Slow-Cooker Party Beef Tacos

Prep 1 hr 25 min
Total 3 hr 25 min
Servings 30

Let your slow cooker bring the party with these layered beef tacos! We took everyone’s favorite layered taco dip and thought: what if we put it on tacos? And with make-ahead instructions, it’s safe to say this idea was genius. Your slow cooker keeps the seasoned beef mixture warm, so guests can fill tacos themselves without you running back and forth from the kitchen. Layer your 13x9 with lettuce, roasted corn, red bell pepper, onion, tomatoes, avocados, salsa and cheese, and guests will be able to add all their toppings in one go! Once everyone fills their Old El Paso™ Stand ‘N Stuff™ taco shells, the party can officially begin! MORE+ LESS-

By Betty Crocker Kitchens

Updated January 14, 2020

Make with

Old El Paso

Ingredients

Tacos:

lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef

large onions, chopped

packages (1 oz each) Old El Paso™ taco seasoning mix

1 1/2

cups Old El Paso™ Thick 'n Chunky salsa

cup water

boxes (4.7 oz each) Old El Paso™ Stand 'N Stuff™ taco shells

Layered Taco Toppings:

(11-oz.) cans whole kernel sweet corn, drained

(10-oz.) pkg. (5 1/2 cups) shredded lettuce

cups chopped red, yellow and/or green bell pepper

1/2

cup sliced green onions

cups chopped Italian plum tomatoes

medium avocado, pitted, peeled and chopped

cup mayonnaise

1/2

cup Old El Paso™ Salsa

oz. (2 cups) finely shredded Mexican cheese blend

1/4

cup chopped fresh cilantro

Steps

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1

Cook ground beef in 2 batches. For first batch, spray 12-inch skillet with cooking spray. Add half of the ground beef and 1 chopped onion. Cook over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes or until beef is thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently. Drain.
2

Stir in 1 package taco seasoning mix, 3/4 cup salsa and 1/2 cup water. Reduce heat to low; simmer 8 to 10 minutes or until most of liquid is absorbed.
3

Cool first batch of beef mixture 15 minutes. Spoon into refrigerator or freezer container; cover tightly. Repeat to make second batch. Serve immediately, or refrigerate up to 24 hours or freeze up to 1 week.
4

To serve immediately, place beef mixture in slow cooker; keep warm on Low setting. If beef mixture is frozen, thaw before heating. Place beef mixture in slow cooker; cover and cook on High setting for 1 hour or until hot. Reduce heat to Low to keep warm. To serve, spoon beef mixture into taco shells. Top with Layered Taco Toppings.
5

To make Layered Taco Toppings, heat oven to 425°F. Spray 15x10x1-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Dry corn on paper towels; spread corn in sprayed pan. Bake at 425°F for 15 minutes. Stir; bake an additional 10 minutes. Cool 5 minutes or until slightly cooled.
6

In ungreased 13x9-inch (3 quart) glass baking dish, layer lettuce, bell pepper, roasted corn, onions, tomatoes and avocado.
7

In small bowl, combine mayonnaise and salsa; mix well. Spread over vegetables. Sprinkle with cheese and cilantro. Cover tightly; refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.

Expert Tips

It's easy to double or triple this recipe for larger groups. Cook the meat mixture in batches, cool and refrigerate it or freeze it as directed in the recipe.
This recipe combines all of the taco topping ingredients in a layered "salad". This method of layering the toppings will help people move through the buffet line faster.
A great addition to these layered beef tacos would be a side of hearty guacamole. Our Loaded Guacamole will add even more flavor and layers to your fiesta!

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving

Calories: 280
Calories from Fat: 150

% Daily Value

Total Fat: 17g; 26%
Saturated Fat 6g 28% Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol: 40mg; 13%
Sodium: 570mg; 24%
Potassium: 240mg; 7%
Total Carbohydrate: 19g; 6%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8% Sugars 3g
Protein: 12g

% Daily Value*:

Vitamin A: 15%; 15%
Vitamin C: 15%; 15%
Calcium: 8%; 8%
Iron: 8%; 8%

Exchanges:

1 Starch; 0 Fruit; 0 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 1/2 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 2 1/2 Fat;

Carbohydrate Choice

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

More About This Recipe

Want to enjoy your next party? Save this recipe! These slow-cooker tacos serve 30 and are meant to be made ahead, saving you time on the day of and freeing you up to enjoy your company. Then again, you can also rely on this recipe for impromptu parties thanks to the day-of instructions. So no matter what your hosting personality may be, this recipe’s a keeper. One of the clever aspects of this recipe is the way all the taco toppings get combined into, essentially, a layered salad. Your guests can scoop all the good stuff onto their tacos in one go to help keep the buffet line moving. So next fiesta, make your tacos the easy way — in the slow cooker!