Erin’s Recipe Rundown
Texture: Tender, saucy meat in crispy shells.
Taste: Perfectly spiced and topped with fresh, zesty toppings.
Ease: Beginner-friendly dinner recipe!
Top Tips: Frying the corn tortillas fresh only takes minutes and makes a huge difference in flavor — don’t skip this step!
Would I make these again? Definitely! This gluten-free taco recipe offers big flavor from simple ingredients. Plus the tacos can easily be customized for individual needs/preferences — talk about family-friendly!
xoxo erin
Featured Comment
From Olivia: “These were amazing! My family loved them so much. Thank you for sharing, I think they just became a new favorite in my house!“
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here are a few notes on some of the key ingredients to make these gluten-free tacos. Jump to the recipe card below for the exact measurements.
- Ground beef or turkey: Both are delicious, but if you aren’t a fan of ground meat, cook and shred chicken breasts so that it soaks up all the flavors.
- Tomato sauce: Most taco recipes say to add water to the meat, but tomato sauce adds SO much more flavor and helps the seasoning stick to the meat better.
- Taco seasoning: There are many store-bought gluten-free seasoning options, but I like to use my homemade gluten-free taco seasoning mix.
You might like these slow-cooker pinto beans or this gluten-free enchilada sauce too. Or this article on the Chipotle gluten-free options.
How to Make Gluten-Free Tacos
Here’s an overview of how to make this recipe. You can jump to the recipe for the full instructions!
Cook the meat in a large skillet, along with the onion and a bit of salt/pepper, to bring out its flavor. Drain any excess grease before adding the tomato sauce and seasoning for the best consistency!
The meat will need to simmer in the sauce for about 5 minutes to fully soak up all the flavors. Meanwhile, preheat oil in a medium skillet for the corn tortillas. You can test the oil by placing a tortilla in the skillet — if it sizzles, the oil is hot enough.
Gently place one tortilla at a time in the oil. It only takes about 30 seconds on each side to get them lightly brown and crisp so keep a close eye on them!
I like to lay the fried tortillas on a paper towel to soak up all the extra oil. Tongs make it easy to gently fold the tortillas into a taco shape without burning fingers!
Time to assemble! Start by adding the taco meat to the shells, then any toppings you like! Beyond the basics, you can customize these tacos with fun additions, like: jalapenos, pickled red onions, avocado crema, black beans, pico de gallo, and more!
Easy, Gluten-Free Tacos
Ingredients
For the Taco Meat:
- 1 lb ground beef or turkey
- ½ cup onion diced
- 1 recipe, gluten-free taco seasoning
- ½ cup tomato sauce
For the Corn Tortillas:
- 8-12 corn tortillas
- ½ cup neutral oil
Toppings:
- cheese
- lettuce
- tomatoes
- sour cream
- salsa
- hot sauce
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef or turkey, onion, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook, breaking the meat into small pieces, until the meat is cooked through, 5-7 minutes.
- Drain off any excess grease and return the skillet to the stove top.
- Add the 1/2 cup tomato sauce and taco seasoning. Stir together until the meat is coated in the sauce.
- Simmer for about 5 minutes then remove from the heat.
- Meanwhile, cook up the corn tortillas. Pour 1/2 cup oil in a medium skillet, heat over medium high heat for about 2 minutes. (If the tortilla sizzles when it hits the oil, it’s hot enough!)
- Gently lay the tortilla in the oil and fry each side for about 30 seconds, until slightly browned and lightly crisped.
- Remove the tortilla to a paper towel to absorb oil, and using tongs, carefully fold the tortilla over to create a taco shape.
- Fill the tortillas with the taco meat. Add desired toppings and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published in January 2023. It was updated with new photos and instructions in June 2025.
this is such a good recipe i loved it
We’re so glad you liked it! Thank you for your kind feedback, Kayden!
Loved these gluten free tacos! So delicious and flavorful!
It took me awhile to perfect the shape of the taco shells, but they were so tasty. My kids really loved them!
I’m so glad they turned out for you!
These were amazing! My family loved them so much. Thank you for sharing, I think they just became a new favorite in my house!