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Easy Crunchy Keto Taco Cups Recipe

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Those Hard Shell Easy Crunchy Keto Taco Cups Recipe filled with Mexican Flavors and Taco Ground Beef is a perfect Low-Carb Appetizer for your next party or get-together. Entirely Gluten-Free, Low Carb, Grain-Free and perfect for Diabetics, those Low-Carb Taco Cups are an ideal Keto replacement for your Taco Tuesday, Cinco de Mayo, or Tex-Mex Ground Beef Tacos for that matter.

Keto Taco Recipe served as an appetizer on a black plate
Easy Crunchy Keto Taco Cups Recipe

Taco Recipes

With our Collection of Taco Recipes, you will have to explore them all one by one. Our Low-Carb Taco Seasoning is a great base recipe for any Taco Ground beef or added into Taco Shells or used as a Mexican flavor in any other Low-Carb Recipes on our Blog. 

Keto Book with recipes
Newsletter and Keto Free Ebook

Adding Salsa or Creamy Salsa Dressing adds more opportunities to make Tacos, Taco Casserole, or easy Keto Taco Salad more flavorful. 

I have even used this recipe to make a perfect Keto Taco Bowl accompany our Keto Taco Salad. 

Keto Appetizer

A straightforward look at the photos I have taken made me want to invite all of my friends to a little Mexican party. 

Even if you have everything else boring, those Keto Cups will brighten your room in one click. 

Low-Carb Taco Cups

Starting with easy Keto Taco Shells made with Almond Flour to make them pliable enough to have that soft added texture, I have decided to change our cups a tiny bit.

I wanted us to have a perfect hard Shell Recipe. I have replaced Almond Flour with Protein Powder not only to add a bit more protein into our meal but make those cups super crunchy, almost like chips. 

You still get perfect Keto Cheese Taco cups, but with extra protein. What do you say?

Taco Tuesday or Cinco de Mayo

You will no longer feel deprived during your Taco Tuesday with all of those recipes I mentioned above.

Your Cinco de Mayo celebration could be even more flavorful than you might have ever thought so. 

Keto Taco Cups Recipe for party
Keto Taco Cups

Low-Carb Mexican Party

Just imagine making all our Mexican recipes and gathering them on one big table when guests arrive. The colors, the aroma, the healthiness of all. I am sure everyone will enjoy it, and nobody will ever know there is no touch of flour on the table. 

Cinco de Mayo entirely Gluten-Free, Grain-free, Low Carb and Keto. 

And all the Diabetic friends will for sure ask for the recipes, as they will be able to enjoy every dish without raising their blood sugar.

What cheese to use for Taco cups?

As you see in the recipe, I have mixed mozzarella cheese together with shredded cheddar cheese. This mixture gives you that perfect taste and authentic Taco Cups color. Not too orange, if you use only cheddar cheese, and not too light with only mozzarella cheese.

How many carbs have one Keto Taco Cup?

This Taco Cups recipe is so great, not only in taste. With only 3 grams of carbohydrates and 1 gram of Fiber, it fits perfectly in our Low-carb Lifestyle. 
Adding 13 grams of Protein, you will meet your macros in no time. 

Taco Cups on a plate for party
Low Carb taco Shells

What can I garnish Keto Taco Cups with?

Before I get straight to the recipe, I wanted to suggest what else you can use as a garnish for these already colorful Keto Cups.

How To Make Keto Taco Cups?

Kitchen Gadgets needed:

  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment Paper
  • Muffin or Cupcake Tin

Ingredients Needed:

  • Mozzarella Cheese
  • Cheddar Cheese
  • Protein Powder
  • Ground Beef
  • Taco Seasoning
  • Lettuce
  • Onion
  • Black Olives
  • Tomatoes
  • Avocado

*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR LOW-CARB TACO CUPS MAKING

First Step: Prepare Ingredients for Taco Cups Shells 

Let us first prepare taco cups shells.

First of all, heat your oven to 180 Celsius or 350 Fahrenheit.

Prepare your mozzarella and cheddar cheese.

As I always suggest for you, buy a whole block of cheese and grate at home just before preparing your dish.

This will help you reduce carbohydrates because the store-bought grated cheese is always covered with starches.

I have used protein powder for our taco cheese cups to add crispiness and crunchiness to the tacos.

If you do not have protein powder at home, you can substitute this with almond flour. Just bear in mind that the cheese cups might not be as crunchy as with protein powder.

Taco Cups hard shell ingredients needed
Keto Cheese Taco Cups

Second Step: Mix All Ingredients for Taco Shells

Using a big glass bowl, add all the ingredients in, and mix them.

Keto Taco Cups mixing cheese together
Taco Cups

Third Step: Make Circles, fill and bake.

Using either your kid’s compass or a bowl, make lovely round shapes on parchment paper to have your cups identical in size.

I have made those Taco cups 4 inches in size, but you can alternate depending on your muffin pan or cupcake pan size.

Fill each circle with the mixture, and using your hands, make sure the circles are almost identical.

Place into the oven and bake for approximately eight minutes until the corners brown.

Low Carb taco Shells making the shells from cheese
Keto Taco Cups

Fourth Step: Oil and shape Taco Cups

While your taco cups shells are baking, prepare the muffin tin or any of the mini balls you will use for shaping.

Good advice is to oil the tops of the muffin pan, so the taco cups do not get stuck on the pan and will be difficult to remove.

Once your taco cups are baked, take them out of the oven and immediately place each circle onto the muffin tin, shaping them into the cups.

As you see in my video, I have used an additional mini cup to push the cheese circle onto the muffin pan to make the shape more content.

Easy Crunchy Keto Taco Cups Recipe forming the hard shells
Low Carb taco Shells

Fifth Step: Prepare Ingredients for Taco Cups Meal

Once your taco cups are ready and cooled down, you can start preparing the whole taco meal.

As you see on the images and in our recipe card, prepare all the ingredients together for an easy assembly.

You can certainly add or take back some ingredients you either don’t have at home or prefer.

Keto Cheese Taco Cups ingredients needed
Hard Shell taco cups

Sixth Step: Taco Ground Beef

Heat your skillet over medium-high, add a bit of oil and cook the ground beef for approximately 10-15 minutes.

Once you see the color changed, add taco seasoning, mix it thoroughly and let it cook for additional 10 minutes.

When your taco meat is fully cooked, you can place it into the bowl for assembling or leave it in the pot.

Depending on if you like your tacos with warm or cold meat, you should leave it for a while to cool. 

Ground Beef Keto Tacos browning the meat
Keto Tacos with Ground Beef

Seventh Step: Start Filling Taco Cups

Place your taco cups on a tray and start filling with lettuce cut into small pieces.

Lettuce will help you hold the moisture from ground beef and any other ingredients you add and protect actual cups from becoming moist. Therefore, it is best to start with the lettuce pieces.

Continue adding Taco Ground Beef, onion, and black olives you have cut into small pieces.

Keto Cheese Taco Cups adding fresh veggies into the cups
Easy Crunchy Keto Taco Cups Recipe

Eighth Step: Fill the rest and serve

Keep filling up with cut tomatoes, avocado, and grated cheese of your choice. 

I have used cheddar cheese for the color and taste.

You can also sprinkle salsa dressing or any other garnishes mentioned above.

Keto Taco Cups filling up the cups with various taco ingredients
Keto Cheese Taco Cups

Tips and Tricks

  • Salsa Dressing – as you see, I have sprinkled a bit of salad dressing at the end but did not count that into the macros as you have various condiments you can use. 
  • Shapes – If you do not have a muffin tray, you can use single cupcakes molds or mini bowls to make the shape. 
  • Size – I have made 4 inches wide taco Cups. Not every muffin tray is the same, so I suggest measuring your muffin tops and adding 1 inch to them. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

What can I use if I don’t have a Taco Seasoning Packet?

For all of our readers, who do not have Taco Seasoning Packets at home or do not want to use one because of the keto Lifestyle, I have made an extra simple recipe of Keto Taco Seasoning you can make yourself at home in less than 5 minutes. 

Low Carb taco Shells as an appetizer on a white tray
Keto Taco Cups Recipe

How do you store Low-Carb Taco Cups?

My suggestion would be to store taco cups separately from all other ingredients and assemble the whole taco cups meal just before serving.

Taco Cups can stay on your kitchen counter for days and will still remain perfectly crispy. But you can also store them in an airtight glass container in your Pantry.

All other ingredients should be in your fridge and cut or prepared just before serving your appetizer. 

If you do not finish the whole taco cups, you can still store them covered in your fridge for up to 3 days. 

If you are using avocado, make sure to sprinkle it a tiny bit with lemon as it will become dark very fast. 

Can you freeze Taco Cups?

You can undoubtedly freeze whole taco cups, but while thawing them, the shells might become moist and soft. 

I would suggest storing your taco cups separately on your kitchen counter or a pantry, and all ingredients you are using for filling up could be freezer in Ziploc bags. 

Do not forget to check our Low Carb Taco Cups Story for a quick reference.

Pin For Later

Hard Shell taco cups on a round tray
Keto Taco Recipe

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Yield: 8

Easy Crunchy Keto Taco Cups Recipe

Keto Taco Recipe served as an appetizer on a black plate

Those Hard Shell Easy Crunchy Keto Taco Cups Recipe filled with Mexican Flavors and Taco Ground Beef is a perfect Low-Carb Appetizer for your next party or get-together. Entirely Gluten-Free, Low Carb, Grain-Free and perfect for Diabetics, those Low-Carb Taco Cups are an ideal Keto replacement for your Taco Tuesday, Cinco de Mayo, or Tex-Mex Ground Beef Tacos for that matter. 

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 Cup (50 grams) Mozzarella Cheese
  • 1/2 Cup (50 grams) Cheddar Cheese
  • 1/3 Cup (20 grams) Protein Powder
  • 1 & 1/2 Cup (250 grams) Ground Beef
  • 2 Tablespoons (4 grams) Taco Seasoning
  • 1 Cup (40 grams) Lettuce
  • 1/4 Cup (25 grams) Onion
  • 1/4 Cup (25 grams) Black Olives
  • 1/2 Cup (60 grams) Tomatoes
  • 1/2 Cup (60 grams) Avocado
  • 1/4 Cup (12 grams) Cheddar Cheese

Instructions

  1. First of all, heat your oven to 180 Celsius or 350 Fahrenheit. Prepare your mozzarella and cheddar cheese.
  2. Using a big glass bowl, add all the ingredients in, and mix them.
  3. Using either your kid's compass or a bowl, make lovely round shapes on parchment paper to have your cups identical in size. Fill each circle with the mixture, and using your hands, make sure the circles are almost identical. Place into the oven and bake for approximately eight minutes until the corners brown.
  4. Oil the tops of the muffin pan, take cups out of the oven and immediately place each circle onto the muffin tin, shaping them into the cups.
  5. Prepare all the ingredients together for an easy assembly.
  6. Heat your skillet over medium-high, add a bit of oil and cook the ground beef for approximately 10-15 minutes. Add taco seasoning, mix it thoroughly and let it cook for additional 10 minutes.
  7. Place your taco cups on a tray and start filling with lettuce cut into small pieces. Continue adding Taco Ground Beef, onion, and black olives you have cut into small pieces.
  8. Keep filling up with cut tomatoes, avocado, and grated cheese of your choice. You can also sprinkle salsa dressing or any other garnishes mentioned above.

Notes

  • Salsa Dressing - as you see, I have sprinkled a bit of salad dressing at the end but did not count that into the macros as you have various condiments you can use. 
  • Shapes - If you do not have a muffin tray, you can use single cupcakes molds or mini bowls to make the shape. 
  • Size - I have made 4 inches wide taco Cups. Not every muffin tray is the same, so I suggest measuring your muffin tops and adding 1 inch to them. 

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Nutrition Information

Yield

8

Serving Size

1 Cup

Amount Per Serving Calories 131Total Fat 8gCarbohydrates 3gFiber 1gProtein 13g

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Ground Beef Keto Recipes

Perfect Keto and Low Carb Recipe to use with Ground Beef and minced meat. Super easy and quick Ground Beef Keto Recipe to hel with Keto Fast Food ideas that are always fully Low Carb, Gluten-free and Grain-Free.

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By Zuzana Paar on January 15th, 2022
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About Zuzana Paar

Zuzana is the creative force behind this vibrant blog. With passion as a recipe developer, content creator, food writer, movie maker, and photographer, she poured her heart and soul into curating a space brimming with delightful keto and low carb recipes. Join her on this flavorful journey where quick, easy-to-make dishes take center stage, bringing joy and nourishment to your table.

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