Crunchy Beef and Black Bean Baked Tacos with Spicy Sour Cream – a super easy weeknight dinner loaded with flavor.
Oven Baked Taco Recipe
Use store bought stand and stuff taco shells for the easiest taco night dinner. Seasoned ground beef, black beans, and cheese baked in crispy stand and stuff taco shells. While the tacos are baking, prepare the fresh toppings including this easy spicy sour cream. This is the perfect dinner for busy weeknights when you are short on time, but want something delicious and satisfying. I love that these tacos are loaded with protein and fiber for a hearty family dinner.
Baked Taco Ingredients
- Taco Shells – any type of crispy taco shells made with corn tortillas will work, the flat bottom shells are easiest to fill.
- Ground Beef – we prefer lean 93/7 ground beef. If using a higher fat content, drain ground beef before adding seasoning. Ground turkey or ground chicken is a great substitute.
- Seasoning – Chili Powder, Smoked Paprika, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, and Cumin
- Black Beans – a can of drained black beans, for extra flavor try seasoned black beans. Refried beans can be used but will make the mixture very thick. Use taco sauce or salsa to loosen the mixture if using refried beans.
- Shredded Cheese – Sharp Cheddar, Colby Jack, or a Blend of Mexican Shredded Cheese are great options. For spicy, try adding Pepper Jack cheese.
- Taco Toppings
What Kind of Taco Shells to Use
The flat bottom corn tortilla Stand and Stuff style taco shells are easy to fill and ten shells fit perfectly in a 9×13 baking dish. I’ve seen some new flavors of these taco shells popping up in the store, which could be a fun variation. Classically shaped taco shells work well too, they will just need to be lined up in the pan and the amount will vary depending on the size of the shells.
Oven Baked Taco Toppings
Use your favorite taco toppings. These are some of my favorites:
- Shredded Cheese
- Shredded Lettuce – romaine lettuce or iceberg lettuce have the best crunch.
- Chopped Tomatoes
- Salsa
- Pico de Gallo
- Guacamole
- Cilantro
- Green Onions
- Red Onions
- Jalapenos
- Spicy Sour Cream or Sour Cream
- Mexican Style Hot Sauce
Taco Seasoning
In the recipe, I included the homemade taco seasoning that I use from the pantry spices that I always have on hand. A package taco seasoning mix works perfectly too. It’s a great time saver if you don’t already have the spices on hand. To use a package of taco seasoning, follow the product instructions for seasoning the ground beef and skip the salt, seasonings, cornstarch, and beef broth listed in the recipe below.
How to Make Oven Baked Tacos
- Brown ground beef, ground turkey, or ground chicken in a large skillet until cooked through.
- Season with homemade taco seasoning or a package of taco seasoning and stir in black beans. Heat until beans are tender.
- Spoon meat and bean mixture into taco shells that have been arranged in a baking dish.
- Bake for about 10 minutes until cheese has melted and shells have started to crisp.
- Top with favorite taco toppings.

- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef 93/7 lean
- 10 Taco Shells Old El Paso Stand 'n Stuff preferred
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 3/4 cup low-sodium beef broth
- 15 oz can of black beans drained, not rinsed
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- romaine lettuce
- vine-ripened tomatoes
- cilantro chopped
- red onion diced
- guacamole or avocado
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons mexican style hot sauce more or less to taste
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees and arrange shells in a 9x13 baking dish.
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Brown ground beef over medium heat. Breaking up meat as it cooks. In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, chili powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, and cornstarch. Sprinkle over ground beef and stir. Bring to simmer and stir in drained black beans. Heat until beans are tender.
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Evenly distribute ground beef and beans into shells. Top with shredded cheese. Bake for about ten minutes, or until cheese is melted and shells have started to crisp. While tacos are baking, prepare toppings and spicy sour cream.
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Top with preferred toppings and serve immediately.
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Stir sour cream and hot sauce together until well combined.
5 Easy Dinner Ideas for Busy Weeknights
My five FAVORITE recipes for busy families!
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Ohhh wow! These look great!! I can’t wait to try them out. So cheesy and yum!
Genius! I always crisp the empty shells in the oven and they fold so you can barely get the meat in there…this way it’s already in there..duh! lol can’t believe I didn’t think of this before…thanks!
Just found this through another blog I love to read….zoimigosh my family loved this. Thank you so much….ther will be many Taco Tuesday’s in our futures!
Loved these baked tacos! A new family favorite!
These tacos were great and super easy to make!
The spicy sour cream used in these tacos was a winner! Glad these tacos were so easy and simple to make yet it tasted sooo good! So pleasing!