Cheesy Gordita Crunch
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Cheesy Gordita crunch is a crunchy taco with a hard shell wrapped in a pita stuffed with beef, spicy ranch, lettuce, tomato, & more cheese!
This cheesy gordita crunch recipe is a delicious copycat of your favorite Taco Bell menu item. These are terrific made at home and served with baked rice or red rice, black bean soup, and lemon cream cheese bread.
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Cheesy Gordita Crunch
Cheesy Gordita Crunch
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Why you’ll love this recipe!
📌 A Taco Bell copycat recipe made in your own kitchen.
📌 The crunchy hard shell surrounded by the soft pita shell held together with melted cheese!
📌 Easy to finsh it with all your favorite taco toppings!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Meat – Ground beef.
- Seasoning – Taco seasoning packet.
- Water – Cold, filtered.
- Sauce – Spicy ranch salad dressing.
- Cheese – Block of cheddar cheese, shredded.
- Taco shells – Hard taco shells, Greek style pita bread.
- Toppings – Chopped lettuce and tomato.
Step By Step Directions
⭐ First, brown the ground beef in a medium skillet over medium heat. Drain the grease and return the pan to the stove. Add the water and taco seasoning and stir to combine. Let simmer.
⭐ Next, warm up the hard taco shells in the oven according to package directions.
⭐ Then, place the pita bread on a microwave safe plate and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Melt the cheese in the microwave and immediately place a hard shell on the pita bread and carefully fold over the pita to create the gordita. Repeat with the remaining taco shells.
⭐ Finally, fill each gordita with meat, spicy ranch dressing, more shredded cheese, lettuce and tomato. Serve and enjoy!
Scroll down to the printable recipe card toward the bottom of this article for ingredient measurements and detailed cooking instructions.
Preparation
Can the cheesy gordita crunch be made ahead of time?
These are best enjoyed fresh. The taco meat can be made ahead of time and warmed up when ready to serve but the best way to enjoy these is straight from the oven/stove.
What if I can’t find spicy ranch dressing?
Another great option for making these just like the Taco Bell version is to find Taco Bell Baja Dressing. Or you can make your own spicy ranch by mixing your favorite hot sauce with your favorite ranch dressing.
You can also skip the spicy ranch dressing and swap it out for sour cream or taco sauce.
What type of soft shell should be used for gordita crunch?
We found the best way to recreate the gordita crunch is to use a Greek style pita bread for the outer layer. You could also use a flour tortilla shell but you won’t get the same fluffy texture as the pita bread.
Storage and leftovers
How long does the gordita crunch last?
Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. We recommend storing the gordita crunch shell on its own without any meat or toppings inside. Reheat the leftover portions separately and assemble.
Can you freeze a gordita crunch?
We don’t recommend freezing this recipe. The pita and hard shell won’t thaw and reheat well.
Tips and tricks
✅ Add your favorite toppings like jalapenos, black olives, green onions or any other taco topping you enjoy.
✅ Use taco sauce or sour cream in place of the spicy ranch if desired.
✅ Try large or flat bottomed taco shells to help fill the pita bread.
✅ For the best melted cheese, take a block of cheese and shred instead of using pre-shredded cheese.
✅ Try making these with our homemade naan recipe instead of pita bread!
What to enjoy with a homemade cheesy gordita crunch (serving suggestions)
This easy copycat recipe is fantastic for homemade taco night! We enjoy these with chicken tortilla soup, Mexican street corn, and crock pot queso blanco!
Yummy margarita recipes to enjoy with your tacos
- Pineapple margarita
- Mango margarita
- Grapefruit margarita
- Classic margarita recipe
- See all our easy drink recipes
More delicious taco and taco inspired recipes
- Mahi Mahi tacos
- Air fryer BBQ chicken tacos
- Taco casserole
- Taco seasoning
- Taco soup
- Taco spaghetti
- Easy baked tacos
- Taco salad
- Fish tacos
- Chicken taco casserole
- Pork tacos
Other great copycat recipes
- Twix bars recipe
- Big mac salad
- Homemade hostess cupcakes
- Almond joy cookies
- 3 Musketeers candy
- Big mac meatloaf
- Big Mac wrap
- Bang bang cauliflower recipe
- See all our easy restaurant copycat recipes!
Tools we love
- Baking sheets – We love these from Nordicware. I use mine constantly.
- Kitchen tongs – Every kitchen needs a good pair of tongs.
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How to Make a Cheesy Gordita Crunch
Cheesy Gordita Crunch Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef browned and drained
- 1 packet taco seasoning (1 ounce)
- ¼ cup water
- spicy ranch salad dressing
- 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese divided 1:1
- 6 hard taco shells (corn)
- 6 pita bread (Greek pita, with no pocket)
- toppings: lettuce and tomato
Instructions
- Add browned ground beef, water, and taco seasoning to a skillet and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes.
- While the taco meat is cooking, warm your crunchy taco shells on a sheet pan in the oven at 350℉ for about 7 minutes.
- Place pitas on a second baking sheet and top with half the shredded cheese. Place in the warm oven just until the cheese is melty (2 - 3 minutes). Watch carefully, as you don't want to toast them. Alternatively, you can do this in the microwave.
- Remove the warmed pitas from the oven and place a hard shell taco on each pita, carefully folding it over to allow the melted cheese to stick to both side and "glue" them together.
- Fill each shell with your seasoned beef, dressing, the remaining cheese, lettuce, and tomato. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
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I will never order these from Taco Bell again. I made these for Taco Tuesday, and they’re even better than the ones at the store. BIG time winner.
I just had my favorite taco bell item at home and it was so much better, thank you!
Craving satisfied! This was perfectly replicated the Taco Bell favorite, actually it tasted even better! It needs to be on my repeat list!
I can’t believe how easy this is to make! Had it for dinner last night and we enjoyed it! So good!
I made your Cheesy Gordita Crunch for dinner, and it was amazing! The layers of flavors and textures were incredible, and it was so much fun to eat. My family loved it and asked for it to be a regular meal.
We love the different textures of the taco shells! Always a hit at our house for Taco Tuesday
This was sooooooo tasty! My kids devoured it. Thanks!!