Taco Cups — The Kid’s-Birthday Catering Cups

Saturday I made forty-eight taco cups for a kid’s ninth birthday with a taco-themed party. The recipe is the same novelty principle as the floating taco bowls last June: won ton wrappers pressed into muffin-tin wells, baked into edible cups, filled with seasoned beef and toppings. Reimbursement $50 and tip $40.

The recipe is below. The trick is the won ton wrappers in muffin tins.

Taco Cups

Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 20 min | Total Time: 35 min | Servings: 12 cups

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef (80/20)
• 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 can (16 oz) refried beans
• 1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
• 12 wonton wrappers
• 1/2 cup salsa
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup sliced black olives (optional)
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• Cooking spray

Instructions

1. Preheat oven. Heat oven to 375°F. Lightly coat a standard 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray.
2. Press wonton cups. Press one wonton wrapper into each muffin cup, gently fitting it against the sides to form a small bowl shape. Lightly mist the tops with cooking spray.
3. Pre-bake shells. Bake wonton cups for 5 minutes until just beginning to turn golden at the edges. Remove from oven and set aside.
4. Brown the beef. In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef, breaking it apart, until no pink remains, about 6–8 minutes. Drain excess fat.
5. Season the meat. Add taco seasoning and water to the skillet. Stir to combine and simmer 2–3 minutes until the liquid is mostly absorbed.
6. Layer the cups. Spoon about 1 teaspoon of refried beans into the bottom of each wonton cup. Top with a heaping tablespoon of seasoned taco meat.
7. Add cheese. Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over each filled cup.
8. Bake until melted. Return the muffin tin to the oven and bake 8–10 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted and the wonton edges are crisp and golden brown.
9. Top and serve. Remove from oven and let cool 2 minutes. Top each cup with a small spoonful of salsa and sour cream. Garnish with sliced green onions and black olives if using. Serve immediately.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 185 | Protein: 12g | Fat: 9g | Carbs: 14g | Fiber: 2g | Sodium: 420mg