From the seasoned beefy center to the lightly crisp and golden exterior of taco shaped Indian fry bread, generously topped with all your favorite chalupa toppings, this homemade taco bell Chalupas recipe is the perfect meal!
Instead of having to sit in line at the drive-thru, make your own delicious version of the Taco Bell Chalupas that you love so much!
Recreate your favorite order from Taco Bell with this easy, flavorful recipe for tasty Taco Bell Chalupas. Once you know how to make them at home, you’ll never have to leave home to enjoy them!
Taco Bell Chalupa Recipe
How often do you order chalupas at Taco Bell? If they’re one of your favorite guilty pleasures that you often buy while at the fast-food restaurant, you’ll be glad to know you can prepare this copycat version of them right at home with a few simple ingredients. Preparing chalupas is much easier than it sounds, and you’ll have more than enough to go around when you follow this recipe for them.
Why You’ll Love This Chalupa Recipe
- They’re so fun and easy to make. You can prepare this delicious Taco Bell Chalupas Recipe at home and even get the kids to lend a helping hand with assembling them.
- These chalupas are delicious. If you’re looking for something different to prepare for dinner or lunch, this is a great recipe.
- The taste of the chalupas is comparable to the kind you can get at Taco Bell, so why not make them at home and save money while you’re at it?
Must-Have Ingredients for Taco Bell Chalupa Shells and Filling
This is one of those amazing Taco Bell copycat recipes sure to blow you away with its impressive taste. You’ll feel like you’re biting into a chalupa straight out of the drive-thru when you make this recipe with the following ingredients:
- Flour – Use all-purpose flour to create the chalupa shells.
- Baking Powder – The baking powder helps you achieve the perfect texture every time.
- Vegetable Shortening – If you want your chalupas to taste amazing, be sure to cook them in vegetable shortening! It enhances the taste.
- Ground Beef – Use lean ground beef to keep the calories a bit lower and avoid all the excess grease.
- Shredded Lettuce – Top your beef with some shredded lettuce.
- Roma Tomato – Dice your tomatoes into small pieces and add them on top of the beef with the lettuce.
Other ingredients needed to prepare this Taco Bell Chalupas Recipe include vegetable or canola oil, taco seasoning, shredded cheese, cilantro, milk, and salt. You can also add salsa as a finishing touch, but it’s entirely up to you.
Can I use ground turkey instead of ground beef?
If you’re looking for a way to prepare a leaner version of this dish, feel free to use ground turkey or chicken as a replacement. Be sure to season it as you would the beef to get that same delicious taste!
What type of shredded cheese should I use on the chalupas?
You can use any type of shredded cheese that you like most. Some great options include mild cheddar, sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack, and a Mexican blend of multiple kinds of cheese.
Where can I find vegetable shortening?
Most grocery stores sell vegetable shortening in the same aisle as the cooking oils. If you’re not sure which brand to get, Crisco is a great choice.
Do I have to add cilantro on top of my ground beef?
No, you can omit the cilantro from this recipe if you don’t like it. Some people love the taste of cilantro, while others say it has a slightly soapy taste. If you’re the kind of person who believes it tastes soapy, it’s best to leave it out of this recipe.
What other toppings would taste good on these chalupas?
You can customize them to your liking by adding some of your favorite toppings, such as diced raw onion, sour cream, pico de gallo, sliced avocado, guacamole, or even a cheese sauce. Add what you like to make these chalupas taste even better!
Recipe Notes & Tips
- Leave your chalupas in the oil a bit longer if you like them super crispy. If you prefer them to be slightly crispy yet still a bit soft, leave them in the oil for less time.
- Be careful during the frying process and make sure to use tongs to fold your chalupas, keeping them in place while they cook in the oil.
- It’s best to eat the chalupas immediately after preparing them. However, if you end up with leftovers, you can place them in a Ziploc bag and refrigerate them, saving them for later and reheating them in the air fryer or oven to get them crispy again.
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Taco Bell Chalupas
Ingredients
Chalupas:
- 2 1/4 cups flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon vegetable shortening
- 1 cup milk
- Oil for frying
Filling:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 ounce taco seasoning
- 1 Roma tomato diced
- 1/2 cup shredded lettuce
- 1/2 cup shredded cheese
- 1 tablespoon cilantro
- 1/4 cup salsa optional
Instructions
Chalupas:
- Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl. Using a fork, cut the shortening into the flour.
- Add the milk and stir until combined. The dough should come together in a ball. Knead the dough a few times for a soft dough. If the dough doesn’t come together well, add a teaspoon of milk at a time till the dough forms a nice ball but isn’t wet.
- Cut the dough in half, then each half into 4 equal pieces – 8 pieces total.
- Make a round disk with a piece of dough and roll out into a thin round disk about 5 to 6 inches.
- Heat at least 2 inches of oil in a deep frying pan to 350°. When the oil is hot, use tongs to lift a piece of dough into the oil. Hold half the dough in the oil and half the dough out of the oil. When one side has puffed up and browned, turn the chalupa over, carefully folding the dough in half. Use the tongs to hold the fried part up a little creating a taco shell.
- Place the fried shells onto a paper towel lined plate.
Assemble:
- Cook the hamburger meat till it is no longer pink. Add the taco seasoning and stir until combined.
- Place a few tablespoons of the meat in the shells, then add some shredded lettuce, diced tomato, shredded cheese, cilantro and salsa.
- Serve immediately.
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