How To Make Hard Taco Shells (VIDEO) - Natasha's Kitchen

Homemade Taco Shells will take your Taco Tuesdays to the next level. It’s simple to make restaurant-style taco shells at home with this step-by-step guide. Watch the video tutorial and see how easy it is.

We love Taco Recipes from fish tacos to beef tacos. If you are a fan of tacos too, this Hard Taco Shells recipe is a must-try.

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Hard Taco Shells Recipe

Have you ever bought a package of hard taco shells at the grocery store, only to open it up and realize that every single shell was broken? So much for Taco Night—now it’s Taco Salad night instead.

You will never have that problem with homemade taco shells. Instead of sitting on the store shelf for months (or getting dropped in the box and smashing into dozens of pieces), homemade taco shells are served fresh, warm, crispy, and perfect.

These homemade hard taco shells will make your tacos taste like they came from a restaurant, and they’re so easy to make, it takes just minutes on the stovetop for a big batch. Scale the recipe up or down and use them for shrimp tacos, Carne Asada Street Tacos, and Korean Beef Tacos – whatever you like.

DIY Hard Taco Shell Video

Watch Natasha make these crispy hard taco shells. You will be surprised at how easy it is.

The Best Homemade Taco Shells

Just like Homemade Taco Seasoning, homemade taco shells taste better than storebought. Here’s why we love this recipe:

• Irresistibly crunchy – Sometimes store-bought hard taco shells can be stale and limp, but homemade taco shells are crispy every time.
• Restaurant-style at home – Ever wonder what makes restaurant taco shells so much better than the ones you buy at the store? This is the secret.
• Easy – no special cooking skills or tools are required; if you can turn on the stove, you can make these.
• 3-ingredient recipe – Pick up the tortillas at the grocery store and you probably have the other two ingredients on hand already.
• Kid-Approved – the kids love these taco shells because they are easy to bite into and chew and because it tastes like going out. My kids weren’t big fans of tacos until I started making my own taco shells.

Ingredients

Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

• Small corn tortillas – You can use white or yellow tortillas.
• Light olive oil – Or use another high-heat cooking oil.
• Kosher salt – This enhances the flavor of the shells.

Pro Tip: To keep your tortillas from drying out, keep them covered with a damp paper towel until ready to use.

How to Make Hard Taco Shells

Ready for the best hard taco shells you’ve ever had? Here’s what you’ll need to do.

1. Prepare – Line a baking sheet with paper towels and set a medium or large skillet with 1/4-inch of oil over medium heat. Have some kosher salt nearby in a pinch bowl.
2. Fry the tortillas – When the oil reaches 350ºF, slide in a tortilla and fry for 12 to 15 seconds, or until it’s golden and bubbly. Flip and use tongs to fold the tortilla in half, cooking 10 to 12 seconds on each side, or until golden brown.
3. Drain and season – Use the tongs to transfer the finished shell to the paper-towel-lined baking sheet and season with kosher salt immediately after frying so it sticks nicely to the taco shell.
4. Repeat – Repeat the process with the remaining tortillas.

Pro Tip: Have an extra pair of tongs on hand if your tortilla doesn’t fold easily. It makes it much easier and safer to handle if you have a second pair of tongs to help.

Common Questions

Can I use flour tortillas instead of corn?

This method makes flour tortillas tastier, but they don’t get crispy like corn hard shell tacos. Fry flour tortillas until they’re golden and begin to bubble up.

Can I make larger taco shells?

You can use any tortilla size in this recipe, but you want to make sure it will fit comfortably in the skillet. It should be able to lay flat when you first slide it into the oil.

Can I make this in an air fryer?

No, this technique won’t work with an air fryer.

Can I double the recipe?

Yes, this recipe can be scaled up or down. You don’t need to adjust the amount of oil; simply use more tortillas.

What is the best oil for frying taco shells?

I use light olive oil, but canola oil, vegetable oil, or peanut oil will work, too.

How do I know when the oil is ready?

You can keep an eye on the oil temperature with an infrared thermometer which is more accurate than guessing. The tortilla should immediately start bubbling when you put it in the hot oil. Also, make sure the oil is not smoking which means it’s too hot.

How to Serve Hard Taco Shells

Here are some of our favorite ways to use these hard taco shells:

• Fish Tacos with the Best Fish Taco Sauce
• Ground beef tacos
• Homemade Taco Seasoning
• Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos
• Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

Make-Ahead

Crispy hard taco shells can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week if you want to make them ahead. They should not be frozen or refrigerated, or they’ll lose their crispy texture.

These homemade hard taco shells are the best you’ll ever have. They’re easy to make, super crunchy, and perfect for pairing with all of your favorite taco fillings.

More Mexican Recipes to Try

If you love this taco shell recipe, then you won’t want to miss these Mexican-inspired recipes.

• Easy Pork Carnitas (Mexican Pulled Pork)
• Mexican Street Corn (Elote Recipe)
• Shrimp Fajitas Recipe (VIDEO)
• Authentic Pico de Gallo Recipe
• Tres Leches Cake

Homemade Hard Taco Shells Recipe

4.97 from 26 votes Author: Natasha Kravchuk Homemade hard taco shells are key to restaurant-style tacos at home. They're easy to make and taste amazing. SaveSaved Pin Review Print Prep Time: 5 minutes minsCook Time: 15 minutes minsTotal Time: 20 minutes mins

Ingredients US CustomaryMetric

Servings: 20 shells

• 20 small 6” corn tortillas (white or yellow)
• light olive oil or any high heat cooking oil, or 1⁄4” oil
• Kosher salt, for sprinkling fried shells

Instructions

• Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Place a medium/large skillet over medium heat and add 1⁄4” of oil. Once the oil is hot (350 ̊F on a thermometer), carefully slide in a tortilla and fry for 12-15 seconds until golden and bubbly on the first side.
• Flip and use tongs to immediately fold in half. Fry another 10-12 seconds per side or until golden brown then use tongs to transfer the taco shell to the prepared baking sheet.
• Immediately sprinkle taco shells lightly with kosher salt. I find if you open them up a bit and set them upside-down to cool and drain on the paper towels, they will stay open a bit more, making them easier to fill and you don’t need a taco holder. Repeat with remaining tortillas until all shells are fried.

Notes

Once homemade hard taco shells are at room temperature, they can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container or large zip bag for up to a week.

Nutrition Per Serving

57kcal Calories12g Carbs1g Protein1g Fat0.1g Saturated Fat0.4g Polyunsaturated Fat0.2g Monounsaturated Fat12mg Sodium48mg Potassium2g Fiber0.2g Sugar1IU Vitamin A21mg Calcium0.3mg Iron

• Full Nutrition Label
• Nutrition Disclosure

Nutrition FactsHomemade Hard Taco Shells RecipeAmount per ServingCalories57% Daily Value*Fat 1g2%Saturated Fat 0.1g1%Polyunsaturated Fat 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat 0.2gSodium 12mg1%Potassium 48mg1%Carbohydrates 12g4%Fiber 2g8%Sugar 0.2g0%Protein 1g2%Vitamin A 1IU0%Calcium 21mg2%Iron 0.3mg2%* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Course: How toCuisine: Mexican, Tex MexKeyword: hard taco shells, hard tacos, homemade taco shellsSkill Level: EasyCost to Make: $ Calories: 57

Filed Under

• #Mexican Recipes
• #How To Cook
• #corn tortillas

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