I sometimes get stuck in a rut when it comes to dinner. I don’t really make the same things over and over, but I do occasionally lack inspiration. How many ways can I make tacos? One afternoon, I needed to feed my family dinner and I found myself standing in front of my pantry hoping to be inspired. I grabbed the first three things that I could find and threw them all in a slow cooker. The result – a really delicious start to dinner.
I love a crispy taco, but my husband is convinced that he doesn’t. I got the idea of a baked taco from Pinterest, and guess what? My husband does in fact love a crispy taco. Turns out, he had never actually made them crispy. He never baked them, he had been eating them straight from the package. 10 years of marriage, and he has been leaving the hard taco shells off of his plate because he did not read the instructions written on the front of the box. All these years, and he missed out.
I loved these tacos because they were easy to throw together and easy to pick up and eat. I try really hard to make what we eat from scratch, but even with my best of intentions, it doesn’t always happen. Feel free to make your own sauce or taco seasoning, but this particular combination really was delicious. These would be great for a kid’s birthday party. Or any party really. Baking tacos like this made taco night a little more inspired.
Place chicken breasts in a slow cooker. Add fajita skillet sauce, taco seasoning, and chiles. Cook on low for 6 hours. Shred chicken with a fork.
Place taco shells in a casserole dish. Add shredded chicken to the taco shell. Add some red onions. And a generous sprinkling of cheese. Bake in a preheated 375 oven for 15 minutes. Or until the cheese is melted. Top with lettuce, salsa, sour cream, guacamole, and cilantro.
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I’ve always eaten the taco shells straight from the box. Your husband doesn’t stand alone. I have to try this if only because it never occurred to me! They look delicious!!
A good friend of mine makes baked tacos like these – I love them! I thought about the recipe the other day as I walked thru the Old El Paso taco aisle. Thanks to your lovely post, they are back on my mind. A sign to make them?
No wonder he didn’t like crispy shells! Those things taste like cardboard if you don’t bake them first! I love this idea of baking them with the meat and cheese… will definitely try this! Thank you!
My chicken filling was so wet, it soaked through the taco shells while baking and they fell apart. We all loved the filling, but will probably heat the shells separately next time to avoid that problem.
Bree, I’m loving the simplicity with which the meal comes together. I love cripsy tacos, but sometimes the notion of frying up the shells (and the spitter-spatter cleanup) is less than inspiring. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Just made the chicken for these tacos, and boy is it yummy. We’ll probably make half hard shell and half soft since the kids like soft tacos. I can see the chicken being very versatile.
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Delicious!
This is how my family does tacos! Baking them and getting the cheese all melted is the way to go!
I wish that I figured it out a long time ago!
This method looks great! Who wouldn’t like a baked taco!!!
I don’t know! I love a baked taco.
Totally need to do this sometime – even if it’s just for me and the Mr because the kids still don’t eat it with shells. Weirdos 😉
I think I just found tonight’s dinner!
I’ve always eaten the taco shells straight from the box. Your husband doesn’t stand alone. I have to try this if only because it never occurred to me! They look delicious!!
I’ve always baked just the shells to get them warm and crispy… but, never thought to fill them first! What a great idea!
thanks Patsy!
These look so great! And I love those OEP taco shells that actually stand up on their own! 🙂
That was the best idea ever.
Yum! Hey, what slow cooker do you have? Looks luxe.
It is sort of luxe. I like that you can brown in it. http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-MSC-600-Central-6-Quart-Multi-Cooker/dp/B008YEXC22/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1364786456&sr=8-2&keywords=cuisinart+slow+cooker
Tacos are always a great choice for dinner. I will have to try this recipe out.
I hope that you like it!
Ohh what a good idea! I love tacos but they can be kind of time consuming… I like slow cookers whenever possible 🙂
You and me both. 🙂
A good friend of mine makes baked tacos like these – I love them! I thought about the recipe the other day as I walked thru the Old El Paso taco aisle. Thanks to your lovely post, they are back on my mind. A sign to make them?
A true sign!
What a great idea! Can’t wait to make for our boys!
-Dan from plattertalk.com
I hope that you do Dan!
Oh how I love tacos! And I love the baked version. Yummmmy!
Me too! I could eat them every single day.
No wonder he didn’t like crispy shells! Those things taste like cardboard if you don’t bake them first! I love this idea of baking them with the meat and cheese… will definitely try this! Thank you!
LOLOL! I know!
What can you use instead of 1 pouch Frontera Fajita Skillet Sauce? They don’t have that at our store.
Thanks!
You can use salsa, or enchilada sauce. Pretty much anything that is wet.
My chicken filling was so wet, it soaked through the taco shells while baking and they fell apart. We all loved the filling, but will probably heat the shells separately next time to avoid that problem.
Sorry about that, but that didn’t happen to me.
Bree, I’m loving the simplicity with which the meal comes together. I love cripsy tacos, but sometimes the notion of frying up the shells (and the spitter-spatter cleanup) is less than inspiring. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
You are very welcome Brooks!
Just made the chicken for these tacos, and boy is it yummy. We’ll probably make half hard shell and half soft since the kids like soft tacos. I can see the chicken being very versatile.
Thanks! I love this for dinner. So easy and everyone lives it.
Love a baked taco and those frontera sauces are killer!
Yes they are!