It's easy to make these 30-minute keto tacos with crispy cheddar cheese shells that you quickly "bake" in the microwave.
Filled with all the traditional goodies, these tacos are so good. In fact, they're just as good as traditional ones!
There's no need to give up tacos on the low-carb diet! One excellent alternative is this taco salad. Another is these keto tacos, which are incredibly good and so easy to make.
You can make these tacos as usual with well-seasoned ground beef and your favorite toppings, and simply replace the tortilla shells with delicious and crispy cheddar cheese shells.
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Ingredients
You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make these tacos. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:
- Shredded cheddar: You can shred it yourself or buy it pre-shredded. I like to use extra-sharp cheddar because it's so flavorful.
- Lean ground beef: I use 85% lean ground beef.
- Taco seasoning: To make life easier, I use a store-bought mix.
- Toppings: Whatever you like! I use salsa and sour cream.
Variations
- You can use ground chicken or turkey instead of ground beef, but you should use dark meat. White meat is too dry.
- Ground pork is another tasty option that I like. It's very juicy.
- Vary the toppings you use. I typically use salsa and sour cream, but other options that I tried and liked include sliced avocado, guacamole, sliced jalapenos, and cilantro.
Instructions
Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps for making this recipe:
You start by wrapping a ruler in foil and suspending it between two glasses or mugs. You will use this contraption to shape the cheddar shells.
Form taco shells using microwaved cheddar cheese: Place shredded cheddar on a piece of parchment paper. Spread it thinly into a circle. Microwave until golden brown, about 1:30 minutes. Allow it to slightly cool but still be pliable. Gently peel it off the parchment paper and fold it over the ruler to shape it into a taco shell.
Cook the ground beef with taco seasoning: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef. Cook, stirring to break up the meat, until the meat is no longer raw. Drain well.
Return the meat to the skillet and reduce the heat to medium. Stir in the taco seasoning and 2-4 tablespoons of water. Keep cooking for 2 more minutes.
Assemble the tacos: Divide the meat between the cheddar shells, top it with your favorite toppings, and serve.
Expert Tip
You'll want to microwave the cheddar shells until crispy but still pliable, and you should allow them to cool for no more than a couple of seconds before shaping them into tacos. If they become too crunchy, they'll break as you try to shape them.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! You simply need to replace the traditional shells, typically made with corn tortillas, with a low-carb alternative. Baked cheese shells are perfect, and this is what we use here.
The filling is identical to a traditional taco - ground beef cooked with lots of spices. The difference is in the shell you use. You use a crispy cheese shell instead of a corn tortilla shell.
Not really. You can make them an hour or so in advance, but not much more. They lose their crunch quickly. But they are so easy to make and ready so fast that I don't see it as an issue.
Serving Suggestions
As you can see in the photos, I like to top these tacos with salsa and sour cream. You can add sliced avocado or guacamole.
I don't like to sprinkle them with shredded cheddar since they already have quite a bit of cheese in the shells!
Apart from these toppings, I often serve keto tacos with an easy vegetable side, such as fresh-cut veggies, microwave broccoli, arugula salad, or cucumber tomato salad.
Storing Leftovers
The only component of this recipe that can be stored is cooked ground beef. You can keep it in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to 3 days and reheat it in the microwave.
The assembled tacos won't keep as leftovers (they'll become soggy), and as mentioned above, the cheddar shells will lose their crispness when stored.
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Recipe Card
Keto Tacos with Crispy Cheddar Shells
Ingredients
- 2 cups cheddar - shredded (8 ounces)
- 1 pound lean ground beef - 85/15
- 1 ounce taco seasoning
- Your choice of toppings
Instructions
Make the taco shells:
- Wrap a sturdy ruler in foil and suspend it between two glasses or mugs to create a tool for shaping the taco shells.
- Place ½ cup (2 ounces) of shredded cheddar on a piece of parchment paper. Spread it thinly into a 6-inch circle. Microwave on high until golden brown, about 1:30 minutes. Keep in mind that microwave ovens vary.
- Allow the cheddar to cool for no more than a couple of seconds, just until you can bear touching it. You want it to remain pliable. Gently peel it off the parchment paper and fold it over the ruler. This will shape the cheddar crisp into a taco shell.
- Repeat three more times with the remaining cheese. Place the formed cheddar shells on plates.
Cook the ground beef:
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef. There’s no need to add fat – the meat will release fat fairly quickly. Cook, stirring to break up the meat, until the meat is no longer raw, about 5 minutes. Drain well.
- Return the meat to the skillet and reduce the heat to medium. Stir the taco seasoning and 2-4 tablespoons of water into the meat (start with 2 and see if you need to add more). Keep cooking for 2 more minutes.
Assemble the tacos:
- Remove the skillet from the heat. Using a slotted spoon, scoop the meat up from the skillet, dividing it evenly among the cheddar shells. Add your choice of toppings (such as sour cream, guacamole, and salsa) and serve.
Video
Notes
- The nutrition info does not include toppings.
- You can use ground chicken or turkey instead of ground beef, but make sure to use ground dark meat. White meat could be too dry.
- You'll want to microwave the cheddar shells until crispy but still pliable, and you should allow them to cool for no more than a couple of seconds before shaping them into tacos. If they become too crunchy, they'll break as you try to shape them.
- The only component of this recipe that can be stored is cooked ground beef. You can keep it in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to 3 days and reheat it in the microwave. The assembled tacos won't keep as leftovers (they'll become soggy), and the cheddar shells will lose their crispness when stored.
Nutrition per Serving
Disclaimers
Cup measurements refer to the standard American cup, which is 240 milliliters. Most of my recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate, and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read these Terms of Use carefully before using any of my recipes.
Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. 
Faith
Genious! And sooo delish.
Vered DeLeeuw
I'm so glad you enjoyed these tacos, Faith! Thank you for leaving a comment.