I always have such a hard time figuring out what to put on my family’s monthly menu. I have found quite a few great ideas looking through all the Menu Plan Monday’s menu plans. There are many people who go there and post their weekly menus.

My family loves Mexican food and we typically have it once a week. So, when I found this recipe for Oven Tacos on several of the Menu Plan Monday menus, I knew I had to try them. They are quick and easy enough for a weekday meal and it is nice that they are pretty much ready to eat after you take them out of the oven. I also like that it makes a large number of tacos, since I have a big family to feed. Here’s the recipe if you want to try it for your family.

Oven Taco’s Recipe

Ingredients

2 pounds ground beef

1 can refried beans

8 ounces tomato sauce

1 package taco seasoning (I use a homemade one and use 2 tablespoons of it in this recipe, see recipe below.

1 ½ cups shredded Mexican Cheese

18-20 hard taco shells

Toppings of choice: tomatoes, lettuce, salsa, sour cream etc.

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brown the ground beef and drain off the fat. Add refried beans, tomato sauce, and taco seasoning to the meat. Next, spoon the mixture into the taco shells and place taco shells standing up in a large glass baking dish. ( I use one bigger than a 9x 13 pan, but you can use the 9x 13 inch pan if that is all you have.) Sprinkle each shells filling with cheese, then bake for 10-12 minutes or until heated through. Take out of the oven and serve. I like to use a muffin pan and place lettuce in two tins, sour cream in the next two tins, and then tomatoes in the last two tins. I place a spoon with each ingredient and let everyone serve themselves. I also place salsa or taco sauce on the side. I serve this with a homemade Spanish Rice.

Homemade Taco Seasoning

 Ingredients

2 Tablespoons dried oregano

2 Tablespoons salt

1 Tablespoon garlic powder

1 Tablespoon onion flakes

2 Tablespoons chili powder

½ Tablespoon black pepper

Directions

Measure all ingredients in a small mixing bowl and stir together. Place in a air tight container to store. Use 1-2 Tablespoons of mix per pound of beef, depending on how spicy you like it.  I like to double or triple this recipe when I make it so that I always have it when I need it.