Beef Enchilada Taco Boats

These Beef Enchilada Taco Boats are the perfect appetizer for the big game. Hand held bites that are full of flavor and easy to eat for the win!

We have our jerseys ready and fridge stocked with our favorite brew, it's officially football season folks! While I'm not an avid football game viewer, I do very much appreciate the day of rest. There is nothing like sitting around the TV with the family cheering on a team, and eating delicious food!

One of our favorites game time meals are traditional tacos. But with these little cute tortilla shells, making delicious tailgating snacks is so easy and is always crowd favorite. While I love having a taco bar, sometimes we make these delicious Beef Enchilada Taco Bowls when we are invited to a friend's house. Another game day favorite meal is this Hawaiian BBQ Chicken!

They are really simple to make and only require a few simple ingredients. Best part is that they are really easy to transport, which makes it super convenient. The Old El Paso Stan 'N Stuff Flour Tacos are like little mini bowls that hold all of the deliciousness without all of the mess! Just check out the video at the end of this post.

Sometimes, when I have time, I will turn them into little churro bowls too. I simply brush them with melted butter, sprinkle them with cinnamon and sugar, and bake them for about 10 minutes. Then we fill them with ice cream and toppings. It is such a fun and simple to make dessert!

WHY WE LOVE THESE BEEF ENCHILADA TACO BOATS

• Fun to eat! I love good traditional enchiladas, but as an appetizer, they just don't work. These cute little taco boats are the perfect party food and a fun twist on beef enchiladas!
• They're versatile- Have some leftover chicken? Swap out the beef mixture to use up leftovers. You can even sneak some vegetables into them (for the men and the kids).
• Easy to make Super Bowl appetizer! I think they're great for any meal or party but they're especially good for watching football!

TACO BOAT RECIPE INGREDIENTS/SHOPPING LIST

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 onion diced
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 2 teaspoons oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground pepper
• ½ cup Red enchilada sauce
• 1 package Old El Paso Stan 'N Stuff Soft Flour Tacos
• 2 cups shredded cheese Cheddar and Monterey jack
• 1 cup black olives slices
• ½ cup green onions finely sliced
• Shredded Lettuce
• Salsa
• Sour Cream

HOW TO MAKE THESE ENCHILADA BOATS

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. In a large skillet, heat oil on medium high heat.
3. Add onions and garlic and sauté until soft.
4. Add ground beef, salt, and pepper and cook until meat has browned, stirring regularly.
5. Once meat is cook, drain off excess fat.
6. Add enchilada sauce and cook until sauce is simmering.
7. Place Old El Paso Stan 'N Stuff Soft Flour Tacos on a cookie sheet.
8. Add about ⅓ cup of filling to each taco boat.
9. Top with cheese, olives, and green onions.
10. Bake for 10 minutes or until cheese has melted and taco boat edges are slightly brown.
11. Top with shredded lettuce, salsa, and sour cream right before serving.

TIPS AND VARIATIONS FOR MAKING THIS TACO BOAT RECIPE

• If you're short on time, use a teaspoon of onion powder and garlic powder on the ground beef meat mixture. You can also season the meat with a couple of tablespoons of taco seasoning.
• Make chicken enchilada taco boats by using a pound of finely diced chicken breast.
• Use green enchilada sauce instead of red, if desired.
• Add green chiles to your filling for added spice.
• Make your own tortilla boats or cups by spraying a muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray and placing warm corn tortillas or small soft flour tortillas into each cup, folding the edges if necessary. If you're using larger tortillas, cut them with a 4 in round cookie cutter. Bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes, then fill with the beef enchilada filling and bake as directed in the recipe card below.
• Swap out the tortillas for zucchini halves (seeds removed) and make beef enchilada zucchini boats! Cover the zucchini taco boats with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes. We love making squash swaps especially during the summer when our garden is crazy. Another favorite is our Chicken Alfredo Spaghetti Squash Boats.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH ENCHILADAS?

While I love making these tortilla boats for appetizers, occasionally we'll have them for a quick and easy meal. I love to serve them on Taco Tuesday with a side of Mexican rice and a scoop of black beans or refried beans. The whole family loves them!

Our favorite toppings for Taco Boats

• Fresh Cilantro
• Shredded Lettuce
• Sour Cream
• Diced Tomatoes
• Cheddar Cheese
• Chopped red onion

FAQS

How do you make your own enchilada sauce recipe?

Ready in only 10 minutes, this easy enchilada sauce is super simple to make! Simply whisk together 2 tablespoons of olive oil and all-purpose flour in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk in 4 tablespoons of chili powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder and salt, ¼ teaspoon cumin and oregano to make the spiced roux. Next whisk in 2 tablespoons tomato paste and 2 ¼ cups chicken broth. Whisk until smooth. Bring the sauce to a simmer and that's it! Use in these taco boats then store the rest of the cooled homemade sauce in an airtight container for your favorite beef enchiladas with red sauce.

Where can I buy Old El Paso Taco Boats?

They are usually found in the Mexican food section at your local grocery store. You can also purchase them online here.

OTHER FUN GAME DAY APPETIZERS

• Beer Cheese Pretzel Bites
• Carne Asada Waffle Fries
• Antipasta Skewers with Pesto
• Kalua Pork Sliders