4 Ingredient Taco Cups

Published Apr 12, 2023 | Updated Apr 18, 2023 | By Laura

With only a few simple ingredients, everyone in the family will be raving about these easy, make-ahead, hand-held 4 Ingredient Taco Cups!

A biscuit crust cup filled with cheesy taco meat and topped with pico de gallo.

These fun and super yummy easy taco cups are the perfect weeknight dinner or hand-held entertaining treat! I mean, who doesn't like the flavors of tacos? If they don't, they might just change their mind after one bite of these!

I was a Pampered Chef consultant many moons ago and often made these with leftover taco meat from the Taco Ring I would showcase at parties. I love them because they reheat well, can be made ahead of time and they're flat-out delicious!

The fun doesn't stop with the flavors! Elevate these taco cups with your favorite toppings like Fresh Pico de Gallo or Perfect Guacamole! They're a guaranteed family and crowd appetizer or dinner winner!

Table of Contents

What You’ll Need

Ingredient Amounts Listed in the Recipe Card Below

Ground Beef
Taco Seasoning
Shredded Cheese
Refrigerated Jumbo Biscuit Dough

All four ingredients displayed on a table

Tools You’ll Need

Muffin Tin
Medium Skillet
Meat Chopper
Tamper Tool

Why You’ll Like This Recipe

Doesn't get much easier than 4 INGREDIENTS!
Everyone loves a dish with the flavors of tacos!
You can make the filling or the whole dish ahead of time!
These cheesy taco cups are fun to customize with different toppings!

How to Make This Recipe

First, make the taco cup filling while the oven preheats to 375°F. Crumble and cook ground beef in a large skillet on medium-high heat until no longer pink. Drain or blot off any excess grease.

Ground beef being crumbled and cooked in a skillet

Stir in taco seasoning and 2 tablespoons of water. Simmer for 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and fold in cheese until it's melted and a cohesive mix.

Ground beef and shredded cheese being mixed into a skillet

Butter or spray with nonstick spray a 12-cup muffin pan. Split 6 of the biscuits horizontally by gently peeling them apart at the middle layer. Using a tamper tool, press one of the biscuit halves in each of the muffin tins so that it covers the bottom up at the sides. Alternatively, flatten the biscuit halves with your fingers on a flat surface so that they become 4 inches in diameter, and then press them into the muffin tins.

Biscuit dough pressed into a muffin pan as a crust base

Fill each muffin tin with 3-4 tablespoons of the prepared taco filling. Bake for 14-16 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the edges of the biscuits are golden brown.

Using a scoop to fill biscuit dough crust with taco mix

Gently run a knife around the edge of each biscuit to loosen, then transfer to a serving tray. Optional, serve with toppings.

A tray of filled taco cups filled with chips and pico de Gallo on the side

Tips and Substitutions

Ground chicken or ground turkey can be substituted for ground beef.
The toppings can transform the flavors of these easy Taco Cups! Here are some treat toppers and sides:
- Perfect Guacamole
- Fresh Pico de Gallo
- Sour Cream
- Hot Sauce
- Taco Sauce
- Copycat Chipotle Corn Salsa
- Ronald's Epic Salsa
- Shredded Lettuce
- Queso
- Sliced Olives
- Tortilla Chips
Most shredded cheese will work for this recipe. Besides Pepper Jack and Colby Jack, cheddar or a Mexican cheese blend works great too!

Storage

Allow the taco cups to cool completely after baking. Place in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag. Refrigerate up to 3-4 days.
Alternatively, you can freeze the biscuit cups for longer storage. To freeze them, follow the same steps as above and then place the container or bag in the freezer. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. To use them, simply thaw them in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat them in the oven or microwave.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can these 4 Ingredient Taco Cups be assembled and ready to bake ahead of time?

Yes! You can fully prepare them up to 12 hours in advance. Simply cover the pan with cling or press wrap and refrigerate until ready to bake.

Can I substitute some of the meat with beans?

Of course! You can substitute equal portions of the meat with drained and rinsed pinto beans or black beans.

Can I add other ingredients to the meat mixture?

Absolutely! You can add beans as noted above. You can also substitute or add olives, drained rotel tomatoes, drained chopped green chiles, or jalapeños.

Can other doughs be used instead of biscuit dough?

Yes! You can use an 8oz can of crescent roll dough rolled out and cut into squares instead of biscuit dough. You can also use 24 wonton wrappers. For these, place one wrapper in each prepared tin, add 1-2 tablespoons of the filling in each, add another wonton wrapper, then the remaining filling.

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