Crispy Taco Cups: Quick Game Day Appetizer (Print Version)

Whip up these Easy Taco Cups for game day! Crispy wonton wrappers, seasoned beef, and all your favorite taco toppings. Fast, fun, and a crowd-pleaser.

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 15 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 24 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Dietary: Contains Meat, Dairy (can be adjusted)

# Ingredients:

→ Base Ingredients

01 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20, or lean ground turkey)
02 - 24 square wonton wrappers
03 - 1 tbsp olive oil

→ Flavor Boosters

04 - 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning
05 - 1 tbsp tomato paste
06 - 1/4 cup water

→ Finishing Touches

07 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
08 - 1 cup shredded lettuce
09 - 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
10 - 1/2 cup sour cream (or plain Greek yogurt)
11 - 1/2 cup salsa
12 - Sliced jalapeños (optional)

→ Optional Extras

13 - 1/2 cup cooked black beans
14 - 1/2 cup corn kernels
15 - Diced avocado

# Instructions:

01 - Grab a large skillet and heat a splash of olive oil over medium-high heat. Toss in your ground beef. Break it up with a spoon, watching it go from pink to beautifully browned. This is where those delicious savory smells start filling your kitchen! Don't rush this step; getting a good sear adds so much flavor. I always forget to preheat the pan enough, so sometimes it steams rather than browns, oops! Just keep stirring until it's nicely cooked through, no pink bits left.
02 - Once the beef is browned, drain off any excess grease – nobody wants greasy taco cups, right? Now, stir in your taco seasoning, tomato paste, and water. Give it a good mix, making sure every bit of meat gets coated in that vibrant seasoning. Let it simmer for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has mostly absorbed and the mixture is nice and thick. This is where the magic happens, and the smell, oh my gosh, the smell is incredible!
03 - While your meat simmers, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grab a regular-sized muffin tin and lightly spray each cup with cooking spray. Gently press one wonton wrapper into each muffin cup, letting the corners stick up a bit. You want them to form little cups. I always try to make them perfectly symmetrical, and honestly, it never happens. Just get them in there! They don't have to be pretty, just functional.
04 - Spoon about 1-2 tablespoons of the seasoned ground beef mixture into each wonton cup. Don't overfill them, or they might spill over when they bake, and cleanup is no fun. I usually go for a slightly heaping tablespoon. This step feels so satisfying, seeing those little cups come to life! Make sure the filling is somewhat compact so it stays put.
05 - Sprinkle a generous pinch of shredded cheddar cheese over the meat in each cup. Who doesn't love cheesy goodness? Pop the muffin tin into your preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes. Keep an eye on them! You're looking for the wonton wrappers to turn golden brown and crispy, and the cheese to be bubbly and melted. Every oven is different, so yours might take a minute more or less.
06 - Carefully remove the muffin tin from the oven. Let the taco cups cool in the tin for a minute or two before gently prying them out with a knife or a small offset spatula. Transfer them to a serving platter. Now for the fun part: load them up with your favorite toppings! A sprinkle of fresh lettuce, diced tomatoes, a dollop of sour cream, and a dash of salsa. If you're feeling spicy, add some jalapeños! They look so festive and inviting, honestly, they're almost too cute to eat. Almost!

# Notes:

01 - Don't skip lightly spraying the muffin tin! I once forgot, and spent an embarrassing amount of time scraping stuck wontons out.
02 - Keep an eye on the wontons while baking; they can go from perfectly golden to burnt in a flash, speaking from experience.
03 - Let the meat mixture cool slightly before adding to the wonton cups; it helps prevent the wrappers from getting soggy too quickly.
04 - For an extra touch, a tiny dollop of cream cheese under the meat makes these extra creamy and delicious!

# Equipment Needed:

01 - Muffin tin
02 - large skillet

# Nutrition (Per Serving):

Calories: 120 kcal
Total Fat: 7g
Total Carbohydrate: 8g
Protein: 7g

Back