Yes, some fast-food chains are unbeatable! But with the aid of Mendocino Spices, we can get close (if not better) than the real deal. The secret to these tacos is the homemade Dorito seasoning, which you can totally load up on before and after baking. I made the taco meat with strictly with Mendocino Spices and a few aromatics, but if you have it on hand, I highly recommend throwing some salsa in your meat too. You can also use any meat you prefer, swapping out beef for turkey, chicken, or a plant based substitution.
Tacos:
1 lb ground beef
1 yellow onion
1 poblano, finely chopped (optional)
4 tbsp Mendocino Spices Taco Seasoning
For Assembling:
1 ½ cups shredded Mexican cheese
2 tbsp ‘Doritos Seasoning’
1 tsp Mendocino Spices Onion Powder
1 tsp Mendocino Spices Garlic Powder
1 tsp Mendocino Spices Ground Cumin
1 tsp Mendocino Spices Smoked Paprika
1 tsp Mendocino Spices Light Chile Powder
1 tsp Mendocino Spices All-Purpose Seasoning
¼ tsp Mendocino Spices Ground Cayenne
8 mini flour tortillas
8 hard taco shells
2 cups Romaine lettuce, shredded
2 cups shredded pepper jack cheese
Spicy Ranch:
½ cup plain Greek yogurt
2 tbsp Mendocino Spices Ranch Salad Dressing Mix
1 serrano, finely chopped
1 chipotle in adobo, finely chopped
Mendocino Spices All-Purpose Seasoning, to taste
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. In a large skillet, saute ground beef, onion, and poblano (if using). Cook, breaking up the meat as it cooks until it is browned, about 5 minutes. Add Mendocino Spices Taco Seasoning and ¾ cup of water.
3. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the meat has thickened, 20-25 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, make Doritos seasoning mixing Mendocino Spices.
5. Prepare spicy ranch by mixing respective ingredients altogether.
6. Lay the flour tortillas flat on two baking sheets. Evenly divide the Mexican cheese blend between each tortilla. Sprinkle the Doritos Seasoning over the cheese. Bake for 3-5 minutes until cheese has melted.
7. Add the hard shells to the center of each tortilla, pressing one side of the shell into the cheese.
8. Fold the remaining cheesy side onto the hard shell, pressing the shell into the cheese.
9.Spoon the meat evenly into each shell. Top with spicy ranch, lettuce, and a sprinkle of pepper jack cheese.
10. Serve immediately with desired toppings.