Keto Tacos with Cheese Taco Shells
These easy cheese taco shells are perfect for making Keto Tacos! Baked cheddar cheese formed into the shape of a taco and filled with seasoned ground beef for a low carb taco night!
Keto Tacos with Cheese Taco Shells
Mexican food is my favorite especially tacos, so when I started eating low carb I immediately went in search of a keto taco recipe and I discovered cheese taco shells. Guys, these things are life changing!
Keto Tacos made with Cheese Taco Shells are perfect for keto diets with only 1 net carb ! They are gluten free and easy to make (even though they take a little time) and I think they taste better than the original 🙂
Note: This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Thank you!
How to Make Keto Tacos:
- Start by lining a baking sheet. You can use a baking sheet with parchment paper but a silicone mat is the best because the cheese comes off easily every time. Then you drop little piles of grated cheese on to the baking sheet. For cheese taco shells I suggest using about 1/4 cup of cheddar cheese per shell.
- Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake at 350 degrees F for 5-7 minutes, or until the shredded cheese has melted and the edges begin to brown. It’s important to wait until those edges start to get crispy because you’ll get the crispiest cheese taco shells that way. Note: Cheese does release grease as it bakes. You can dab your shells lightly with a paper towel before the next step if you would like to remove some of the excess grease.
- Shape your cheese taco shells. Use two glasses and sit a thick handled spoon (or whatever utensil you have) across the glasses. You’ll want the handle to be thick enough that it will leave a space of about 3/4″ in the curve of your taco. It doesn’t have to be precise! Let the cheese cool for a minute then lift it off of the baking sheet and drape it over the spoon handle. Let it cool completely, this only takes about 5 minutes, and you have a low carb taco shell!
Want to try a different shape? These cheese taco shells are easy to mold. We used a mini muffin tin to make our Low Carb Taco Bites!
Now you just need something to fill that shell with. I make a simple low carb taco meat with ground beef and my homemade taco seasoning made with chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt.
Does Taco Seasoning Have Carbs?
That depends. Those taco seasoning packets you buy at the grocery store have way more carbs than you might realize because they contain added sugar, and cornstarch. If you make taco seasoning at home (which tastes so much better anyways!) then taco seasoning has only a 1.5 net carbs per tablespoon.
How to Make Keto Tacos:
- In a large skillet over medium heat brown the ground beef.
- When it is almost cooked through add the taco seasoning and 1/4 cup of water. Let the mixture continue to cook stirring occasionally until the water has been absorbed. You’ll want to cook the excess moisture out of the meat so it isn’t as messy in the taco shells.
- Let the meat cool slightly and then add it to the Then I add the taco meat to to the keto taco shells and top it with avocados, sour cream, and a little pico de gallo.
When you’re done you have a beef taco that is better than the original! That cheesy shell is the perfect replacement for a crunchy corn shell or soft flour tortilla. You’ll never miss the carbs!
Want More Keto Recipes?
- Slow Cooker Taco Soup
- Taco Zucchini Boats
- Mexican Meatballs
- Low Carb Nachos
- Chimichurri Steak
- Keto Buffalo Chicken Cauliflower Casserole
- Cheesy Baked Zucchini Casserole
- Low Carb Instant Pot Butter Chicken
- Mexican Stuffed Peppers
- Low Carb Big Mac Bites
- More Keto Recipes…
Keto Tacos
Ingredients
Cheese Taco Shells
- 2 cups Cheddar cheese, , shredded
Taco Meat
- 1 pound Ground beef
- 2 tablespoon Homemade Taco Seasoning
- 1/4 cup Water
- Toppings for taco: Sour cream, avocado, cheese, lettuce, etc., optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat place 1/4 cup piles of cheese 2 inches apart. Press the cheese down lightly so it makes one layer.
- Place baking sheet in the oven and bake for 5-7 minutes or until the edges of the cheese are brown.
- Let the cheese cool for 1-2 minutes until it is firm enough to lift but still bendable. Lift the cheese up and place it over the handle of a spoon or other utensil that is balanced on two cups.
- Let cheese cool completely then remove.
- While you continue to bake your cheese taco shells place the ground beef in a skillet over medium high heat cooking until it is completely cooked through.
- Drain the grease from the meat and then add the homemade taco seasoning. Pour water into skillet and stir everything around mixing it together.
- Simmer for 5 minutes or until liquid has cooked away.
- Add meat to taco shells and top with your favorite taco toppings.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published on April 11, 2016. It was republished on August 9, 2019 with updated photos.
These turned out beautifully. Never realized this could be so easy. Thank you for the recipe!
Can these be made in advance?
Hi Susi, I have made them in advance and stored them in an airtight container. It works but they are less crisp. Still delicious though 🙂
Don’t bother trying to use parchment paper for this. You’ll never get them off. If it hadn’t been for us having some corn tortillas laying around, I would’ve been back to square one with dinner. Might work with a silicone mat, but I don’t own one. Frustrating.
Hi Kara, I’m sorry you had trouble with the parchment paper. I use it all the time (because I get tired of cleaning the silicone mats) and it always works. Parchment paper has a thin coating of silicone on it making it non-stick. If you try it again you can also lightly spray the paper with non-stick spray but it will add a little more oil to the shell.
If you spray the parchment paper with cooking spray they will come off or if you do it with foil
Hi, Kara,
Parchment paper has a side that is shinner than the other. Try to use the shiny side so it would not stick.
Hi Kat and Melinda,
I was hungry a few weeks ago on my Keto and knew I wanted something Cheesy so I put a little Coconut oil and Butter into a small fry pan and added a half cup of shredded Cheddar cheese and I let it Fry on one side and it got so ooey gooey and then I flipped it over until lightly browned and then I took it out and just snacked on it with a little salt on and it was so yummy!! Sometimes we just get the Crave for Cheese or for Chocolate!! 😋☺
Yes we do! I love making cheesy “crackers” by just cooking cheddar cheese until it is crisp!
These are great! I used a fry pan made by Curtis Stone. I purchased it on HSN. It really works well because even if I burn it with this pan it wont stick. Thought I would pass this on. Thanks for such a great idea.
Have been seeing tacos on tv, needed tacos!! I used a finely shredded taco cheese on those oven or grill lining mats, and it was easy as could be!!!! I wrapped a broom handle in tin foil to lay them on to shape them, and used bibb lettuce to line them, and then put in taco meat!
Thanks for making our keto low carb supper delicious and easy!!
I love cheese taco shells. Costco sells round cheese wraps that are perfect for this. They come in cheddar and parmesan. Makes the perfect taco shape without having to make perfect round shapes out of shredded cheese. I also like to drape it over a book end covered in parchment paper. It makes the base of the taco wider and keeps the ends from coming too close together.
Love the book end tip and I’m going to look for that cheese the next time I’m at Costco!
Diets have never been a thing for me.
Although, eating healthier has.
When I was approached about the Keto after putting in 20lbs. due to Thyroids, surgeries and little activity.
I decided to give it a try. I haven’t started yet because
being a huge bread lover I’ve weaned myself off.
Doing that for just two weeks, bloating is gone.
Though no weight loss started to feel better, more energy.
Now my second week I’ve now lost five lbs.
Looking forward to this adventure after looking these recipes!
I feel very positive. 😁
what did i do wrong way to gressy to i didnt want to eat
Did you shred cheese or use already shredded cheese? Store bought shredded cheese releases less grease. Also, did you dab your shells lightly with a paper towel before removing them from the pan?
Can I use your videos for weight loss product marketing?
No. Our photos and videos are copyrighted and we do not give permission for them to be used.
Could I use a different mix of cheese , like a mix of Mozzarella and Parmesan for the shells or does it has to be cheddar ?
Yes, you can use other cheese besides cheddar.
This is the best keto article/recipes I have seen — a doorway to heaven. Thank you. God bless you for sharing. Cheeeeese!!
Great recipe! I’m going to try a mix of different cheeses next time for variety. I also made two slight modifications which worked well. I used a couple of Pampered Chef spatulas across two glasses (flat, ~ 3/4”) and overlay/lined with hamburger wax squares that I have. It doesn’t stick, allows a “liner” for me to stack the shells in each other, and the flat spatula allowed a flatter taco shell bottoms so they stand up on your plate for filing. Tasted wonderful!
I tried these & they were great! Sprayed the parchment paper with Avocado oil spray & hung them over the edge of a book per some of the suggestions. 👍Very yummy! Will definitely be making again.👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
So Good!
My goodness, where has this recipe been all my life! I started keto two weeks ago because I was pre-diabetic from catching Covid. I just made these tonight for taco night and let me tell you, I will never miss regular taco shells. This really added a ton of delicious flavor to the tacos! I’ll be using this for enchiladas and maybe sandwich wraps. So good! Instructions are perfect! Thanks so much for this!
Tried these shells and loved my tacos. I used shredded chicken breast instead of ground beef.
I’d like to know if I can store them. I’m the only one eating and I was full with two.
Store them in the fridge with paper towel in between each shell. They will not be a crispy though. Fresh ones always taste the best.