Navajo Tacos Recipe
Navajo Tacos are a hearty Southwestern classic featuring pillowy golden fry bread piled high with seasoned ground beef, creamy beans, and a rainbow of fresh toppings. Each bite is a delicious blend of textures and flavors—crisp, tender, spicy, and cool—all in one irresistible handheld meal. If you love tacos but crave something just a little more special (and deeply satisfying), Navajo Tacos just might become your new favorite comfort food.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You only need a handful of pantry staples and fresh toppings to build the irresistible layers of Navajo Tacos. Each element brings its own magic—think chewy, hot fry bread, hearty beef and beans, and vibrant veggies to top everything off.
- All-purpose flour: This creates the base for the signature fry bread, giving it a soft inside and lightly crispy outside.
- Baking powder: Adds lift and fluffiness, so your bread puffs up perfectly when frying.
- Salt: Just a touch brings out the flavor in every layer and ties the dough together.
- Warm water: Helps activate the baking powder and makes the dough easy to work with.
- Vegetable oil for frying: Use a neutral-flavored oil for that golden, crisp crust.
- Ground beef: Provides rich, savory flavor as the main protein layer.
- Taco seasoning mix: An easy way to infuse the ground beef with bold, Southwestern spices.
- Water (for beef): Helps the seasoning blend smoothly with the beef and gives a saucy finish.
- Pinto or black beans: Add creamy texture and extra protein—choose your favorite or mix both!
- Shredded lettuce: Offers a crisp, fresh crunch and lovely color contrast.
- Shredded cheddar cheese: Melts beautifully over the warm toppings for that perfect cheesy pull.
- Diced tomatoes: Bring in juicy, tangy brightness that balances the richness.
- Chopped green onions: Add a light, oniony snap and a pop of green.
- Sour cream: Essential for creaminess—dollop on just before serving.
- Salsa or hot sauce (optional): For those who love a little heat or extra flavor kick.
How to Make Navajo Tacos
Step 1: Mix and Knead the Fry Bread Dough
Start by whisking together your flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. This dry mix is your base. Next, gradually add the warm water, stirring until everything starts clumping into a shaggy dough. Knead it by hand for just 2 to 3 minutes until smooth—don’t worry, this is a gentle dough! Cover the bowl with a clean towel and let the dough take a quick nap for 30 minutes. This rest makes your fry bread extra tender.
Step 2: Shape and Fry the Fry Bread
Once rested, divide the dough into four even pieces and roll each one into a 6-inch circle. This size is perfect for piling on toppings later. Heat about an inch of vegetable oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat—you want it hot, but not smoking. Carefully lay a dough round in the oil; it should puff up and sizzle right away. Fry each side for 1 to 2 minutes until beautifully golden and puffed. Drain the finished breads on a plate lined with paper towels while you get the other layers ready.
Step 3: Cook the Beef and Season It
In a separate skillet, break up the ground beef and cook it over medium heat until browned all the way through, stirring occasionally so it cooks evenly. Drain any extra fat, then sprinkle in your taco seasoning and pour in half a cup of water. Let it simmer together until the liquid thickens and coats every morsel of beef—this will only take about five minutes. The beef should look juicy, not soupy.
Step 4: Warm the Beans
While the fry bread and beef are in progress, pour your drained and rinsed beans into a small saucepan. Stir over low heat until they’re warmed through. A pinch of salt or a splash of taco seasoning is a nice touch if you like extra flavor.
Step 5: Assemble the Navajo Tacos
Time for the fun part! Place a warm fry bread on a plate. Spoon a layer of beans over the bread, then top with a generous serving of the seasoned beef. From here, add shredded lettuce, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, green onions, and finally, a dollop of sour cream. Don’t forget salsa or hot sauce for extra punch! The result: an irresistible tower of texture and taste.
How to Serve Navajo Tacos
Navajo Tacos Garnishes
Great Navajo Tacos are all about those finishing touches! Try a sprinkle of fresh cilantro, sliced jalapeños, extra cheddar, or crema for even more depth and flavor. You can never really have too many toppings, so get creative with your favorites.
Side Dishes
With Navajo Tacos as your star, keep sides light and easy. A crisp green salad, sweet corn, or a zesty cucumber-lime slaw all make fantastic pairings. If you’re serving this meal at a gathering, consider chips with salsa or guacamole for a Southwestern spread.
Creative Ways to Present
Serve Navajo Tacos open-faced for a dramatic, colorful effect, or cut the fry bread into wedges as a fun, shareable appetizer. You can even make mini fry breads for a taco bar—let guests assemble their own with a buffet of toppings.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you have leftovers, store each component in separate airtight containers in the fridge. The fry bread will keep for up to two days, and the beef and beans are good for about three days. Wait to add fresh toppings until right before serving so everything tastes crisp and bright.
Freezing
Fry bread can be frozen—simply cool completely, then wrap tightly in plastic or foil and place in a freezer bag. The cooked beef freezes well too. For best results with Navajo Tacos, assemble only when you’re ready to serve; frozen bread and beef just need quick reheating.
Reheating
To refresh fry bread, heat in a 350°F oven for about 8 minutes or until warm and lightly crisp. Microwave the beef and beans separately, or gently reheat in a skillet. Reassemble your Navajo Tacos with fresh toppings and dig in—no one will know it was made ahead.
FAQs
Are Navajo Tacos traditional Native American food?
Navajo Tacos highlight fry bread, which has roots in Native American culture, particularly among the Navajo people. While toppings like taco meat came later, fry bread is a beloved staple with a complex and important history.
Can I make Navajo Tacos gluten-free?
Absolutely! Substitute your favorite gluten-free flour blend for the all-purpose flour and check that all other ingredients, especially seasonings, are gluten-free. The texture will be a bit different but still delicious.
What’s the best way to make this vegetarian?
Skip the ground beef and double up on the beans—seasoned black or pinto beans work beautifully. For extra heartiness, try adding spiced lentils or grilled vegetables as well.
Can I use a different meat?
Definitely! Ground turkey, chicken, or even shredded rotisserie chicken will work in place of beef. Adjust seasonings to taste and follow the same instructions for cooking and assembling.
Is it possible to bake rather than fry the bread?
Traditional fry bread gets its magic from hot oil, but you can experiment by brushing the rounds lightly with oil and baking at 400°F until golden. The texture will be less crispy and more like a flatbread, but it’s a lower-fat option.
Final Thoughts
If you haven’t tried Navajo Tacos before, you’re truly in for a treat. This recipe makes it so easy to bring a warm, comforting taste of the Southwest right to your own kitchen. Don’t wait for a special occasion—invite friends and family over, pile on the toppings, and make Navajo Tacos the star of your next meal!
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Navajo Tacos Recipe
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Non-Vegetarian
Description
Navajo Tacos are a delicious Southwestern twist on classic tacos, featuring savory fry bread topped with seasoned ground beef, beans, cheese, and all your favorite taco fixings. A satisfying and flavorful meal that the whole family will love!
Ingredients
Dough for Fry Bread:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup warm water
Additional Ingredients:
- vegetable oil for frying
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning mix
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 can (15 oz) pinto or black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- salsa or hot sauce for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Fry Bread Dough: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add warm water and stir to form a dough. Knead until smooth, then let rest for 30 minutes.
- Fry the Dough: Divide dough into 4 pieces, roll each into a 6-inch circle. Fry in hot oil until golden brown and puffed. Drain on paper towels.
- Cook Ground Beef: Brown ground beef in a skillet, drain excess fat. Add taco seasoning and water, simmer until thickened.
- Assemble Tacos: Top fried bread with beans, seasoned beef, lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, green onions, and sour cream. Add salsa or hot sauce if desired.
Notes
- Fry bread is best served fresh.
- You can make the dough ahead and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
- For a vegetarian version, skip the beef and use spiced beans or lentils instead.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Native American, Southwestern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 taco
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
