Since the Easy Fish Tacos went over so well in our household, I decided to try more taco recipes. Oven tacos sounded like a great idea and I was eager to try them. They did not disappoint! Or at least, they did not disappoint Tony or me. The boys were a different story. I think it was the hard shell that threw them off. They weren’t quite sure how to eat it and they didn’t like how messy they were to eat. We tried to explain that tacos were supposed to be messy, that’s the fun of tacos, but they didn’t agree. It’s so funny because they love being messy any other time but apparently not when it comes to tacos. Yes they were messy, but they were so tasty! The boys were really missing out.

Beef and Bean Oven Tacos
Adapted from Mommy? I’m Hungry

500 g lean ground beef
1 onion, diced
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1 small can diced green chilies
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
1 can (16 oz) refried beans
salt and pepper, to taste
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
10-12 flat-bottomed hard taco shells

Preheat oven to 400F. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook beef and onion until meat has browned. Drain off any excess liquid. Add garlic and spices, cook for a minute until fragrant. Stir in chilies, tomato sauce and refried beans. Cook until mixture is thick and no longer runny. Add salt and pepper if desired. Place taco shells in a 9×13″ dish/pan and spoon the meat mixture evenly in the shells. Sprinkle cheese with cheese. Bake for 10-12 minutes.
Serve with your favourite taco toppings (lettuce, tomato, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, etc.)