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    Home » Recipes » Main Dish

    California Taco

    Modified: Jun 5, 2025 · Published: Mar 18, 2025 by Kristin · This post may contain affiliate links. · 2 Comments

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    Take your taco game to the next level with this delicious California Taco recipe. Packed with fresh ingredients and bursting with flavor, this recipe is sure to become a family favorite. Try it out tonight!

    Frito corn chips with a seasoned beef mixture and taco toppings piled on top.

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    If you’re a taco lover, this California Style Taco recipe is a must try! Similar to Frito Taco Pie, you can add your own toppings and double or triple the batch if feeding a large crowd! This family recipe is one that has been passed down for many generations and is always a hit! Be sure to also try my Chicken Taco Casserole, Frito Taco Bake, and Frito Taco Pie using Crescents! All are family approved and perfect for busy weeknights!

    Jump to:
    • What is California Taco?
    • Ingredient Notes
    • Topping Ideas
    • Tips for Success
    • Storing California Style Taco Leftovers
    • Serving Suggestions
    • More Taco Recipes You’ll Love
    • California-Style Taco Recipe

    What is California Taco?

    This is the main question I always get asked and to be honest, I didn’t come up with the name, so I can’t pinpoint the exact origin. This recipe has been a family recipe for as long as I can remember and the best way to describe it is taco salad, without the bowl. You make a flavor packed meat sauce and pour it over Frito corn chips. Just before serving, you add any and all the toppings desired! Not only is this recipe fully customizable, but its perfect for gatherings, having company over, and even freezing leftovers for a later meal. Check out my California Burrito too!

    Frito corn chips loaded with a beef mixture and toppings.

    Ingredient Notes

    Below is a brief overview of each ingredient needed to make California Tacos! To see printable recipe card with exact amounts, scroll to the bottom or click the “jump to recipe” button at the top of this post.

    • Beef– you’ll need 3 pounds of ground beef, however, ground turkey or ground chicken works too. I use 80/20, however, you can drain the grease once cooked through, so any lean count works.
    • Green Pepper– you’ll want to dice this. Feel free to use a yellow pepper, orange pepper, or red pepper.
    • Taco Sauce– you can find this near the salsas and Mexican products at your local grocery store. Any brand works, we love using Ortega.
    • Mexican Chili Beans– you’ll need 2 cans, the 15.5 ounce size. No need to drain, simply pour into the beef mixture and simmer.
    • Onion– yellow or white onion, chopped, is best.
    • Frito’s– corn chips, any brand works, however, we love the salty taste of Frito’s. We use the original, however, scoops or chili cheese Frito’s work too.
    • Toppings– see options below for more a more detailed list.

    all the ingredients needed to make California taco.

    Topping Ideas

    This is the fun part! You get to fully customize each and every plate before it’s served making it a hit at any party! Here are some toppings we like to use, feel free to use anything to this list as the sky’s the limit.

    • Shredded Lettuce
    • Diced Tomatoes
    • Avocado Slices
    • Chopped Onion
    • Jalapenos
    • Sour Cream
    • Salsa
    • Guacamole
    • Black Olives
    • Hot Sauce

    step by step on making California taco.

    Tips for Success

    Given that this recipe is one that has made dozens of time in my family, we have learned all the secrets to success. Here are some of my best tips to ensure a delicious tacos recipe each time!

    • If making this for a large gathering, you can easily double, triple, or even quadruple this recipe.
    • To save on time, prepare the meat mixture in the morning and allow to simmer in your slow cooker on low or keep warm until ready to serve.
    • To make this more of a taco bar, use bowls for the toppings and allow guests or family to scoop their meat mixture over the chips and follow the order adding any and every topping desired.
    • If you want to bulk this up a bit, you can make Mexican rice and include it as a topping option for those that want a scoop or two.
    • You can add in some chorizo for more flavor to the ground beef mixture.

    a white plate with California taco served on top.

    Storing California Style Taco Leftovers

    If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, allow to fully cool before storing in an airtight container in your fridge up to 4 days. You can also freeze leftovers in a freezer safe container up to 3 months. Allow to thaw before reheating! You can reheat in the microwave until heated through, or place in a pot or large skillet over medium-high heat until bubbly and heated through.

    Serving Suggestions

    This recipe is a meal all on it’s own, however, if you want to make a few side dish options to serve with it, you can make my Mexican Street Corn Casserole, Charro Beans, BEST EVER Refried Beans, or Restaurant Style Mexican Rice!

    a white plate loaded with corn chips, ground beef, and toppings.

    More Taco Recipes You’ll Love

    Oven Baked Beef Tacos– an easy and flavorful dinner option. Filled with seasoned ground beef and topped with all your favorite taco toppings, this recipe is sure to become a family favorite.

    Taco Lasagna– layers of seasoned ground beef, melted cheese, beans, salsa, and flour tortillas make for a satisfying and easy-to-make meal.

    Easy Taco Cornbread Casserole– taco seasoned ground beef, chili beans, and cheese, all under a layer of Jiffy cornbread! Perfect for busy weeknight dinners, this simple casserole is comfort food at its finest!

    Taco Crescent Rolls– ground beef combined with your favorite salsa, stuffed inside a crescent roll! Add your favorite taco toppings and make these your own!

    Simple Taco Pinwheels– perfect for parties and game day gatherings, these pinwheels are sure to be a crowd-pleaser!

    Fish Taco Bowls– a simple, healthy taco bowl recipe perfect to enjoy any night of the week!

     

     

     

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    frito corn chips layered with beef, cheese and toppings

    California-Style Taco Recipe

    Recipe by: Kristin
    Spice up your taco night with this delicious California Taco recipe! Featuring fresh ingredients, Frito corn chips, and bold flavors, this recipe is sure to become a family favorite.
    4.67 from 3 votes
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    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr
    Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
    Course lunch, Main Course
    Cuisine American, Mexican
    Servings 12
    Calories 302 kcal

    Equipment

    • Slow Cooker
    • Cast Iron Skillet
    • Avocado Slicer

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 lb beef *ground meat, turkey works too
    • 1 green pepper *chopped
    • 1 cup taco sauce
    • 2 cans Mexican chili beans 15.5 oz cans
    • 1 onion *chopped
    • Frito corn chips
    • Toppings of choice (lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado, sour cream, etc)

    Instructions
     

    • Brown meat in pan over medium heat. Drain fat.
    • Add in the chopped green pepper, taco sauce, Mexican chili beans, and chopped onion.
    • Simmer on low for about 1 hour. *You can also add all ingredients to a slow cooker and cook on low until ready to serve.
    • To assemble, layer corn chips on a plate. Top with meat mixture, shredded cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, salsa, sour cream, and any other topping desired.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 302kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 20gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 81mgSodium: 250mgPotassium: 337mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 170IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 24mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @TheCookinChicks or tag #TheCookinChicks!

     

     

     

     

    More Main Dish

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      California Burrito
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      Shrimp Burrito Bowls
    • Jalapeno Chicken Salad on a croissant with lettuce.
      Jalapeno Chicken Salad
    • Creamy Shrimp Enchiladas topped with tomatoes in a white baking dish.
      Creamy Shrimp Enchiladas
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    Comments

    1. Theresa Johnson says

      March 26, 2025 at 5:38 pm

      Your system already has my email address. I should NOT have to re-enter it to print a recipe.

      Reply
      • Kristin says

        March 27, 2025 at 11:07 am

        Sorry for the confusion! You don’t have to enter your email to print a recipe. If you scroll to the recipe card, there is a button that allows you to print the recipe. The “email to save recipe” button is if someone wants to have the recipe emailed to them rather than to save or print, as well as an option to join my free newsletter! Enjoy!

        Reply
    4.67 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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    Welcome to The Cookin' Chicks…I am so glad you've stopped by! I am Kristin, a busy mom of 3, a wife, and a family chef! There are three things that motivate me each day - Family, Faith, and FOOD! I, along with the occasional help of friends and family, want to share my food creations with you! So, I invite you to join me around my dinner table through the recipes that I will share with you here. I hope you will enjoy the journey as much as I do!

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