Baked Taco Shells Are Just As Good As Fried Food

OVEN BAKED TACO SHELLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Spread out the tortillas and microwave until extremely soft and pliable. Depending on your microwave this can take between 1-3 minutes. They should be hot and really pliable when you take them out.
• You can wrap them in a moist paper towel to make them even softer. Immediately wrap in a towel or place in a ziploc bag to keep them warm. Keeping them soft is the key to not having them break in the oven.
• Then carefully spray each tortilla with cooking spray on both sides. Sprinkle with lime juice and seasoning if using. Gently drape over the oven grates, pressing down ever so lightly. I press mine over two grates so that the taco shells stand up nicely and have lots of room to press things in.
• Repeat with remaining shells and then bake for 8-10 minutes until brown and crispy. These can go from perfect to burnt quickly so be sure to keep an eye on them.

CRUNCHY BAKED TACO SHELLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Drape corn tortillas over oven rack. I use two spaces so my shells will stand up. It's easier to build the taco. But, that's just me.
• Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the shells start to turn golden brownish. But, be careful and don't let them burn.
• Remove from the oven and stuff them with whatever fillings you like. But, really my Cauliflower Mushroom Walnut Taco Meat is perfect!

TACO BAKE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Spray a 9x13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
• Cook ground beef and onions in a skillet over medium heat until beef is browned, 7 to 10 minutes; drain grease. Stir in water and taco seasoning; cook, stirring often, until thickened, about 2 minutes. Add refried beans, salsa, olives, and green chiles. Cook and stir over low heat until ingredients are warmed through, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Place half of the taco shells in the bottom of the baking dish. Pour in half of the ground beef mixture; sprinkle with half of the Cheddar cheese. Repeat with remaining taco shells, ground beef mixture, and Cheddar cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and bubbly, 20 to 25 minutes.

CRISPY BASKET BURRITOS (BAKED TORTILLA BOWLS)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Brush both sides of tortilla with oil.
• Invert ramekin on a work surface; center tortilla on the bottom of the ramekin. Gently shape the tortilla down around the sides. Place a double layer of aluminum foil over the tortilla and press to form the bowl around the ramekin. Place right side up on a baking sheet and leave about 1/2 inch of the edge of the tortilla above the foil so it gets browned and crispy when you bake it. Repeat with the second tortilla.
• Place baking sheet in preheated oven for 5 minutes. Remove sheet from oven and use tongs to carefully remove the ramekins from inside the shells. Transfer sheet back to the oven. Bake shells until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Remove baking sheet from oven.
• Carefully remove foil from around the shells; reserve the foil. Flatten foil sheets and invert shells on them. Bring foil up just around the bottom of the shells to protect the top edge.
• Transfer sheet back to the oven. Bake until browned and crispy, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove sheet from oven and invert the shells once again so they are right side up. Place on foil and transfer sheet back to oven for the final crisping, 3 to 5 minutes. Watch them carefully so they don't burn.
• Remove sheet from oven; transfer basket burritos to a rack to cool completely.