Copycat Taco Bell Chalupa Supreme Recipe
This Copycat Taco Bell Chalupa Supreme recipe recreates the iconic crispy, fluffy chalupa shell filled with seasoned taco meat, shredded cheese, fresh lettuce, sour cream, and taco sauce. The chalupa shells are fried to golden perfection and shaped over a wooden spoon to achieve their classic curved form. Perfect for a homemade Mexican-inspired meal that brings the fast-food favorite right to your kitchen.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 8 chalupas 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Scale
Chalupa Shells
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon table salt
- 1 cup whole milk, warmed
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
- Canola oil for frying (about 2 inches depth in pot)
Filling
- Best taco meat (seasoned ground beef)
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Chopped lettuce
- Sour cream
- Taco sauce
- Diced tomatoes
Instructions
- Heat Oil: Pour about 2 inches of canola oil into a large pot and heat it over medium heat until hot enough for frying.
- Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt thoroughly.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Stir in the warmed milk and melted butter to the dry ingredients.
- Form Dough: Mix with a fork until a shaggy dough forms. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about one minute until mostly smooth. The dough should be tacky but not sticky.
- Divide Dough: Cut the dough into 8 equal pieces and roll each into a ball.
- Roll Out Shells: Using a rolling pin, gently roll each ball into a 6-inch diameter circle about 1/8 inch thick. Shake off excess flour.
- Initial Frying: Carefully add one dough circle at a time into the hot oil. Cook each side for about 5 seconds, then use tongs to fold it in half in the oil.
- Cook Chalupa Shape: Hold one half of the folded chalupa in the oil for 1-2 minutes, then turn and hold the other half in the oil for another 1-2 minutes until golden brown and crisp.
- Drain Excess Oil: Use tongs to remove the chalupa from the oil and let excess oil drip off.
- Shape Chalupa: Hang a wooden spoon over the center of a medium bowl and place the hot chalupa shell over the handle to help form its curved shape as it cools.
- Cook Remaining Shells: Transfer shaped shells to a paper towel-lined plate and repeat cooking with remaining dough pieces. Adjust heat if shells cook too quickly.
- Assemble Chalupas: Fill each shell with seasoned taco meat, shredded cheddar cheese, chopped lettuce, sour cream, diced tomatoes, and taco sauce as desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Ensure oil is hot enough to fry the dough quickly but not so hot it burns; adjust the heat as needed.
- Shaping the chalupa over a wooden spoon helps to create the classic curved shell.
- You can prepare taco meat ahead to streamline assembly.
- Use fresh, crisp lettuce and quality shredded cheese for best texture and flavor.
- Serve chalupas right after assembling to maintain the shell’s crispness.
Keywords: chalupa, copycat Taco Bell, homemade Mexican, fried taco shell, chalupa supreme, taco meat, fried dough
