Description
Savory, cheesy, and loaded with bold taco flavor, these Cheesy Rotel Beef Tacos are the ultimate weeknight indulgence—perfectly saucy and impossible to resist.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 pounds ground beef
- 1–2 tablespoons olive oil (for sautéing)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- Taco seasoning (for both beef and sauce)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- 2½ cups milk
- 2 cans (10 oz each) Rotel (diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained)
- 2 blocks cheddar cheese, freshly shredded
- ⅓ cup sour cream
- A few dashes of hot sauce, to taste
- Nacho cheese–flavored hard taco shells
- Optional: Spanish rice, for serving on the side
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add the diced onion and sauté until softened and translucent.
- Add the ground beef and season generously with taco seasoning. Cook until browned, breaking it up into crumbles as it cooks.
- Once fully cooked, remove the beef and onions from the pot, leaving a bit of the drippings behind for flavor.
- In the same pot, melt the butter over medium heat.
- Whisk in the flour and cook for 1–2 minutes to create a light roux.
- Slowly pour in the milk, whisking continuously until smooth and slightly thickened.
- Stir in both cans of Rotel (including the liquid).
- Gradually add the shredded cheddar cheese, stirring until fully melted and the sauce becomes creamy.
- Mix in the sour cream, a few dashes of hot sauce, and a bit more taco seasoning. Adjust to taste.
- Return the cooked beef and onions to the pot with the cheese sauce.
- Stir well to fully combine. Let the mixture simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes, until thick and creamy.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Arrange the taco shells on a baking sheet and warm them for about 5 minutes to get them nice and crispy.
- Spoon the cheesy beef mixture generously into each taco shell.
- Let it slightly overflow for that indulgent, cheesy look.
- Serve hot with a side of Spanish rice if desired.
Notes
Avoid using pre-shredded cheese for best melt quality. These tacos taste even better when slightly overstuffed with cheesy beef goodness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 taco
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 870mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: cheesy tacos, beef tacos, rotel recipe, tex-mex dinner