauce is so delicious too! Will be making over and over!!
Love that!! Thank you so much for trying this recipe, Alison! xTieghan
Loved it! Everyone in my family did, and that’s rare!
Love to hear that!! Thank you for trying this one, Rebecca! xTieghan
WOWOWOWOW! These have so much flavor. And the addition of the cilantro lime ranch just put it over the top. I’m a terrible cook and even couldn’t mess these up. Thank you for this recipe
Thank you so much Michelle! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
I don’t have tha McCormick chipotle Chile powder bit I have Badia chipotle powder. Will this result in a different taste?
Hi Judy,
That should be totally fine! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
These were wonderful! I didn’t make the sauce as I’m not a fan of sour cream (if I think there’s a chance I can taste it – ha), so we did without, but I made coleslaw using Trader Joe’s Cilantro Lime Dressing and a little Ranch dressing as a side. Great combo!
Thank you so much Kathy!! I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Delicious. Loved the fresh flavors. We added the pineapple salsa and it was perfect.
Thank you so much Holli! xTieghan
This was delicious! We made our own ‘hard shells’ from soft corn tortillas. The yogurt ranch was so so good. We had run out of pickled jalapeños so I used pepperoncini (and the liquid) instead and it worked great. Loved it – definitely making again!
Thank you so much Lisa!! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! I hope you continue to love this and others of mine! xTieghan
Our family liked these for sure! Moved it into our family approved recipes. We also liked the Cilantro Lime Ranch. I set a little dipping bowl for each kid before dinner on the table. I found my two year old eating it like it was yogurt.
I am so happy to hear that Sara!! Thank you so much for trying this! xTieghan
So delicious (and easy). But DO NOT sleep on making the sauce, the best!
Thank you so much Andrea!! I am so happy to hear that! xTieghan
I generally wouldn’t comment with having only made half the recipe (did not make the sauce) and missed a key ingredient but these were so good anyway! I’m absolutely making them again. I used ground turkey and did not have smoked paprika! I love smoked paprika and use it a lot. I’m positive I would have loved it in this recipe… alas, regular paprika had to do. I also didn’t have pickled jalapeño. Again, a staple in my kitchen…. clearly I need to go shopping. Anyway, very good with what I had. I noticed some people mention the tortillas not staying folded: Tip- don’t skip/forget to stick them in the oven for a minute before stuffing and folding. That should do the trick.
We stuffed shredded lettuce and avocado in ours after they were baked. Yum!
I am so glad you loved these, Tara!! Thank you for trying half of the recipe haha! I hope you love it with the sauce if you get a chance to make it! xTieghan
So so so soooooo good. I have never cooked with ground chicken before, but this sold me. These tacos are so cheesy and crunchy and flavorful. This recipe will be back on my family’s table in no time 🙂
I am so glad this turned out so well for you, Emma!! Thank you so much for trying it! xTieghan
This is my favorite go to recipe, it’s quick easy & the leftovers last for a good 3-4 days! I’m a college student and my roommates and I will make this on our busier weeks! We seriously make it every other week it’s awesome!
Wow that is so great to hear! Thank you so much! xTieghan
I love you…err, I mean, these tacos! Holy Moley, these are so much tastier than I even expected (we are skeptical of ground chicken). I’ll admit, you are the queen of taco spice, although I did switch out the chipotle chili powder for chipotle pepper purée (from jar in grocery store). Also that sauce, hot damn! This is now a new family favorite, can’t thank you enough!
Haha I am so glad you loved these!! Thank you so much Shelly! xTieghan
The meat mixture was flavorful and great, but making these in homemade taco shells was a complete disaster in our house. We had to scrap the concept of tacos altogether. The tortillas did not harden at all even after 20 minutes of cooking, tore and fell apart while cooking, an attempt to flip made a mushy mess. I think the meat mixture must have been entirely too liquidy and the tortillas kept soaking it up instead of crisping. Was very disappointed in how this came out, in that regard. Next time I’m back to store bought shells I guess.
Hi Juli! I am really sorry this did not turn out well for you! Is thee anything that could have gone wrong? I would love to help you!
LOVED this! So quick and easy, great for using up leftover meats or veggies, I used chopped pork bbq which already had a some vinegar and smokiness -SO delicious! I am planning to mix up a 10x batch of the seasoning (For the mix my family enjoyed it comes out to 2 1/2 T per 1 lb. meat) to keep on hand and make it even quicker. The Cilantro-Lime Ranch makes this gourmet quality (I served the chopped cilantro and chopped jalapenos on the side for those in my family who like less or none) but the tacos alone are easily among the best I’ve ever had!
Wow that is seriously so amazing to hear! Thank you so much for trying this one, Kimberly! I am really glad it turned out so well for you! xTieghan
This is a new favorite for the family! I cut wayyyy back on the chipotle chili powder (1 Tbl) and our lips were still humming and we love spicy food! The dressing is essential, as it’s cool and delicious! Thanks for a wonderful meal!
Thank you so much! I am so glad this turned out so well for you!! xTieghan
Made this this past weekend and they were fantastic! I also had trouble with the tacos popping open and will try the sheet pan trick next time around, because there will definitely be a next time. Cilantro lime ranch sauce was to die for and really made all the flavors come together.
Thank you so much Peggy! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Taco Thursday! So of course, I know best, and didn’t microwave my tortillas first because I felt they were already pliable. So of course they spit in the oven, but were no less delicious for that! Next time, I will do as I’m told! Definitely making this again. LOVED the cilantro lime ranch!
Thank you so much Lesley! I am so glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
this looks wonderful
Thank you Lorraine! xTieghan
Amazing! My husband and I ate these right up. I had also made a pineapple habanero hot sauce that mixed well sparsely atop the dressing.
Love to hear that! Thank you Katie! xTieghan
Hi
Could you use pieces of chicken breast instead of ground chicken?
Thanks
Hey Sophie,
Yes that would work! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Delicious! Thank you for sharing 🤤😋
Thank you so much Lindsey!! xTieghan
I would love to have your recipe for the tortillas. Mine seem to shrink and get thick.
Thank you so much,
Jo Ann
Hi Jo Ann! I use mission brand tortillas! I hope this helps! xTieghan
WOW! I made these for a office of 10 people and they were fabulous.
But I was in a hurry and had to make some shortcuts. I used ground turkey with all your spices and 1 1/2 t. chipotle powder. Made a sauce with avocados and sour cream with a little cumin, garlic & onion powders and garlic salt and Tajin lime seasoning. Some of the best mexican food I have ever had uses lard. So I melted a very little lard and lightly brushed the tortillas on both sides. Then I put them under the broiler heated on low about 1-2 minutes. Spread the entire taco with cheese then the meat mixture down the center then more cheese. I spread the grated cheese over the edges of the tortillas. Put back under the broiler took out and folded pressing together and pushing the yummy extra cheesey edges on top and put back under broiler for 2 minutes on each side. When done I put the avocado sauce in the taco. Plated and put chopped garden tomatoes and cilantro over tops and sprinkled with a few fresh chopped red onions. These were the best tacos I’ve had in years. Using lard and baking them made them taste like they were fried without all the grease. Next time I want to make them with shredded pork. Thankyou for this recipe Tieghan. These were the real deal Mexican Street Food. Hope to post the photo on Instagram soon.
Wow yes!! I am so happy these turned out so well for you and everyone, Nann! Thank you for trying these! xTieghan
These will definitely be my new go to dinner. I had to stop myself from eating all of them! I went with the corn tortillas instead of the hard shells and it ended up being way better. Can’t wait to make again, thanks for the recipe!
Wow yes! I am so happy these turned out so amazing for you, Alexa! Thank you for trying this! xTieghan
These were INCREDIBLE! I love the cilantro lime ranch (cannot skip this!), and I love how the tortillas get crispy and the cheese gets melty in the oven. I made mine half with corn tortillas and half with flour, and I really liked how the flour ones turned out too!
Love that! Thank you for trying this recipe, Katherine! xTieghan
This is a fabulous way to make crispy tacos. I will make this a standard recipe. The chipotle and sauce make it!
Thank you Esther! xTieghan
I was a bit skeptical at first but oh my goodness! These tacos were delicious! The chipotle lime ranch sauce made them extra special. My family ate every last one and asked that I make this recipe again. I will definitely make them again and cannot wait to take these tacos to a gathering. Thank you!
I am so glad these turned out so well for you, Angie! Thank you for trying them! xTieghan
What is the brown sauce in the picture?
Hey JH,
It is a red salsa. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Since we’re only dining outside with friend now, using our outdoor kitchen, could this work if the meat was pre-prepped inside, then the “baking” step done on the barbecue?
Hey Ginger,
Sure that would work! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
These were amazing! And the cilantro lime ranch was delicious. I’ve been using it on anything I can! How long would you say the ranch would last in the fridge? I plan on keeping it as a regular item on hand now 😉
Hey Krystal,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe! I would say it is good for 2 weeks in the fridge. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This now our go to, every taco Tuesday! Thank you for this great recipe 🙂
Thank you JD! I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
As a HBH regular, these were yet again an unbelievable recipe. The flavors, sauce and presentation were DEFINITELY something to write home about! I added some refried beans to the tacos, and topped with the ranch, homemade guacamole, shredded lettuce and chopped tomatoes. Every kid and adult licked their plates clean! Thanks for another drool-worthy recipe that will be a staple for us in the future!
Thank you so much for trying this recipe, Sam! I am really glad it turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Great healthy tasty recipe for Taco Tuesday! I did reduce some of the spices in half as I like it spicy buy not edible for my liking. Will make again
Thank you,
Thank you so much Suzanne! I am really glad these tacos turned out so well for you! xTieghan
My kids loved this so much, they made me make this two nights in a row! So delicious! Question on the corn tortilla option…each time I made it with the corn tortilla, which was super yummy, the tortilla broke apart when I flipped it to bake for another five minutes. The second time, I tried putting more olive oil, but it still seems to stick to the baking sheet and break. Do you have any advice about that? I just want mine to look as good as your picture!!
Hey Joanna,
I am so glad you family has been enjoying this recipe! I would recommend trying a different brand of corn tortillas. I like Whole Foods 365. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Flavor was awesome! My tortillas didn’t stay closed (with oil both sides) so i put a pan on top. Then I had to broil the shells to make them crisp on both sides. Next time I will just use hard shells!
I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you, Courtney! Thank you! xTieghan
Made these for dinner tonight and they are outstanding!
Hands down the best recipe of all your recipes ! I’ve made it a ton of times and it’s outstanding each time. Leftover meat goes into a taco salad with a cilantro vinaigrette for the next night.
Yum!! I am really glad this turned out so well for you, Mary Jane! xTieghan
These are so good!!!! Seriously so simple and easy to get the tacos together. The “ranch” is insanely good. This will definitely be in the rotation!
Thank you so much Eliza! xTieghan
Help! Why do my shells break in half when I fold them? Thanks, Kim
Hey Kim,
So sorry you are having issues with the shells. It is key to heat them and coat in olive oil first. If this does not help try a different brand of tortillas. I like Whole Foods 365. I hope this helps for next time. xTieghan
These DIY crunchy shells are so good! I’m never buying hard shell tacos ever again. Added a little diced red pepper to the onions and chicken and the sweetness complemented it really nicely. Thanks for this!
Thank you Becky!! I am really glad these turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Loved this recipe! Didn’t know what to make for dinner and you inspired me! The tangy jalapeño dressing is a hit and something I’ll definitely be adding to my repertoire going forward – thank you!!
Thank you so much Stephanie! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
These were delicious and I will absolutely make them again. I forgot to flip them halfway through, but they STILL turned out great. They are very spicy, so I plan to scale back the jalapenos & red chili a bit next time! 🙂 Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for trying this one, Andrea! xTieghan
Great recipe! Absolutely delicious. I subbed leftover shredded turkey for the ground chicken and just added it in after the onion, with the spices. I didn’t see the note of using soft shell, instead used corn tortillas. They broke and weren’t pretty enough for a picture but my tastebuds were plenty happy. Thank you for taking the guess work out of this busy momma’s evening meal prep:)
Thank you Erica! I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
I made these tonight with moose burger. Sooo good. No pics because we devoured them before I even thought about it! I will definitely be making them again. Thanks for the great recipe!
Thank you so much Callie! xTieghan
My Minnesota family loved this meal! Mine wasn’t as pretty as yours but the taste was so savory and fresh!
Thank you for sharing!
Kristi
Thank you so much Kristi! xTieghan
The title says it all – now that I have made these (I think it’s up to 4 times in the past few months) I cannot have any other tacos because these are JUST SO DELICIOUS!!!! Girl you are truly amazing – these will be added to our family recipe book FOREVER
I am so happy you loved these! Thank you so much for trying this recipe! xTieghan
A great recipe! I went ahead and made my own corn tortillas with MASECA corn flour. It took a bit longer to get them crispy after I made them, cooked at 350 for 25 min. Definitely a family favorite. Thanks for the recipe!
Thank you Layla!! xTieghan
I finally made these tacos. They are a 10 out of 10! So great. I used ground beef and I think it gives such great flavor. The only problem is that this is a small recipe for my family of 4. They have requested that I make them again this week, but double it Don’t use store bought shells. Use your own tortillas as suggested in the recipe. Yum!
Thank you so much Kara! I am really glad these turned out so well for you! xTieghan
I’ve made a few of your recipes and they’re always a hit! Made these today with beef and added green chilies, definitely a new family favorite!
Thank you Mae! xTieghan
Loved the tacos. Should have looked at the pictures better to notice the parchment paper. They stuck to the pan 🤪
Hi Renee! I am so sorry about that!! xTieghan
These were a hit! Great flavor, and that sauce! I will be making these again, thank you! One recommendation for fellow followers – once you fold the tacos and are ready to place in the oven, maybe cover with a sheet of foil and place another cookie sheet on top. It should help keep the tacos formed when you take them out.
Thank you for trying these! I am really glad they turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Hi there,
This recipe is AMAZING!!! I’m making it again this weekend and was wondering if you have recipe for a good side dish that would compliment the tacos?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Shuka
Hey Shuka,
I would do a big salad or rice and beans! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Absolutely fantastic! I’m a huge taco lover and these were some of the best ones I’ve ever made at home. The chipotle chili powder really shines through in the seasoning making it extra special and the cilantro dressing takes it over the top. The recipe made much more dressing than than what I could use for tacos so I have been putting it on my salads and it’s spectacular. I made the tacos with beef and can’t wait to try the chicken next. This is my new go-to taco recipe. Thank you!
Thank you so much Dominique! I am really glad this recipe turned out well for you! xTieghan
Made these tonight and they were so good!! We will definitely make them again!
Hey Stacy,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thanks for giving it a try! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
I’ve made these tacos about 10 times–love them! And they freeze well and reheat well.
Hey Susan,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad you enjoyed it! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Made this crunchy tacos for dinner tonight and they were a HIT!!!
I used ground turkey breast and thigh mix and it was so good. Loved how easy this receipt was to put together, great for a week night dinner.
The Cilantro Sauce was so good, next time I will make more.
This one is going into my receipt box!!
Hey there,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad you enjoyed it! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
I made this last night using “Impossible” vegan burger meat, and they were delicious, for anyone looking for a vegetarian option! I also made the homemade shells option, and it worked out great. Thanks for another great recipe, Tieghan!
Hey Kerry,
I am so glad the recipe worked out for you, thanks for giving it a try! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Cilantro lime sauce was way to bitter with the combo of lime and jalapeno brine. Had to reduce it with extra sour cream and some pepper. Family is not a fan though. Anyone have an alteration recommendation?
Hey Ang,
So sorry the cilantro lime was bitter, was there anything you adjusted? Can I help in anyway? Let me know! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
It was super tasty! The crunchiness was perfect!!
Hey Maria,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thank you so much for giving it a try! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
These were sooooooo good and quick & easy – a perfect Taco Tuesday recipe! I used ground chicken. The cilantro ranch is a must! Served alongside black beans and rice. I’m giving it four stars because I got super confused on the recipe vs. the recipe note on the hard shell tacos. They seemed to contradict each other and I truly didn’t know what to do. The other thing that I will stress emphatically is that you must work quickly after nuking the corn tortillas in the microwave. I would go at least 45 seconds to a minute. I only did 30 seconds. I didn’t realize that if I didn’t fill the tacos while they were super pliable, that the corn tortilla would break apart immediately. I did figure this out on my second batch – and those were perfection. Will definitely make again and hopefully do the taco shells the right way next time. I also read (just now, the next day) that I should have rubbed oil on both sides of the tortilla. I didn’t realize that when I made them.
Hey Amanda,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am thrilled that it worked out for you! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
I would like to make homemade tortilla shells but can’t find your recipe for them can u share yours please? Thanks
Hey Brandy,
So sorry I do not have a recipe for tortillas, I use store bought. I hope you love the recipe. Let me know if there is anything else I can help with! Happy New Year! xTieghan
Would these same seasonings be good with ground beef too?
Hey Mikaela,
Yes, that would work well! Happy New Year! xTieghan
My family loves all your recipes. I have a question regarding the “Ranch” – the recipe says 2 Tablespoons brine juice from 2 limes. Is that just the juice? I have never heard of brine juice and wondering what that was. Thanks.
Hey Sara,
Sorry that is a typo, it is lime juice! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy New Year! xTieghan
What kind of corn tortillas do you use? Mine always break at the seam while I am assembling.
Hey Bethany,
I use Whole Foods 365 brand corn tortillas. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy New Year! xTieghan
Just made this for dinner and Cuban I just say yum!! I could put the ranch on top of ranch and be happy! Delicious! Thank you for sharing!!
Hey Kelsey,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for giving it a try! Happy New Year! xTieghan
This was easy and so delicious. The Cilantro Lime Ranch is perfection.
Thanks so much Alonna! Happy New Year! xTieghan
My husband and I made these last night using ground turkey and the homemade shells. We loved them! Such a good twist on the tacos we normally make. These are going into the permanent rotation!
Hey Jill,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Happy New Year! xTieghan
Another winner! Really easy and so, so good. I can’t believe I’ve buying buying taco seasoning all these years when I could be making this deliciousness! Never again!
Hey Jennifer,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Happy New Year! xTieghan
Loved these! I may have added a little too much red pepper because they were very spicy and that built up over time too. But I’ll just cut back in that next time. Made my own shells and it was so worth it!
Hey Lindsey,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Happy New Year! xTieghan
I surprised the teenagers who live next door with these tacos for New Year’s Eve and they said it was the best thing they’ve ever eaten (I didn’t tell their mom, who is a friend of mine that). LOL. Made mine with ground turkey. It’s an easy and awesome dish. Highly recommend.
Hey Coskier,
Thank you so much for giving the recipe a try, I am thrilled that it worked out for you! Happy New Year! xTieghan
Loves these tacos, although I could use some more spice in the meat so I will punch that up more next time I make. I also didn’t have pickled jalapeño for the sauce so I used regular and added a little vinegar and it was just as good! I used turkey, looking forward to trying with beef.
Hey Amy,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for giving it a try! Happy New Year! xTieghan
Easy and delicious. A definite crowd pleaser, so you might need to double the recipe :).
Hey Ann,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Happy New Year! xTieghan
This is an apartment staple. We make it at least once a month. The only modification we’ve made to the recipe is fresh jalapeños instead of pickled. We found the pickled flavor overpowering.
Hey Veronica,
Thank you so very much for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad it worked out for you! Happy New Year! xTieghan
Omg these were crazy delicious! Will definitely be making again. One issue I had was my soft corn tortillas split when folding them over gently. Do you have any tricks to prevent that from happening?
Hey Jen,
Thank you so very much for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad it worked out for you! Next time, try a different brand of tortillas, Whole Foods 365 brand works well for me. Happy New Year! xTieghan
Do you have an alternative dip suggestion if your family doesn’t like cilantro?
Hey Kate,
You can skip the cilantro and use another herb that your family enjoys! Happy New Year! xTieghan
I’m making these tonight. So excited! Thanks for all of your amazing recipes and beautiful food photography!
Hey Ally,
I hope you love the recipe, let me know how they turn out for you! Happy New Year! xTieghan
So…these look amazing. But I hate cilantro 🙁 Should I leave it out? Use parsley? I know, cilantro is literally in the title, but just wondering 🙂
Hey Brandy,
Parsley would be great here! I hope you love the recipe. If you have any other questions, please let me know! Happy New Year! xTieghan
This taco recipe was superb….the spice mix was bang on and the cilantro lime ranch dressing was out of this world.
Hey Sudha,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am so glad you enjoyed the spices! Happy New Year! xTieghan
This recipe was so easy and delicious!!! Instant crowd pleaser for my picky eaters! This will definitely be on our menu!!!
Hey Neha,
I am so thrilled that you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for giving it a try! Happy New Year! xTieghan
Can’t wait to make! The photo seems to include pickled onions which sounds amazing.How do you make pickled onions?
Hey Makenzie,
Yes! Here is the recipe that you can follow: https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/quick-pickled-veggies/
Please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy New Year! xTieghan
These were SO good…especially the cilantro lime ranch! I used flour tortillas, and they got super crispy without any oil. Adding this recipe to the regular rotation, for sure!
Hey Maggie,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe. That is so great the recipe was enjoyed! Happy New Year! xTieghan
Oh my GOODNESS this was so easy and delish!! I opted to make the crispy tortillas myself and it was so worth it. Very spicy and my kids are WEAK SAUCE so they wouldn’t eat it, but me and the hubs are already looking forward to leftovers tomorrow, lol!
Hey Amber,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe. That is so great the recipe was enjoyed! Happy New Year! xTieghan
So delicious! My husband made these for us tonight!
Hey Kara,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe. That is so great the recipe was enjoyed! Happy New Year! xTieghan
Hi! I’m wondering how these hold up as leftovers.
Hey Marie,
Totally fine to have as leftovers, just pop them in the oven to warm through. I hope you love the recipe. Please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy New Year! xTieghan
Made these tonight and they were delicious and very flavorful. My only question is how to get the tortilla a bit more crunchy…are you suppose to bake the tortilla for 5 mins before the filling& cheese step? Or just fill and bake on both sides for 5-8 mins? I felt it could have been crispier so wanting to improve that the next time. Thanks again for another amazing recipe!
Hey May,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe. That is so great the recipe was enjoyed! I like to coat the tortillas in olive oil to achieve the crisp! Happy New Year! xTieghan
My boyfriend and I LOVED these tacos!! They were amazing and we will 100% be making these often. I was wondering if you had any idea why some of my shells turned out a little chewy? We still loved the recipe but I was wondering if you think this could be because of too much or too little olive oil? We did put the olive oil on both sides. Thank you!!
Hey Holly,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed! So sorry about the tortillas, I would try a different brand, I love Whole Foods 365. Happy New Year! xTieghan
Delicious! Thank you for another great recipe.
Hey Patty,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe. I am so glad you enjoyed! xTieghan
These tacos are absolutely delicious. I have made them several times and they are always well received. I have a question about the shells, though. Any suggestions to keep them from tearing on the bottom? Thanks for the recipe.
Hey Reba,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe. I am so glad you enjoyed! So sorry about the tearing, make sure you coat both sides in olive oil to avoid this! xTieghan
Oh man, these were so good! Even my super picky 4 year old loved them! I tried your trick with the second sheet pan on top for the tortillas and it worked perfectly. Thanks! This one is a keeper!
Hey Liz,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe. I am so glad you enjoyed! xTieghan
This was a nice recipe. I used ground turkey, homemade chili paste (in addition to the seasonings), and added fresh jalapeños. My only flag was that I tried the homemade hard shells and they came out chewy – would not use that method again. I would make this recipe again but with lightly charred corn or flour tortillas. I thought flour tortillas tasted better with this, but both work.
Hey Sarah,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Happy New Year! xTieghn
This was delicious!! All 3 of my kids loved it which is a major mom win! I, too, had a hard time having the tacos make their shape. And I think it was my bad because I bought those tiny Mi Rancho taco sliders (corn) from Whole Foods so they are tiny to begin with! So I ended up making little tostadas. Still followed the directions (oil on both sides of the tortilla, etc). and they worked well as little tostadas. They crisped up so well! And then we just put everything on top (lettuce, cilantro, the amazing cilantro lime ranch – delicious!!!). I love love when things have fresh lime juice so was worried the 2 T of jalapeño brine would ruin the flavor (freshness of the lime juice) of the ranch, but it was delicious! Great recipe. Thank you, Tieghan!
Hey there,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe, I am so thrilled that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
AMAZING!!! My son said THE BEST tacos he has ever eaten!!! The cilantro lime topping is crazy delicious!! I didn’t have any smoked paprika…but my friend had smoky salt, so I just added that with regular paprika. Pure Awesomeness!! Thank You for a delicious dinner!!
Hey Sheree,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe, I am so thrilled that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
do you have substitution for the chipotle chili powder? I am in Canada and having trouble finding this.
Hey Dani,
You could use regular chili powder. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
These were my favorite tacos I’ve ever made! I didn’t realize taco meat could actually be this delicious! This is going on our list of “winner winner chicken dinners” 🙂
Hey Kim,
I am so thrilled that you enjoyed the tacos, thanks so much for giving the recipe a try! xTieghan
YUM! These were delicious and so easy – the perfect Taco Tuesday meal!
Thank you!
Hey Liz,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
So so spicy…. maybe the chili
Powder? Ouch!
Hey Anne,
So sorry you did not enjoy the spice level, next time I would reduce or omit the crushed red pepper. I hope this helps! xTieghan
Made these the other night. They were delicious! However, my tortillas would not stay closed so I did your trick with the sheet pan on top and they all broke in half at the fold. Ended up eating them with a knife and fork. I don’t know what I did wrong. I did not microwave the tortillas as they seemed pretty pliable when I opened the package. Could that have been the problem? I did oil both sides of the tortilla.
Hey Karen,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe, so sorry you had issues with the tortillas. I really find that warming them helps with breakage. You could also try a different brand of tortillas, I love Whole Foods 365. I hope this helps for next time:) xTieghan
Love Tieghan’s recipes! Seriously have not been disappointed once. I made these last night and they were AMAZING. So simple but so good. And that jalapeño ranch is perfect. The splash of lime and salt added onto the tacos at the end just tops it off! Definitely recommend trying these babies! I did double the recipe since my husband eats a lot haha but it worked out great. Thanks for sharing!!
Hey Morgan,
I am so thrilled that you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for making it! Happy Friday! xTieghan
These are amazing! And so easy. We love this recipe!
Hey Erin,
I am so thrilled that you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for making it! Happy Friday! xTieghan
Made these tonight. So delicious!
Hey Rosie,
I am so thrilled that you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for making it! Happy Friday! xTieghan
SO delicious! We loved these and they reheat really well too. That cilantro lime dressing! YUMMMMMM!!!
Hey Barb,
I am so thrilled that you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for making it! Happy Friday! xTieghan
Loved the flavor of the chicken!! I sadly must have not used enough olive oil on the tortillas since they broke in half and weren’t very crispy (I even microwaved them for 60sec before putting oil on them), but that was definitely user error.
How much olive oil do you rub on the tortillas and what size tortillas do you use?
Hey Kim,
So sorry you had issues with the tortillas, I use 6 inch round tortillas. I would recommend trying a different brand, I really like Whole Foods 365. I hope this helps for next time! xTieghan
I’m excited to make this, but have a question. In the pictures above there is a red sauce shown next to the tacos, but I don’t see it on the recipe. Is that something I’m missing? (I also see what appears to be pickled onions so maybe it’s just something else)….
Hey Jennifer,
The red sauce is just a basic hot salsa. Here is the recipe to make pickled onions: https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/quick-pickled-veggies/
I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Delicious! The cilantro lime ranch puts it over the top. This will be added to our dinner rotation.
Hey Alyssa,
I am so thrilled that you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for making it! Have a great week:) xTieghan
Hello! Have you tried this with anything other than corn tortillas? I want to make these with siete cassava flour torillas, but not sure if they will turn out the same.
Hey Jenny,
Yes, I used the Site tortillas and they worked great! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
These were easy to make and full of flavor but holy wow, were they spicy. Or maybe I’m just a wimp. But my eyes were watering and my mouth on fire! The corn tortillas also split when I was assembling the tacos on the sheet pan before baking, so not sure if there’s any solution to prevent that. I’ll def make again, but scale back a bit on the spice.
Hey Lindsey,
I am so thrilled that you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for making it! So sorry about the spice! Have a great week:) xTieghan
I wanted to love this. It has all the right flavors but
1) it took way longer than 40 mins especially if you try to make the crispy taco shells yourself. will definitely buy ready made taco-shells should I attempt to make this again
2) first time I used ground chicken in my life and the smell of the chicken meat while cooking made me want to throw up. Despite all the lovely spices, I still had the smell in mind when eating. I will try beef next time.
The saving grace was the cilantro lime sauce! I used yoghurt and it was delicious. I give the sauce five stars!
Hey Aline,
So sorry this took you longer than excepted and you were bother by the smell of the ground chicken, please let me know how I can help for next time! xTieghan
We absolutely LOVE these tacos!!! You’re recipes are my go-tos!!! Thank you for sharing them’1
Hey Jill,
I am thrilled that you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for making it! xTieghan
Help! I made my cilantro lime ranch way too spicy, any ideas on how to tone it down?
Hey Natalie,
So sorry, the ranch is not meant to be spicy! Is there anything you adjusted? Let me know how I can help! xTieghan
Loved it! But if you don’t like spicy I’d say omit the chipotle powder (I used 1 tsp of chipotle powder pepper) maybe different that chipotle powder? But the homemade shells are crispy and so yummy!
Hey Roslyn,
I am thrilled that you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for making it! xTieghan
I’m 8 years old my mom and I made this recipe today. we loved it a lot
Hey Eva,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe. I am glad you enjoyed it! xTieghan
My sister has been telling me to make these for months & I finally did for dinner tonight. Some of the best tacos I’ve ever made! The ranch really brings it together. Another good one to add to the rotation!
Hey Samantha,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for making it! xTieghan
I really loved this so much! I made with only 2 tsps of the chip chili powder. If I wanted to make slightly less spicy for picky kids should I sub in another spice and put even less than recommended?
Thank you!
Hey Beth,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for making it! To make this less spicy, just reduce or omit the crushed red pepper. xTieghan
Tried these tonight using corn tortillas, the instructions to turn them into “homemade hard shells” 100% did not work, the corn tortillas broke in half (even using another tray on top to form the shape), and the liquid from the cheese and meat spilled out all over the baking tray. What i ended up with was more like a soggy, broken taco sandwich (not crispy at all.) Not sure how others are getting crispy taco shells using this method! We ended up eating with a fork and knife and they were tasty, just not what i was expecting. I’d try again using premade hard shells.
Hey Jessica,
So sorry you had issues with the tortillas. Did you heat them first and cover with oil? This prevents them from ripping. If so, I would try another brand of tortillas, I like Whole Foods 365. I hope this helps for next time! xTieghan
YUUMMMEEENESS!!!!!!!!!!! Our family LOVED it!! 🙂 Who would of thought to bake a taco?? Genius! I would just add how important it is to drain the taco meat as it can make the taco shell soggy and break. Also,lining the cookie sheet with parchment paper is critical since it keeps from the cheese sticking to the shell/cookie sheet, thus breaking the shell. And, dont go without the ranch sauce! THEE BOMB dot COM baby!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey there,
I am so glad that the recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! Have a great week:) xTieghan
Hi Teigan, I’ve been on a bit of a cooking binge using your recipes, and these look delicious. I have a question: When you call for crushed red pepper, do you mean (crushed) chili flakes or cayenne pepper? All the best!
Hey Myrna,
Sorry for the confusion, you want to use chili flakes. I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
These tacos were phenomenal!!! Some of the best tacos I’ve ever had and I’m so picky about my tacos. My 16 year old is even pickier and she was obsessed with them. She made a burrito and a rice bow with the meat. She rarely eats leftovers but she couldn’t get enough of these. They will now be on a regular Taco Tuesday rotation.
To those people who rate a recipe before they try it (Oscar! And I’ll respond directly to you in a minute) that’s so unfair and unkind. I don’t think anyone should be allowed to rate a recipe they’ve never tried. They should be more aware of the affects of their actions and how it can dissuade others from even trying a recipe, if they only look at the star rating. Thankfully, there were enough people who rated this recipe high enough to keep the overall rating high.
HBHers (or Harvesters? Not sure what to call your faithful followers), do yourselves a favor and TRY this recipe just once. I know you’re going to LOVE it.
Hey Stacy,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a go, I am thrilled that it was enjoyed! Have a great week:) xTieghan
These were delicious! The shells caused me grief, obviously not your fault. I had soft yellow corn shells and they smelled and tasted horrible so I decided to used white corn ones. Any tips on what kind to use? Thanks for another great recipe!!
Hey Judy,
Thanks for trying the recipe, so sorry about your shells. I like to use Whole Foods 365 brand yellow corn tortilla shells. I hope this helps for next time! xTieghan
Great but definitely spicy! And I’m big on spicy food – would prob lay off the chipotle powder next time. I also cranked up the oven a bit to get the shells really crispy. Super tasty would for sure make again.
Hey Emily,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try. I am so glad that it was enjoyed!! xTieghan
Killer good! My first recipe of yours. For a skinny girl you sure can cook. Will be trying many more.
Thank you
Hey Tara,
Thanks a lot for making this recipe, I am delighted that it was enjoyed! Happy Friday:) xTieghan
I had half of a costco rotisserie chicken in the fridge that I was tired of looking at so I tried this recipe with that instead of ground meat. It was so good. The kids put the tacos together while I sipped wine and monitored. An easy weekday meal that even a couple of teens can manage. Definitely making this again soon!
Hey Karima,
Thanks a lot for making this recipe, I am delighted that it was enjoyed! Happy Friday:) xTieghan
I could eat this ranch by the spoonful! The tacos are simple but delicious. Great comfort food.
Thanks so much Alex! xTieghan
SO DELICIOUS! These tacos had so many delicious flavors! Will definitely be making again! Thank you!
Hey Sara,
I am so so glad that you liked the recipe, thanks a lot for making it! Happy Friday:) xTieghan
Ok! These tacos are AMAZING! Here in Austin we tend to eat breakfast tacos and soft tacos…but we are officially crispy shell converts! I have made these tacos several times, complete with the shells and after each go around, the fam wants more! Thanks!!!
Hey Monica,
I am so so glad that you liked the recipe, thanks a lot for making it! Happy Friday:) xTieghan
I am addicted to this recipe. I make it weekly! My whole family loves it. I use ground chicken! So easy and quick too! So many people are surprised when they learn it’s chicken. The seasonings are spot on!
Hey Daisy,
I am so glad the recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
This recipe is delicious however I wish parchment paper was included in the recipe directions. The tacos stick to the baking sheet so it was really difficult to flip over. Also the tacos do not fold easily, we had to use toothpicks angled toward the taco’s bend. She makes it look so easy! Learning one step at a time!
Hey Betsy,
I am so glad the recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
Wow! No leftovers on this one – the cilantro lime ranch is the perfect topping along with avocados. Next time I’ll have to think about doubling the recipe so we have at least a few leftovers!
Hey Molly,
I am so glad the recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
Another amazing HBH recipe!! The homemade shells were delicious. I used to toothpick to get them closed and that seemed to work well. Great flavours and quick to prepare. Can’t wait to make these again!
Hey Courtney,
I am so thrilled the recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a go! Happy Friday! xTieghan
We have made these twice. Once with ground chicken and once with refried black beans. We used 2 cans black beans and the spices as called for in the recipe. We love this meal. And the cilantro lime ranch is delicious!! This is in rotation now. Thanks!
Hey Jennifer,
I am delighted you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
This is so good! I added fresh corn to the chicken mixture and it was delicious! The hard shell instructions are genius!
Hey Sylvia,
I am so glad that you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for making it! Have a great weekend:) xTieghan
These were delicious and very easy to make – I definitely recommend crisping up the tortillas in the oven. They sort of made a quesadilla that way, but it was amazing regardless! We used both corn and flour tortillas and both worked well. Definitely going into the weeknight rotation.
Hey Allie,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am thrilled that it was enjoyed! Happy Valentine’s Day❤️ xTieghan
When I folded over the corn tortillas,
they all broke/tore. They had evoo rubbed on them. Is there a trick to keeping the corn tortilla in one piece? Thank you! Otherwise, so so yummy!!
Hey there,
So sorry about this! Did you warm them too? If so try using a different brand of tortillas. I like Whole Foods 365 brand! xTieghan
These were amazing!! Easy to make, anO loved the crispy homemade tortillas and spicy ranch!
Hey Emma,
Thanks so much for making the recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Thanks! xTieghan
Made these for the second time last night. First time I used the ground chicken and made the homemade shells. Last night tried ground pork and store bought blue corn shells and we loved it even more (plus easier). The filling would be a great, spicy addition to a taco bar.
Hey Susie,
I so appreciate you giving the recipe a try, I am thrilled it was enjoyed! xTieghan
These are so delicious but I can’t get the tortillas to stay folded and if I press too hard rip.
How do you get tacos to stay folded?
Hey Sherri,
Try placing a baking sheet on top of the tacos for the first few minutes of baking just until the tacos are formed. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Made these tonight and flavor was spot on! I left out the red pepper flakes and thought it had enough spice without it.
Only question is…..what kind of corn tortillas do you use? Mine all broke at the bend once I put them in the oven. They were very soft and pliable before I put them in. If you have any recommendations on how to prevent that I would appreciate it!
Hey Susan,
Thanks so much for making the recipe, I am delighted it was enjoyed! I use Whole Foods 365 tortillas. Happy Friday:) xTieghan
This was so good. Except I didn’t read the recipe notes and was unable to make the tortillas lay over without them tearing in the middle. So I made them flat then when ready to folded them over. So so good.
Hey Elle,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Happy Sunday:) xTieghan
I’m planning on making these for dinner this week! I live by myself so there will be plenty of leftovers, so I’m wondering if you have any tips on the best way to reheat these? Or I guess I could just bake one serving at a time?
Hey Kari,
Yes, you can totally just bake them in separate batches, I think that would work best for you! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
We have made these twice in one week! My family loved them – scaled back the chipotle Chile pepper to 3/4 tsp. (My teenager’s request!) and it was perfect amount of heat – I found that I may 1/2 the amount of the dressing – we didn’t use it a lot if it- this is an amazing recipe ! Used chicken once and beef the next batch – thank you !!
Hey Christa,
I am so glad you have enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for making it! Have a great week! xTieghan
Can you use frozen spinach in this recipe? If so, how? (I sent this question on 2/21 and initially saw it, but it has disappeared! fyi) Thanks.
Hey Linda,
So sorry I’m not sure what you would want to use the frozen spinach for? Let me know how I can help! xTieghan
I’m obsessed with this recipe! It is not often that a recipe ends up in my regular rotation, but I reach for this one again and again! It is super adapt to whatever filling you have on hand. Using soy chorizo to make the dish vegetarian is a favorite variation of this recipe in our house.
Hey Kristina,
Thanks a lot for giving the recipe a try, I am thrilled that the recipe was enjoyed! Have a fantastic weekend! xTieghan
was good but was not my favorite recipe
Thanks for trying the recipe Arya! xTieghan
These are STELLAR!!! So simple and quick cleanup too! We used ground beef and it got pretty greasy which made the shells a little soggy – would you recommend draining the ground beef before adding in spices?
Hey Mary,
I am so thrilled this recipe was a hit, thanks a lot for giving it a try!! xTieghan
Delicious and simple!!!!!
Thanks so much Linda! xTieghan
Really delicious. The corn tortillas got nice and crispy, the filling was spicy and delicious. I had some leftover Ranch from your recipe for Folded Buffalo Chicken Wraps so I used that with these tacos and it was perfect. Easy and really delicious.
Hey Jean,
Thanks a bunch for making this recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Sooo good, especially with the homemade shells! I served with homemade guacamole.
Hey Lisa,
Thanks a bunch for making this recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Delicious! How long does the cilantro ranch keep?
Thanks Erika!! I would store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. I hope you enjoy the recipe! xTieghan
These were yummy and came together quickly! I used ground beef and followed Tieghan’s suggestion for homemade hard shell tacos. I also added fresh toppings (shredded lettuce, tomato, minced onion).
Hey there,
Thanks for making this recipe! I am so glad it was a hit! xTieghan
I made this last night and they were amazing. The cilantro lime ranch is such a nice topper, great flavours and a hit with our family. The only downside was that the soft corn tortilla would not fold over nicely and stay put before I put them in the oven. I ended up using a toothpick in each taco to fasten them together. If anyone has tips on the folding and staying part please pass along what worked for you.
Hey Carla,
Thanks a bunch for giving this recipe a try, I am thrilled that it was enjoyed! Have a great week:) xTieghan
JUST MADE THESE FOR DINNER! THEY WERE 10/10. I made my own shells, but used a mixture of tortillas. Basically all the ones I had… corn, flour, and siete’s cassava flour tortillas. All of which turned out amaaazing. The best thing, I think, is the cilantro lime ranch. It MAKES the dish! I felt like I was eating at a restaurant 🙂 Thanks Tieghan
Hey Amy,
Awesome! So glad this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! xTieghan
Delicious! The ranch was so unique and amazing. The tacos were crispy and so well flavored!
Hey Rob,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it!! xTieghan
My husband said, “I would pay so much money for this at a restaurant,” and his compliments don’t come lightly ha! Thank you for so many amazing recipes!
Hey Megan,
Happy Weekend! Thanks for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Easy and Great! Always have a struggle finding easy recipes that my family loves and this one was a hit. Appreciate your site and just bought your cookbook. Total fan. Keep doing what you are doing…. You are rocking it!!!
Hey Hina,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am so glad that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
We made these for dinner last night and they didn’t disappoint! Really great flavor and easy to make!
Hey Lindsay,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Happy Monday! xTieghan
Love this recipe but my corn tortillas always crack when I fold them in half! Do you have a solution for this?? Thank you!
Hey Morgan,
I like to warm my tortillas first and coat in oil. I also use Whole Foods 365 brand and never seem to have issues with them. I hope this helps for next time! xTieghan
I wanted to love this, but it just didn’t work out. Even though I reduced the chili powder significantly, it was too spicy (and I love spicy), my tortillas never crisped up, and the sauce tasted very overseasoned. I appreciate so many of your recipes and have made (and shared) many with great success but this wasn’t one of them. Onward and upward!
Hey Sandy,
So sorry this recipe was not enjoyed, please let me know if I can help in anyway! xTieghan
We love this recipe – made it 4 times already! I change out the ground chicken for hand-cut chicken breasts because we like the texture better. It really has become our go-to Friday-Movie-Night dinner 🙂
Hey Malou,
Fantastic! I am thrilled this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for giving it a go! Happy Friday:) xTieghan
Hi! Have you tried using flour instead of corn tortillas?
Hey there,
The corn tortillas work best here as the flour tortillas will not get as crispy. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Love this recipe! I’ve made this a few times for friends and family! Everyone loves this!
Hey Karla,
Fantastic!! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! Have a great Sunday:) xxTieghan
HBH is my go-to for recipes! I was just searching for a taco seasoning recipe and found your combo in this recipe. I think we would love it if you made a recipe collection of just your spice blends! Just an idea! Thanks for your service to the world. 😊
Thanks so much Lisa!! xTieghan