Taco Cupcakes – Page 2 – Cooking Secrets

Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or grease the muffin cups with cooking spray.
Mix the Cornbread Batter: In a large bowl, combine the cornbread mix, egg, milk, melted butter, and taco seasoning. Stir until well combined.
Fill the Muffin Tin: Spoon the cornbread batter into each muffin cup, filling them about halfway. This will create a nice base for the taco filling.
Bake the Cupcakes: Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool for 5-10 minutes.

Cook the Meat: While the cupcakes are baking, cook the ground beef (or turkey) in a skillet over medium heat. Break it up into small pieces as it cooks.
Season the Meat: Once the meat is browned and cooked through, drain any excess fat. Stir in the taco seasoning and water. Simmer for 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
Add Veggies (Optional): If you like, stir in diced tomatoes and sliced olives for added flavor and texture. Remove from heat.

Create a Cup in the Cornbread: Use the back of a spoon or your fingers to gently press down in the center of each cornbread cupcake to create a small indentation. This will make space for the taco filling.
Fill with Taco Meat: Spoon the cooked taco meat mixture into the center of each cornbread cupcake, filling it generously.
Top with Cheese: Sprinkle a little shredded cheese over the top of each taco cupcake, then return to the oven for 5-7 minutes to melt the cheese.

Garnish: Once the cheese is melted, remove the taco cupcakes from the oven. Top each cupcake with shredded lettuce, sour cream, salsa, jalapeños, green onions, or any other toppings you prefer.

Serve: Serve the taco cupcakes warm, either as a fun appetizer, a hearty snack, or as part of your main meal. They’re perfect for parties, game days, or taco night!

Make It Spicy: If you love heat, add some diced jalapeños into the taco meat or sprinkle them on top as a garnish.
Use Ground Chicken or Beef Alternatives: You can swap the ground beef for ground chicken, turkey, or even a plant-based alternative like ground soy or lentils for a lighter or vegetarian version.
Customize the Cornbread: Add extra ingredients to your cornbread mix, like corn kernels, diced green chilies, or shredded cheese for extra flavor in the base.
Double the Recipe: If you’re serving a crowd, double the recipe and bake in two muffin tins for more taco cupcakes to go around.