These oven baked 3-ingredient beef tortilla scoops are the kind of easy party food that disappears faster than you can set down the tray. They remind me of those laid-back summer backyard barbecues where everybody gathered around the picnic table, kids running through the grass and the grown folks sneaking just one more bite before supper. With just a few simple store-bought ingredients and a hot oven, you get a crispy, savory appetizer that tastes like you fussed far more than you really did.
Serve these warm right off the baking sheet with salsa, sour cream, guacamole, or sliced jalapeños on the side. They also go nicely with a cookout spread of burgers, baked beans, pasta salad, and fresh watermelon, and they make a fine little game-day snack alongside cold lemonade, iced tea, or a fizzy soda.
Oven Baked 3-Ingredient Beef Tortilla Scoops
Servings: 6
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 bag scoop-shaped corn tortilla chips
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Directions
1. Preheat your oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet or shallow pan with foil for easy cleanup.
2. In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until fully browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Drain off any excess grease.
3. Arrange the scoop tortilla chips on the foil-lined baking sheet so they sit upright as much as possible.
4. Spoon a little of the cooked beef into each scoop, then top each one with a pinch of shredded cheddar cheese.
5. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the edges of the scoops are extra crisp. Serve hot.
Variations & Tips
Add a little seasoning: If you do not mind stepping beyond the three-ingredient idea, a spoonful of taco seasoning or a dash of chili powder in the beef gives these a little extra zip.
Try another cheese: Colby jack, Monterey jack, or a Mexican blend all melt beautifully and give a slightly different flavor while keeping the recipe just as easy.
Make them for a crowd: Brown the beef ahead of time and keep it in the refrigerator. When company comes, all you have to do is fill the scoops, top with cheese, and bake.
Keep them crisp: Wait to fill the tortilla scoops until just before baking so they stay crunchy and do not soften from the warm beef.
Easy topping bar: Set out bowls of salsa, diced tomatoes, olives, green onions, or sour cream so everybody can dress up their own little scoops at the table.