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Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

Published: Apr 23, 2022 · Modified: Apr 23, 2022 by Amanda McGrory-Dixon

Crispy Chorizo Tacos

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Taco night is about to get even more delicious when you put out a platter of these crispy chorizo tacos! Corn tortillas are stuffed with spicy pork chorizo and plenty of Monterey jack cheese and then baked to perfection to make the most irresistible party meal. Plus, these tacos come together in 30 minutes and truly couldn’t be easier to prepare.

A pile of crispy chorizo tacos with bowls of guacamole and salsa in the background.
Jump to:
  • Why You’ll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Step-by-Step Instructions
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Expert Tips
  • Perfect Pairing
  • Get More Recipes for Taco Night
  • Crispy Chorizo Tacos

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Crispy tacos without frying: I love a fried taco shell. Frying makes magic happen. Surely, a baked taco can’t be as delicious as a freshly fried taco shell, right? I still love freshly fried taco shells but wow – these are just as tasty.

These baked tacos are so crispy, and it is nice not having to deal with frying every time you want crunchy tacos. Both preparation methods have their place.

Great for a crowd: After some easy prep work, we bake everything on one large sheet pan, so your guests can grab their tacos, add their toppings and dig in – this makes for a great family-style meal. While this recipe makes about 10 tacos, you can easily double, triple or quadruple it for a large crowd. 

Makes entertaining simple: With its batch preparation, we can make a ton of tacos at once to make hosting easy as can be. After all, you have good company and margaritas to enjoy.

Ingredients

The four ingredients on a wooden board with white and black labels.

Is this one easy ingredient list or what? Now for just a few ingredient notes and tips.

Chorizo: Make sure you get fresh Mexican chorizo, not the dried Spanish chorizo, which is more for charcuterie boards. Generally, I can find fresh chorizo with ground pork or breakfast sausage, depending on the store. You can alternatively make your own homemade Mexican chorizo — it’s simply ground pork mixed with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry, such as chili powder, cumin, paprika, coriander, oregano, cinnamon, cloves and vinegar.

Corn tortillas: I recommend corn tortillas over flour tortillas for these chorizo tacos. Crunchy taco shells are generally made from corn tortillas. I find they work better in the oven, and that delicious masa flavor really comes out after baking, making for a more delicious taco shell.

Step-by-Step Instructions

All right, let's show you how to make this super easy chorizo tacos recipe.

Step 1: For our first step, we add our chorizo to a large skillet over medium heat and cook the meat (photo 1). After cooking, we remove the chorizo with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb any excessive grease.

Browning the fresh chorizo in a black cast-iron skillet with a wooden spoon breaking up the meat.

Step 2: Now it’s time to assemble. We start by heating up our corn tortillas and then brushing one side of the tortilla with olive oil (photo 2).

Using a pastry brush to coat the corn tortillas with a layer of olive oil.

Step 3: On the ungreased side of the tortilla, we add chorizo and cheese and fold the other side on top like so (photos 3 and 4). We repeat with the remaining tortillas and chorizo filling.

A collage showing the process of how to fill and fold the tacos before baking.

Step 4: Just like that, we’re ready to bake. We put the tacos into a hot oven for about five minutes, flip them and then bake for another few minutes (photo 5). When the cheese melts and the tortillas are perfectly brown and crispy, we’re ready to pull from the oven.

The tacos on a dark baking sheet before flipping after the first round in the oven.

All that’s left is to add your favorite toppings to these tasty chorizo tacos. For the perfect finishing touch, we whip up a top-shelf margarita, grab some chips and salsa and serve with some lime wedges and a side of coconut-lime rice and black beans. We’re in for one delicious meal.

Grabbing a chorizo taco on a wooden board with cilantro around it.

Recipe FAQs

Can you use store-bought crunchy taco shells?

This recipe was specifically designed for using fresh tortillas and letting them crisp up in the oven. I recommend following that method because the shells are way better than what you’d buy in your typical grocery store.

That said, you can substitute store-bought tacos shells with an adjustment. Turn the oven down to 400 degrees instead of the 450 degrees noted in the recipe card and simply bake until the cheese melts, which should take about seven to 10 minutes. But I really do encourage the directed method — it takes so little effort and results in a much better taco.

Why do you need to heat up the tortillas before assembling tacos?

If you try to roll a room-temperature tortilla, it will likely rip. Warm tortillas allow us to stuff and fold our tacos and keep our filling perfectly secure.

How do you warm tortillas?

We have three options for warming our tortillas. My preferred quick and easy option is to simply zap them in the microwave. Another method is to heat a skillet to medium and cook the tortilla for about 20 seconds, flip and cook for another 10-20 seconds. Alternatively, you can stack the tortillas, wrap in tin foil and then heat in a 350-degree oven for about seven to 10 minutes — but no longer or else they start to dry out.

Expert Tips

For easier assembly: When folding the chorizo tacos, press down on the tortilla to help it adhere to the chorizo mixture.

Don’t skip the olive oil: Coating the tortillas with olive oil is what helps us achieve that crispy texture. If you skip this step, the tacos won’t come out right.

Grate you own cheese: Bagged shredded cheese come with an anti-clumping agent, so it doesn't melt quite as nicely as freshly shredded cheese.

Make your own variations: Feel free to get creative and apply this taco-making method to your other favorite filling. Swap chorizo for chicken. Smear some refried beans on one side. Use a different type of cheese — you have so many options!

Add your favorite toppings: While these chorizo tacos are delicious on their own, I love entertaining with a platter of different taco toppings. Some of my favorites include pickled onion and radishes, chopped cilantro, sour cream or Mexican crema, chipotle salsa, avocado or guacamole, lettuce and diced tomatoes.

Perfect Pairing

Beer and tacos go hand in hand, so you’ll love a nice amber ale here. The sweet malt backbone tames the heat and adds a contrast to the spicy chorizo. That said, if you’d like to amp up the spice, the hops in an IPA accentuate the heat, making IPAs a popular pairing with spicy food. I also love a crisp pilsner with these chorizo tacos, which is great if you’re looking for more of a palate-cleansing beer.

If you’d prefer a glass of wine with these crispy chorizo tacos, grab a bottle of joven Rioja. This wine makes for a classic chorizo pairing, and you’ll love how its fruity profile counters the heat and adds some subtle baking spice notes that are wonderful with the chili flavor of the chorizo.

And, of course, taco nights call for tequila. Some of my favorites margaritas include this blackberry margarita and coconut margarita. You can also go with my classic tequila sour or triple citrus tequila smash for something a little different for taco night.

When you need an easy yet crowd-pleasing meal, it doesn’t get better than whipping up a big pan of these crispy chorizo tacos. You will love every crunchy, spicy bite.

Cheers!

An aerial view of the crispy chorizo tacos with cilantro around them on a wooden board.

Get More Recipes for Taco Night

  • Lobster Tacos With Mango Salsa
  • Greek Lamb Tacos With Cucumber Pico de Gallo
  • Chorizo Breakfast Tacos With Chipotle-Roasted Tomato Salsa
  • Beer-Braised Mexican Shredded Beef

Please let me know how you enjoyed this recipe in the comment section and don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter. You can also catch me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok and Facebook.

A close-up of a pile of crispy chorizo tacos with cilantro and lime slices around it.

Crispy Chorizo Tacos

Taco night is about to get even more delicious when you put out a platter of these crispy chorizo tacos! Corn tortillas are stuffed with spicy pork chorizo and plenty of Monterey jack cheese and then baked to perfection to make the most irresistible party meal. Plus, these tacos come together in 30 minutes and truly couldn’t be easier to prepare.
5 from 55 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Dishes
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 10 tacos
Calories: 183kcal
Author: Amanda McGrory-Dixon

Equipment

  • 12-inch skillet
  • Large sheet pan
  • Pastry brush

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil plus more for brushing tortillas
  • 18 ounces fresh chorizo
  • 10 corn tortillas
  • ¾ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • Favorite toppings such as pickled onions, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, etc.

Instructions

  • Turn oven to 450 degrees. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When the skillet is hot, add the chorizo and cook through, using a wooden spoon to break up the meat. Remove chorizo from skillet and set aside on a paper towel-lined plate to allow the excess grease to drain.
  • Heat a corn tortilla in the microwave just until it's pliable, about 10 seconds, depending on the microwave. Using a pastry brush, coat one side of the tortilla with olive oil. On the uncoated side, add 2 tablespoons chorizo and 1 tablespoon cheese to half of the tortilla. Fold the other side of the tortilla on top, gently pressing to adhere the tortillas to the chorizo mixture. Repeat with the remaining tortillas and filling.
  • Place filled tortillas on a large baking sheet. Bake until the tacos start to brown on the bottom side, about five to seven minutes. Flip the tacos and bake until the other side browns and the cheese melts, about another five minutes.
  • Remove from oven. Serve with your favorite toppings. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Coating the tortillas with olive oil is what helps us achieve that crispy texture. If you skip this step, the tacos won’t come out right.
  • Bagged shredded cheese come with an anti-clumping agent, so it doesn't melt quite as nicely as freshly shredded cheese.
  • Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Nutrition

Serving: 1taco | Sodium: 813mg | Calcium: 95mg | Vitamin C: 9mg | Vitamin A: 323IU | Sugar: 1g | Fiber: 2g | Potassium: 55mg | Cholesterol: 44mg | Calories: 183kcal | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Fat: 11g | Protein: 8g | Carbohydrates: 12g | Iron: 1mg
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Comments

  1. Jessica says

    May 06, 2022 at 6:19 pm

    I'm all about tacos and chorizo so trying this recipe was a no-brainer. I love how simple this recipe is, how few ingredients are required, and how quick it is to prepare. Definitely adding it to our weeknight dinner rotation!

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      May 07, 2022 at 1:53 pm

      Yay! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  2. Erin says

    May 06, 2022 at 2:36 pm

    5 stars
    These are quickly becoming my new favorite taco! I love how crispy they come out and the filling is amazing.

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      May 07, 2022 at 1:52 pm

      That makes me so happy!

      Reply
  3. Veronika says

    May 06, 2022 at 10:59 am

    5 stars
    I made this recipe yesterday and it came out amazing! Was very easy to make and my whole family loved it 😉

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      May 07, 2022 at 1:52 pm

      Love when it’s a hit with the whole family!

      Reply
  4. Amanda Mason says

    May 05, 2022 at 7:13 pm

    5 stars
    As always, such a great recipe! I've made a lot of your recipes and they are always so good! I typically buy the frozen version of these but after making your homemade version....I'll never go back!

    Reply
  5. Ann says

    May 05, 2022 at 7:22 am

    5 stars
    These were like something you would order at a restaurant - so delicious! We had a taco night this week, and the family ate them up.

    Reply
  6. Daniela says

    May 04, 2022 at 3:43 pm

    5 stars
    So, I was looking for a delicious way to use up some soy chorizo I purchased by accident. Used it to make this recipe for cripsy chorizo tacos and WOW - SO good! Easy to make and I will definitely make them again (maybe even with soy chorizo).

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      May 05, 2022 at 7:29 am

      So glad to hear this also worked with soy chorizo! Great tip -- thank you.

      Reply
  7. Amy Casey says

    May 03, 2022 at 2:11 pm

    5 stars
    I made these for dinner last night and they were a hit! Making your own crispy taco shells is such a great idea ~ so delish!!

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      May 04, 2022 at 11:01 am

      Happy to hear that!

      Reply
  8. Heather says

    May 03, 2022 at 1:38 pm

    5 stars
    Loved that these were so simple in ingredients and so easy to make! Will definitely again.

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      May 04, 2022 at 11:01 am

      Great to hear -- thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  9. Sharon says

    May 03, 2022 at 12:07 pm

    5 stars
    These chorizo tacos are so good. I love that they are baked and not fried to achieve that crispiness.

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      May 04, 2022 at 11:00 am

      It really is incredible how well it works!

      Reply
  10. Andrea says

    May 02, 2022 at 8:41 pm

    5 stars
    Oh wow. These were delicious. The olive oil gave it such a crispy texture. Really loved that I didn’t have to bother with deep frying to get the crunch.

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      May 04, 2022 at 11:00 am

      Right?! Total game changer.

      Reply
  11. Michele says

    April 26, 2022 at 10:44 am

    5 stars
    The chorizo adds so much flavor. These were delicious! They will be a regular go-to recipe in our house.

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      May 04, 2022 at 11:00 am

      That's great! Should make dinners super easy and delicious.

      Reply
  12. Tayler Ross says

    April 26, 2022 at 10:25 am

    5 stars
    We had these tacos for dinner last night and they were amazing! Already can't wait to make them again!

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      May 04, 2022 at 10:59 am

      You and me both!

      Reply
  13. Claudia Lamascolo says

    April 26, 2022 at 9:56 am

    5 stars
    My sons both raved about these they love the chorizo in the taco and I will only make them this way now

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      May 04, 2022 at 10:59 am

      It really is a great method!

      Reply
  14. Savannah McGhee says

    April 26, 2022 at 9:42 am

    5 stars
    Wow, these are definitely winners in my house. The crowd went crazy when we make this delicious recipe!

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      May 04, 2022 at 10:59 am

      That's incredible to hear -- thanks for sharing!

      Reply
  15. Suja md says

    April 26, 2022 at 9:36 am

    5 stars
    These tacos were amazing! The whole family loved them, and they were simple to make. Loved the spice of the chorizo.

    Reply
    • Amanda McGrory-Dixon says

      May 04, 2022 at 10:59 am

      So glad everyone enjoyed!

      Reply
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A headshot of Amanda, the owner of Burrata and Bubbles, holding a beer.

Hi, I'm Amanda, a Denver-based lady who believes life is best spent with comforting meals, tasty beverages and good company. When I'm not playing in the kitchen, I'm probably exploring new breweries with my husband, Matt, or obsessing over my adorable dog, Baylor.

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