Puff Pastry Tacos Recipe | Easy Baked Puffy Tacos

If you’re looking for the perfect twist on Taco Tuesday, but don’t want to eat boring traditional tacos, these Puff Pastry Tacos are exactly what you’re looking for! With a flaky, tender shell and a flavorful filling, your family is guaranteed to fall in love with this twist on a classic.

What Makes These Tacos Extra Special?

With a world full of delicious taco recipes, it’s hard to choose which one to choose when it’s time to plan your next Taco Tuesday. Here’s why these Puff Pastry Tacos should be at the top of your list:

• Terrific Texture. Tender and flaky puff pastry makes these puffy tacos an irresistible bite.
• Super Customizable. Top them with your favorite taco toppings for a personalized bite.
• Family-Friendly. Turn an already family-favorite meal into an unforgettable dinner experience with this fun twist on a classic.

What Are Puffy Taco Shells Made Of?

All you need to make these super simple puffy taco shells is a box of premade puff pastry! Sure, you can make your own homemade puff pastry, but it’s a very time-consuming and intricate process. For a quick weeknight dinner option, reach for a box of your favorite frozen puff pastry.

What Is The Secret To Puff Pastry?

For years I was hesitant to use puff pastry in any recipes because I had a total failure of an attempt to work with it. After a little bit of research and experimenting I discovered the secret to working with puff pastry is working quickly and using an egg wash.

Allowing the puff pastry to get too warm melts the butter before it is baked and prevents the layers of the puff pastry from becoming flaky. So, make sure you have all of the filling prepared before you pull the puff pastry out of the refrigerator.

Brushing the top of the puff pastry with an egg wash before baking aids in creating a golden brown exterior without overbaking the pastry.

Ingredients To Grab

• Puff Pastry– Serves as the crispy, flaky base for the tacos. It provides a buttery and delicate texture that contrasts well with the savory filling.
• Ground Beef– The primary protein component of the filling. It’s seasoned with a delicious combination of spices to add flavor and cooked until browned.
• Shredded Cheese– Shredded cheese adds richness and creaminess to the tacos. It melts inside the puff pastry to create a warm filling and helps bind the ingredients together.
• Tomato Paste– Tomato paste adds depth of flavor and a hint of sweetness to the filling. It also helps thicken the mixture and provides a rich, tomatoey base for the spices to infuse into.
• Spices– Chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne are used to season the ground beef mixture.
• Egg– Egg wash is brushed over the puff pastry before baking. This helps create a golden brown and glossy finish on the pastry.
• Preferred Garnish– Chopped fresh cilantro, lettuce, diced tomatoes, sliced avocado, sour cream, or salsa can be added to the tacos before serving.

These ingredients create a puff pastry taco that is crispy, flavorful, and satisfying, making them a delightful twist on traditional tacos.

How To Make Puff Pastry Tacos

Brown the ground beef. Brown and crumble ground beef in a skillet for 5-7 minutes until it is cooked through and no pink remains. Remove beef renderings from the pan. Add in tomato paste, garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, paprika, cayenne, salt and pepper. Stir until combined.

Preheat the oven and prepare the baking sheet. Preheat the oven to 400F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut the puff pastry sheets into 4 pieces.

Assemble the Puff Pastry Tacos. Place individual servings of the seasoned ground beef and shredded cheese onto the parchment paper about 2 inches apart. Cover the individual portions of taco filling with a section of the puff pastry. Use your fingertips or a fork to secure the puff pastry to the parchment paper. This will prevent the puffy taco filling from oozing out while they are baking.

Coat with eggwash. Scramble an egg in a bowl and use a basting brush to coat the tops of the puff pastry tacos.

Bake to perfection. Bake the Puff Pastry Tacos for 13-15 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown. Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool for 3-5 minutes.

Flip and garnish. Use a large flat spatula to flip the tacos pastry side down. Garnish with your favorite taco toppings. Fold the puff pastry tacos, serve with your favorite Mexican-inspired sides, and enjoy!

Tips And Tricks

Want to make sure your Puff Pastry Tacos turn out perfect every time? Read over these helpful tips and tricks before you get started:

• Watch closely. Puff pastry can go from looking uncooked to golden brown in a matter of minutes. So, while I give a specific baking time, ovens may vary. Pull the puff pastry tacos out of the oven as soon as they begin to turn golden brown.
• Don’t skip the eggwash. The eggwash helps achieve that crispy, golden brown appearance. Skipping it can change the look and texture of the tacos.
• Allow to rest. If you try to flip the tacos over straight out of the oven, the filling can all shift to one side. Allow the tacos to rest for 3-5 minutes (just enough time for the cheese to begin to solidify again) before flipping them.

Variations

If you’re looking for other creative ways to stuff your baked Puff Pastry Tacos, give some of these delicious variations a try:

• BBQ Chicken- Use a mixture of shredded rotisserie chicken, BBQ sauce, and shredded cheese to create a saucy and flavorful bite.
• Chicken Parmesan- Fill the puff pastry tacos with cooked popcorn chicken, marinara sauce, and shredded mozzarella cheese for another classic bite.
• Philly Cheesesteak- Precooked thinly sliced steak, onions, peppers, and provolone cheese take your favorite sandwich to the next level.

What To Serve With Puff Pastry Tacos

If you’re unsure of what to serve with these flaky puff pastry tacos to make them a tasty meal, check out this list of delicious sides to make a fantastic taco feast:

• Refried Beans
• Spanish Rice
• Elote Dip

Storage And Reheating

These Puff Pastry Tacos are good for a grab-and-go lunch or a make-ahead dinner option. While the texture of the pastry may become slightly soggier in the refrigerator, they still reheat well. Place any leftover puffy tacos in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

To reheat them, place them in the air fryer or oven at 400F for 3-5 minutes or until the ground beef is warmed through and the puff pastry is crispy again.

More Tasty TexMex Recipes

• Lazy Enchiladas
• Baked Rotisserie Chicken Tacos
• Instant Pot Chicken Enchiladas
• Chicken Enchilada Casserole
• Taco Mac and Cheese

If you love this Puff Pastry Taco recipe as much as our family does, make sure you share it with your friends on social media so they can try it too! Don’t forget to save it so you can make them next time you need inspiration for Taco Tuesday.