Taco cups taken to the next level with layers of all the best toppings in one perfect little bowl. You'd never guess this crunchy taco is healthy!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Mi Rancho. The opinions and text are all mine.
I pretty much took taco Tuesday and gave it a new outfit. In our house, we don't discriminate. As long as we have tortillas around (and if we don't it's basically a national emergency) then vegan tacos are always on the docket!
Crunchy Taco Cup Basics
The crunchy taco is a simple fellow. Doesn't ask for much. In fact the taco cup itself is a one ingredient situation. Yep, you guessed it. All you need is a good quality tortilla!
Let me tell you a little bit about my tortilla obsession. We use them for almost everything. As in we go through 5-6 bags a week on a slow week. And hands down, our favorite brand is Mi Rancho.
We have used the Mi Rancho brand for as far back as I can remember (and unlike many details in my mom life, tortillas are clear as day). So it's beyond exciting that I can take my true tortilla love and unleash my inner creativity with it.
Which is better for you corn or flour tortillas?
What kind of tortillas you eat are really a personal decision. Lucky for me, and you, Mi Rancho has amazing versions of both!
The flour ones are big and fluffy, perfect for burritos and wraps. The corn tortillas are gluten-free and in fact donโt even have oil as an ingredient!
Are corn tortillas low carb?
While I donโt consider corn tortillas the highest carb item out there, they definitely add up when youโre shoveling them down like we do on our die hard vegan taco nights.
Luckily, Mi Ranchoโs new Organic THINcredible Thin Corn tortillas are delicious as ever but only have half the carbs (and calories too!) of their regular corn tortillas (only 7 grams of carbs and 35 calories).
And they are still sturdy and perfect for these taco cups because their thin nature helps make them extra crunchy!
How do you keep corn tortillas from tearing?
When we do vegan tacos, we start with the perfectly textured tortilla. There is a method we use that is full proof every single time:
- Wrap the tortillas in paper towels.
- Lightly spray the towels with water so they are damp.
- Wrap in a kitchen towel.
- Microwave for about 2 minutes, depending on how many tortillas you are warming.
- If it's more than 6-8 then add about 30 seconds. If it's less then subtract.
- Allow to cool a bit and slowly separate.
This helps get them nice and soft, with a freshly made texture. Load them up and youโre ready to roll!
You can also warm them up on a griddle or pan for about 20-30 seconds on both sides. They are so thin that it doesnโt take long to warm!
The THINcredibles are also very pliable compared to other tortillas even when cold.
How To Make The Perfect Crunchy Taco Cups
Taco cups are all about the crunchy cup itself, and the amazing toppings. Nail these two and youโll have people grabbing for them faster than you can serve!
Once you get that perfectly steamed tortilla (see above), you need to get it crunchy. The key is to add the filling after you get the crunch.
Hereโs the technique that I found worked best:
- Fit the tortillas into a muffin tin by folding each side a bit. Then press down into the muffin tin to shape them. Since they are steamed and soft, they should mold easily.
- Then bake until crispy, fill with ingredients and bake again!
Since we have the quality tortilla handled, what about all the toppings? Iโve got you covered. They key is variety because the more customizable the better. There is nothing quite like the sweet sound of children eating without whining.
Here is my list of top faves for our vegan taco cups:
- Healthy Vegan Bean Dip
- Ultimate Vegan Cheese Sauce
- Guacamole (or try this uber simple guacamole recipe)
- Salsa
- Cilantro
- Green onions
- Jalapenos
- Spicy Cilantro Cream Sauce
You can make the cups ahead of time, leave them out on the counter. The fill and bake again when ready to eat!
If you love all the taco fillings but don't want the crunchy shell, try making a Taco Bowl!
Healthy Crunchy Taco Cups (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Ingredients
- 12 corn tortillas , I use Mi Ranchoโs Organic THINcredibles Thin Corn tortillas
- Light spray of oil , optional to avoid sticking
Optional toppings (use any or all):
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F/ 175 C
- Spray your muffin tin with a thin coat of oil to make sure the tortillas donโt stick, this is optional.
- Wrap the tortillas in paper towels.
- Lightly spray the towels with water so they are damp.
- Wrap in a kitchen towel.
- Microwave for about 2 minutes, depending on how many tortillas you are warming.
- If it's more than 6-8 then add about 30 seconds. If it's less then subtract.
- Allow to cool a bit and slowly separate.
- Fit the tortillas into a muffin tin by folding each side a bit. Shape by pressing them down and molding them into the tin. This should work well if you steamed them.
- Bake for 20 minutes, or until crispy.
- Add the beans and cheese, a spoonful of each, and bake another 10 minutes. You can fill them as much or as little as you want.
- Once done, let cool a bit, then add toppings of choice.
- Devour!
Notes
- Make these your own, add less or more of any of the ingredients to suit your taste! You will have leftovers of some of the toppings linked about, freeze or use for another meal.
- The thin corn tortillas yield a better end result because when steamed they are easier to mold into the muffin tins, but regular corn tortillas work too.
- You can steam the tortillas in the oven too, you'll just need to use tin foil instead of a kitchen towel.
- Prep time is an average, it depends on what toppings you use.
- Nutrition facts include all the mentioned toppings but are approximate and need to be calculated for accuracyย based on how much of each you use.
Recipe by Veggies Donโt Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.
Nutrition
Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.
Debbie
Great hit with the family! I definitely recommend you buy the thin ones. We use daily regular and they were not as crunchy as they could be, but were still delicious. I used a touch of refried beans to โglueโ the folds together prior to baking for the first ten minutes. It increases the capacity of each cup for the filling. Our family voted โyes pleaseโ when I asked if we should make these again!
veggiesdontbite
I'm so happy to hear they all liked them! Thank you so much for the great review!
Steff
Hi! What stores do you find the Mi Rancho corn tortillas? Thanks!
veggiesdontbite
Hi Steff! They have a store locator on their website, here is the link so you can find some in your area: https://www.mirancho.com/store-locator/
Gilbert Warner
These will be the perfect snack at my next party while my guests sit around the bar having drinks. I could make a variety of different offerings of ingredients. Can't wait...
veggiesdontbite
Yes! These really are so customizable!
caryn rock
Hello, this is a great idea and fun way to spice up Taco Tuesday! However, I am wondering if the brand of tortilla makes a difference. I am using organic corn tortillas from Whole Foods (365 Everyday Value) because none of my local grocers carry Mi Rancho, and after trying the warming method, most are stuck together! Maybe they are too thick? Is there another brand I should love for to try next time? I haven't seen any labeled as "thin." I'll keep trying. Love the recipe and so happy I found this site! ๐
veggiesdontbite
Hi Caryn! I tried this recipe with both regular and thin and both work. If they stuck together, you may have warmed them too much. Some brands can get tricky. I would separate them first, then warm. If they are frozen, then defrost a tad, separate then warm. Let me know if that helps!
steviefbillman
These are delicious for a quick afternoon snack, an appetizer during a Mexican dinner or even featured as a main dish! Quick and easy and so many ways to add different toppings! Love!