If you are looking for an appetizer for your next event or big game day party look no further. Everyone loves mini versions of food and these Mini Taco Salad Cups are no exception!
Almost all of the elements of this recipe can be done ahead of time which really helps when you are having an event or party. You can easily personalize these little taco cups to fit your taste and guests. We customized ours with both carnitas and seasoned ground turkey.
Fillings and Toppings for Mini Taco Salad Cups
There are so many ways to build these taco cups, so let your imagination be your guide. You don’t need a large quantity of any single topping but a variety is best. We season our meat with our own Taco Seasoning Mix.
Shredded Carnitas for mini tacos 
Seasoned Turkey Meat
Any shredded or crumbled seasoned meat works perfectly
Here are some of the fillings and toppings we like in our taco cups:
- Seasoned Carnitas – we use the recipe on our website
- Crumbled turkey or ground beef with our Taco Mix
- Chicken – shredded and seasoned
- Shredded lettuce – we used Iceberg but any sturdy lettuce or cabbage will work
- Shredded Cheese – cheddar is traditional, but crumbled Cojita cheese is also perfect
- Diced Tomatoes – keep the pieces small because these cups are minis
- Diced Avocado – cut these just before serving because cut avocados turn brown quickly
- Cilantro leaves are the perfect garnish
- A dash of your favorite hot sauce on top of each cup is just enough
- Lime Crema made with sour cream, lime juice, lime zest, and chopped cilantro
- Seasoned black or pinto beans
Making Lime Crema Topping
Making lime crema is quick and makes for a zesty topping. It’s great on tacos, nachos, or on top of tortilla soup or Chile Verde. In a bowl, combine sour cream, a squeeze of lime juice (about 1 tablespoon) along with some lime zest, and a tablespoon of chopped cilantro.
Serving Mini Taco Salad Cups
It’s helpful to line a platter with lettuce leaves to nestle the taco cups so they stay upright. When filling the cups start with meat or beans, then continue laying with lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, avocado, crema, cilantro, and hot sauce.
Making the Tortilla Cups:
Lightly spray a 12 cup muffin tin to bake the mini shells.
The easiest way to make the little cups is to start with 5″ or 6″ corn tortillas. If you can’t find these smaller tortillas you can just cut the larger ones to fit.
The tortilla will require softening so wrap the stack in a damp paper towel and microwave for 30-seconds. Don’t skip this step because the tortillas need to be softened before you can shape them into the muffin tins for baking.
Place each softened tortilla into a muffin tin cavity, pinching the sides together to form a cup and then bake for 15 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes and then remove to a rack to finish cooling. It’s best to make the cups the day of serving.
Mini Taco Salad Cups
Equipment
- Muffin tin
Ingredients
- 12 5" corn tortillas
- 2 cups carnitas, seasoned cooked turkey or ground beef, or seasoned shredded chicken
- 2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
- ½ cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- ½ cup tomatoes, diced
- ½ cup avocado, diced
- ¼ cup cilantro leaves
- 12 dashes hot sauce of choice
Lime Crema:
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 Tbsp lime juice
- 1 Tbsp cilantro, chopped
- ½ tsp lime zest
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F
- Prepare all filling ingredients and set aside.
- Prepare Lime Crema by combining sour cream, lime juice, chopped cilantro, and lime zest.
- Spray a muffin pan with non-stick spray.
- Wrap the stack of tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave for 30 seconds to soften. Don't skip this step as the tortillas need to be softened to be molded into muffin tins.
- Place each softened tortilla into a muffin tin cavity, pinching the sides together to form a cup.
- Bake for 15 minutes. Allow to cool in the tin for 5 minutes and remove to a rack to cool.
- Once cooled place the tortilla cups on a platter.
- To each tortilla cup add a heaping tablespoon of meat. Continue to layer with lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, avocado, crema and cilantro leaves. Add a dash of hot sauce to each cup.
- If desired line the platter with lettuce leaves to keep the tortilla cups level.