Cheesy Gordita Crunch
Crunchy taco shells wrapped in melty cheese and a pillowy chalupa shell, then stuffed with taco seasoned ground beef, homemade baja sauce, shredded lettuce, and more cheese.
Ingredients
For the Beef:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- ½-¾ cup water
For the Shells & Fillings:
- 4 hard taco shells
- 4 chalupa shells or soft flour tortillas
- 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese
- ½ cup shredded iceberg lettuce
For the Baja Sauce:
- ¼ cup mayo
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ½ red bell pepper seeded & roughly chopped
- 1-2 garlic cloves
- Juice of ½ lime
Instructions
- Make the Baja Sauce: Add mayo, sour cream, red bell pepper, garlic, and lime juice to a food processor. Blend until smooth, adjust seasoning to taste, then refrigerate until ready to use.
- Cook Beef: In a skillet over medium-high, cook ground beef until browned and crumbled. Drain grease, add taco seasoning and water, then simmer for 4–5 minutes longer.
- Prepare Shells: Warm chalupa shells in oven, skillet, or air fryer. Sprinkle most of the cheese (save some for topping) over each chalupa shell and melt under a broiler. Once melted, press a hard taco shell into the melted cheese, folding chalupa around it. Hold briefly so it sticks.
- Assemble: Fill each shell with seasoned beef, drizzle with Baja sauce, top with shredded lettuce, and finish with the remaining cheese. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use a utensil or light weight plate to hold assembled shells in place while working on the other shells.
- Nutrition values are an estimate only.
Nutrition
Calories: 420kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 19gFat: 26gSodium: 680mgFiber: 2g
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!