Description
These festive Halloween themed tacos feature seasoned ground beef or turkey, bright orange cheese, and playful toppings like olive ‘eyes’ and lettuce ‘monster hair.’ Perfect for family fun nights, they’re quick to make, customizable, and guaranteed to spark laughter at the dinner table.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef or ground turkey (lean)
- 1 packet taco seasoning (about 1 oz)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup canned pumpkin purée (optional)
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- 8 small flour or corn tortillas (6-inch, warmed)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup sliced black olives
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup guacamole
- Sriracha or hot sauce, to taste (optional)
- Jalapeño slices (optional)
- Mini tortilla chips (optional)
- Sweet corn kernels (optional)
- Chopped green onions (optional)
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef or turkey and cook for 5-7 minutes, breaking up with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink and lightly browned.
- Sprinkle in taco seasoning and pour in water. Stir in pumpkin purée if using. Mix well and simmer for 4-5 minutes until thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Wrap tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave for 30-45 seconds, or heat individually in a dry skillet for 20 seconds per side. Keep warm under a towel.
- Prep toppings: shred lettuce, dice tomatoes, slice olives, mince jalapeños if using. Place sour cream and guacamole in small bowls.
- Lay out tortillas and spoon 2-3 tablespoons of taco filling onto each. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese and let melt slightly.
- Add lettuce, tomatoes, olives, and other toppings, arranging them to create spooky monster faces or pumpkin shapes. Drizzle sour cream and guacamole as desired.
- Serve tacos on a platter or plates. Let everyone customize their own monster tacos.
- If filling is watery, simmer a few extra minutes. If tortillas crack, steam longer. For cheese that won’t melt, microwave assembled tacos for 10 seconds.
- Set up a taco station for easy assembly. Prep toppings ahead for efficiency.
- Enjoy warm, with sides like Mexican rice or black beans.
Notes
For vegetarian tacos, substitute ground meat with lentils, tofu, or plant-based crumbles. Use corn tortillas for gluten-free. Dairy-free cheese and sour cream work for lactose-free diets. Get creative with toppings—let kids decorate their own monster faces. Drain excess fat from meat to avoid soggy tacos. Prep toppings ahead for faster assembly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 taco
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 480
- Fat: 9
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 12
Keywords: Halloween tacos, spooky tacos, family dinner, festive tacos, kid-friendly, taco night, monster tacos, easy tacos, Mexican, party food