Enjoying a Taco Salad in these Crispy Taco Salad Shells is an adventure. It feels like a dish straight from a Mexican restaurant and definitely elevates Taco Tuesday!
Ingredients
- Flour Tortillas – We use large 10-inch flour tortillas to create spacious bowls. You can try Homemade Flour Tortillas or use store-bought ones if you’re in a hurry.
- Oil – use high-heat cooking oil. Our preferred choice is extra light olive oil (not extra virgin), or you can opt for Canola oil.
- Salt – a light sprinkle of salt enhances the taco shells’ flavor, but it’s optional. If you’re filling the shells with salad and dressing, you might not need extra salt.
Pro Tip: If you want to make smaller bowls, you can use smaller tortillas. For single-serve mini tortilla bowls, get the smallest tortilla size and shape them in muffin tins for perfect appetizers!
How to Make Tortilla Bowls
- Prep – Preheat your oven to 350˚F with a rack in the center and arrange your oven-safe bowls on a baking sheet, so they’re ready when the tortillas finish frying.
- Fry Tortillas – Heat 2 Tbsp of oil in a skillet and fry the tortillas for 30-45 seconds per side or until they turn golden brown in spots. This process happens quickly, so stay attentive to prevent burning. Fry the tortillas one at a time and add more oil as needed.
- Mold Tortillas – Right after frying, use tongs to transfer the tortillas to your prepared bowls and press them down in the center to shape them. A soup ladle works well for this purpose.
- Bake Tortilla Bowls – Once all your taco salad bowls are shaped, bake them in the preheated oven for 12-14 minutes or until they become crispy and golden brown. Then, transfer the bowls to a wire rack to cool before serving (see serving suggestions below).
Common Questions
How to eat a tortilla bowl?
The tortilla shell serves as a bowl, but I always set it over a dinner plate to catch any leaks and make it easier to transport. The shell is also meant to be eaten along with the salad. I like to break off the edges and enjoy it with bites of salad.
Can I use Gluten-free tortillas?
Yes, you can make gluten-free tortilla bowls following the same instructions.
