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Creepy Taco Cups for a Halloween party

Classic Creepy Taco Cups

These Classic Creepy Taco Cups are a fun and spooky twist on a family favorite, perfect for Halloween parties or a themed dinner. Crispy tortilla cups are filled with a savory, seasoned meat mixture and topped with all your favorite ghoulish garnishes.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 350 kcal

Equipment

  • Oven
  • Muffin tin
  • Wire rack
  • Large skillet

Ingredients
  

For the Taco Shells

  • 8-12 Small to medium soft flour tortillas
  • Olive oil or cooking spray

For the Spooky Filling

  • 1 lb Ground beef or turkey
  • 1 packet Taco seasoning
  • 1 onion finely diced
  • 2 cloves Garlic minced
  • 1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies (10 oz)
  • 1 can black beans (15 oz), rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup Corn (fresh, frozen, or canned)
  • 1/2 cup Water or broth

For Creepy Toppings (Optional)

  • 1 cup Shredded lettuce
  • 1 cup Shredded cheese (Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a blend)
  • 1/2 cup Sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 cup Salsa
  • 1/2 cup Guacamole or diced avocado
  • Sliced black olives
  • Jalapeño slices
  • Fresh cilantro chopped

Instructions
 

Taco Shells

  • Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  • Lightly spray or brush both sides of each tortilla with olive oil or cooking spray.
  • Gently press each tortilla into the cups of a standard muffin tin to form a cup shape.
  • Bake for 8-12 minutes until golden brown and firm, then cool on a wire rack.

Spooky Filling

  • While shells bake, cook ground beef or turkey in a large skillet until no longer pink, then drain excess fat.
  • Add finely diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet and cook until the onion softens (3-5 minutes).
  • Stir in taco seasoning, diced tomatoes with green chilies, rinsed black beans, corn, and water or broth; bring to a simmer.
  • Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5-7 minutes until liquid evaporates and flavors meld.

Assembly and Garnish

  • Fill each crispy taco cup with the cooked meat mixture.
  • Optionally, sprinkle shredded cheese on top of the filling in each cup.
  • For melted cheese, return taco cups to the oven for 2-3 minutes until bubbly.
  • Remove from oven and garnish with creepy toppings like shredded lettuce, olive "spiders" on sour cream, salsa, guacamole, and cilantro; serve immediately.

Notes

For extra creepy flair, use food coloring to dye sour cream green or black. You can also cut olive pieces into "spiders" or other spooky shapes for garnish. Consider serving with a side of "bloody" salsa by adding red food coloring.