Gluten Free Chalupas, a homemade Taco Bell style recipe. Crispy, crunchy fried gluten free chalupa shells filled with beef and cheese!
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When you fry them lightly, the shells really do hit that sweet spot between crunchy and chewy. And even though you would never expect it, they actually reheat rather well. A fried food miracle!
I used pretty typical fillings, but of course you could make these your own, any way you like. They'd be delicious with shredded chicken—even with the Chicken Gyro fillings. Fusion food!
The dough from GFOAS Bakes Bread is, of course, easier to work with and just plain better. But the old recipe still works, as all my old bread recipes do work just as they did before!
And believe it or not, this made enough food (with some veg on the side) that even my ever-hungry family had 2 leftover chalupas that I wrapped up tightly in plastic and placed in the refrigerator—and crossed my fingers that it wouldn't be a soggy mess the next day.
Lo and behold, we gave it a quick spin in the microwave and served it for lunch the next day, and it was still really good. I think it's because the shells are fried very, very lightly in the oil. And that crispy/chewy texture just does better as leftovers than if we fried them crisp. And of course, the dough is a dream.
Gluten Free Chalupas—a Taco Bell Copycat Recipe
Equipment
- Candy/deep fry thermometer
Ingredients
- 1 recipe gluten free deep dish pizza dough chilled
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon Mexican chili powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked Spanish paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- Neutral oil for frying
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- Shredded lettuce for serving
- Chopped and seeded tomatoes for serving
- Sour cream for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the pizza dough according to the recipe instructions.
- Then, on a lightly floured surface, knead the dough until smoother.
- Divide the dough into 8 equal portions, each about 4 ounces, and roll each into a ball.
- Working with one piece of dough at a time, and covering the others with a moist tea towel so they do not dry out, sprinkle the dough lightly with bread flour.
- With well-floured hands and a well-floured rolling pin, pat and roll out the first piece of dough into a 7-inch diameter round, rotating the dough and flouring it frequently, to prevent sticking, as shown in this gluten free pizza shaping video.
- Transfer the round of dough to a piece of unbleached parchment paper.
- Repeat with the remaining 7 pieces of dough. Cover the rounds loosely with a moist tea towel and allow them rise slightly while you prepare the fillings.
- In a medium, heavy-bottom skillet, brown the ground beef until nearly cooked through (about 4 minutes).
- Add the cumin, chili powder, paprika, oregano, salt, garlic powder, black pepper and red pepper flakes, and mix to combine with the ground beef. Transfer the beef to a small bowl and set it aside.
- In a clean heavy-bottom skillet with high sides, place about 2 inches of frying oil.
- Clip a deep-fry/candy thermometer to the side of the skillet, and bring the oil to 350°F over medium heat. Line a plate with paper towels, and set it aside.
- Once the oil has reached temperature, fry the round of dough into chalupa shells one at a time using the following method, and working quickly: place the round of dough, flat, into the hot oil.
- Allow it to cook for only 10 seconds. Using heat-safe tongs, fold the dough in half down the center of the round, and allow the dough to cook for another 10 seconds, pressing it down gently into the oil using the tongs to ensure that it is making contact with the oil.
- Using the tongs, carefully turn the chalupa shell over and cook for another 10 seconds, again pressing down gently with the tongs.
- Continue to cook on each side for 10 seconds at a time until the entire shell is very lightly golden brown all over.
- Lift the shell out of the oil with the tongs and allow the excess oil to drain before placing the shell on the paper towel-lined plate to drain.
- Repeat with the remaining rounds of dough. The shells can be kept warm on a lined baking sheet in a 200°F oven until all the shells are ready to be served.
- To assemble the chalupas, fill each with the seasoned ground beef, cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream, and serve warm.
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Hi, I’m Nicole. I create gluten free recipes that really work and taste as good as you remember. No more making separate meals when someone is GF, or buying packaged foods that aren’t good enough to justify the price. At Gluten Free on a Shoestring, “good, for gluten free” just isn’t good enough! Come visit my bio!
Marianne Shaver Kleminski says
How would you make the pizza crust recipe corn free?
Marianne Shaver Kleminski says
A lot of people would like to know, please?
Nicole Hunn says
A lot of people would like to know, Marianne? You cannot make this pizza crust without the cornmeal. I suggest you use one of my other pizza crust recipes. They don’t have cornmeal.
Amy Ju says
I am trying to understand your response. Was thos a typo or are you mocking Marianne? Strange.
Nicole Hunn says
I’m not mocking her, Amy. I was wondering if I had missed other questions like hers, since I clearly missed hers a few days ago.
Laura says
I LOVE tacos and these shells are just gonna make me love them more! I was never a huge Taco Bell fan so it never crossed my mind that I was missing out on their food…I can’t wait to see the new book! When’s that coming out 2015? Is it 2015 yet?! I want tacos for lunch!!
Nicole Hunn says
The new book is coming out late Winter/early Spring 2015. Thanks so much for your enthusiasm!
Happy Dana says
I love you. although never having commented I read your posts often and its the little things like a copycat recipe that makes the bottem of my americana soul relax like the memory of taco bell and fry bread. Like that Lake Powell road trip through the sweltering arizona desert all over again. sigh, and swoon.
Editor, FaveGlutenFreeRecipes says
These look SO good! Thanks for sharing!
Nicole Hunn says
Thanks, FaveGlutenFree!
noglutenhere says
Thanks Nicole!!!!!!
Dana says
you are kind of like me with my art. I loved my old art when I was doing it, but now I feel it has improved and don’t want anyone to look at the old stuff. :-) I think I might ask for your book and a bunch of gluten free flours for my birthday next month.
Jennifer S. says
Do it! You’ll love ’em!
Jennifer S. says
I seriously did love these little guys way back when. Thanks for bringing them back to us!!! :)
Nicole Hunn says
That’s what I’m here for, Jennifer! ;)