Chalupa

A traditional chalupa is fried masa dough shaped like a little boat topped with simply salsa, cheese and shredded lettuce. Chalupa means ‘boat.’ If you love the Taco Bell Chalupa, this is a copycat version you can make at home by combining a deep fried tortilla shell (similar to flatbread) with ground beef, sour cream,…

DIY May 28, 2026 0 12 Add to Reading List

A traditional chalupa is fried masa dough shaped like a little boat topped with simply salsa, cheese and shredded lettuce. Chalupa means ‘boat.’

If you love the Taco Bell Chalupa, this is a copycat version you can make at home by combining a deep fried tortilla shell (similar to flatbread) with ground beef, sour cream, cheese, lettuce and tomato. We love to make this chalupa recipe at home. And it’s easy to customize with all sorts of different taco fillings such as chicken or vegetarian fillings.

Related: Homemade Arepas, Tostadas, Elotes and Margarita Cocktail.

Ingredients

Chalupa shells – Fried of baked.
Ground beef – seasoned with Taco seasoning
Shredded cheese – we like to use cheddar or a Mexican blend.
Sour cream – This optional ingredients adds a creamy flavor.
Lettuce – shredded iceburg lettuce adds crunch to the recipe. This can be substituted for Greek yogurt if you like.
Tomato – You may use chopped tomatoes or salsa.

You can add other toppings like salsa, pico de gallo or guacamole too!

What are Chalupas?

Chalupas are a traditional food originating from South-Central Mexico including the states of Hidalgo, Puebla, Guerrero and Oaxaca. They are made with flat fried dough and filled with meats, cheeses, salsa and shredded lettuce.

The Taco Bell version is Americanized and combines the shell of a chalupa with the fillings of a taco. There are many ways to customize the fillings in a chalupa.

How to make Chalupas

Cook the ground beef, seasoning with the taco seasoning, on medium high heat until cooked through. No pink should remain. Shred the cheese, lettuce and cut up the tomatoes.

Fry / heat your chalupa shell according to whichever method you prefer (three options below).

Fill the shell with the cooked beef, sour cream, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes. Serve warm.

Tips and Substitutions

Ground beef can be substituted for any ground meat like turkey or chicken.
I like to use store bought chalupa shells (which you can also buy online) but if you want to make your own try this whole wheat flatbread recipe and then use one of the methods below for frying the chalupas after they are baked.
To make this chalupa recipe vegetarian you could use refried beans or black beans in place of the beef.
Other great chalupa fillings include: carnitas, al pastor, or barbacoa.
This recipe is best served the day it is made. If you want to make these ahead I recommend making / prepping the fillings and toppings and then heating the shells when you are ready to eat.

More Tex-Mex and Latin American Recipes

Best Way to Cook Chalupa Shells

There are three ways to warm / fry chalupa shells: oven, air fryer or stove top. You can see the results of these methods in the photo above (from right: oven, air fryer, and two stove top).

Oven Method- Heat oven to 425°F. Brush both sides of the shell with a little oil and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 5-6 minutes, flipping halfway through. Then place in a taco holder or similar device to help keep it’s shape.
Air Fryer Method- Air fry at 400°F for 3 minutes. Then place in a taco holder or similar device to help keep it’s shape.
Stove Top Method- Add a few teaspoons of oil to a pan and heat over medium/high heat. Pan fry the shell for 1-2 minutes on both sides or until browned. Placed folded in half until ready to fill.

In my opinion the best way is to pan fry on the stove top. However, if you are cooking many at once then I would recommend the oven so they can all be warm at the same time as chalupas are best when served warm.

Chalupa

A soft, fried taco shell with meat, sour cream, cheese, lettuce and tomato

Course lunch, Main Course

Cuisine American, Mexican

Keyword chalupa

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Servings

Calories 596kcal

Author Emma Chapman

Ingredients

4 chalupa shells
1 pound ground beef
2 tablespoons taco seasoning
½ cup sour cream
1 cup cheese
2 cups lettuce
2 roma tomatoes

Instructions

Cook the ground beef, seasoning with the taco seasoning, on medium high heat until cooked through. No pink should remain.
Shred the cheese, lettuce and cut up the tomatoes.
Fry / heat your chalupa shell according to whichever method you prefer (three options below).
Fill the shell with the cooked beef, sour cream, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes. Serve warm.

Notes

How to cook chalupa shells:

Oven Method- Heat oven to 425°F. Brush both sides of the shell with a little oil and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 5-6 minutes, flipping halfway through. Then place in a taco holder or similar device to help keep it’s shape.

Air Fryer Method- Air fry at 400°F for 3 minutes. Then place in a taco holder or similar device to help keep it’s shape.

Stove Top Method- Add a few teaspoons of oil to a pan and heat over medium/high heat. Pan fry the shell for 1-2 minutes on both sides or until browned. Placed folded in half until ready to fill.