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Hard taco shell filled with taco ground beef, spicy ranch, cheese and lettuce, wrapped in a flour tortilla.

Cheesy Gordita Crunch

Krista Stechman
Copycat Taco Bell Cheesy Gordita crunch with a gordita shell on the outside, cheese sauce and shredded cheese, hard shell taco, ground beef, spicy ranch, and lettuce.
5 from 5 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course dinner
Cuisine american
Servings 4 servings
Calories 1236 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large skillet
  • 1 medium sauce pot
  • 1 cutting board
  • 1 sharp chef's knife
  • 1 medium bowl
  • 1 whisk

Ingredients
  

Cheese Sauce

  • 7 oz super sharp yellow cheddar
  • 4 oz evaporated milk
  • 2 oz diced green chilis in a can

Taco Ranch

  • 1 cup ranch dressing I make my own with Hidden Valley Buttermilk packet
  • 1 teaspoon taco seasoning
  • 1 tbsp Cholula hot sauce

Gordita Crunch

  • 1 small onion small dice
  • 1 pinch kosher salt
  • 1 lb ground chuck
  • 2 tbsp taco seasoning
  • 8 flour tortilla or gordita shells taco size
  • 8 hard shell tacos
  • 4 oz super sharp cheddar cheese shredded, divided
  • cups romaine lettuce shredded

Optional Ingredients

  • ½ cup pickled jalapenos
  • 4 lime wedges
  • ½ cup cilantro rough chop, measure before chopping

Instructions
 

Making Cheese Sauce

  • Add all ingredients to a medium sauce pot and warm over low-medium heat, whisking frequently until melted and smooth. Set aside

Making Taco Ranch

  • Whisk all ingredients together in a medium bowl until combined

Making Cheesy Gordita Crunch

  • Preheat oven to 400°F and line a sheet tray with parchment paper
  • Heat large skillet over medium heat until pan starts to become hot. Add a drizzle of olive oil, onions and a pinch of salt. Cook until softened
  • Add ground beef, breaking up while cooking. Once beef is fully cooked, add taco seasoning. Stir until fully combined. Turn off heat and drain grease
  • Lay soft shells out on parchment lined pan, smear cheese sauce over them and sprinkle half the cheddar cheese over the tops of all shells reserving other half for topping
  • Bake 3 minutes until cheese is melted then add the hard shells to the middle of each soft shell and fold sides up around the hard shell. Bake a gain for 2 mintues
  • Fill each shell with remaining cheese sauce, spicy ranch, ground beef, cheddar cheese and romaine lettuce. Top with additional optional toppings if desired

Nutrition

Calories: 1236kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 48gFat: 89gSaturated Fat: 33gPolyunsaturated Fat: 20gMonounsaturated Fat: 25gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 184mgSodium: 2226mgPotassium: 794mgFiber: 6gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 3004IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 819mgIron: 6mg
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