• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Picnic Food
  • Recipes
  • Meal Plan
  • Shop
  • About

Mighty Mrs

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Picnic Food
  • Recipes
  • Meal Plan
  • Shop
  • About
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Picnic Food
    • Recipes
    • Meal Plan
    • Shop
    • About
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Dinner » Homemade Chalupa Shells

    Modified: Apr 22, 2025 · Published: Feb 29, 2024 by Angela G. · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Homemade Chalupa Shells

    227 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    Shake up taco night by making homemade Chalupa shells a.k.a. "fry bread" to replace your shells and tortillas! Made with just 3 ingredients, fry bread is easy to make — it's soft and pillowy on the inside with a lightly crisp outside.

    Fry Bread Tacos
    Easy Fry Bread Tacos
    3-ingredient Fry Bread Tacos
    Tacos with Indian Fry Bread
    Fry Bread Tacos
    Easy Fry Bread Tacos
    3-ingredient Fry Bread Tacos
    Tacos with Indian Fry Bread

    Serve these homemade chalupas with a side of Mexican restaurant rice, a spicy jalapeño mocktail and cooked shrimp ceviche as an appetizer.

    Skim by Section
    • ★ Why You'll Love this Recipe ★
    • ★ Ingredients You'll Need ★
    • ★ How to Make this Recipe ★
    • ★ Tips & FAQs ★
    • ★ More Recipes You'll Love ★
    • Homemade Chalupa Shells

    ★ Why You'll Love this Recipe ★

    When taco night is well-loved but is getting a bit tired, jazz things up by switching your shells and tortillas out for homemade fry bread.

    Fry bread is pillowy and soft on the inside with a crunchy outside. The taste and texture is what you know and love about the chalupa shells they serve at Taco Bell.

    Homemade chalupa shells are pretty quick and easy to make with a 3-ingredient dough. 

    Crispy Yet Soft Taco Shells

    You'll pan-fry the dough into light fluffy discs that are golden brown and crispy yet soft on the inside. Top your individual fry bread shells with taco meat, refried beans, and all the taco toppings you like. 

    Homemade Chalupa Beef Taco

    This is a great way to put a new spin on taco night and always a crowd-pleasing family favorite.

    Customize Your Homemade Chalupa

    Go crazy with the toppings, salsa, jalapeños, olives, guacamole would all be delicious in addition to the standard taco toppings — cheese, lettuce, sour cream, and tomato.

    ★ Ingredients You'll Need ★

    The fry bread is made with just 3 ingredients plus you'll need your standard taco ingredients.

    Here's a look at everything you'll need:

    Fry Bread Taco Ingredietns

    For the Fry Bread Dough

    • Self-rising flour. Or you can add ½ tablespoon baking powder to all purpose or bread flour.
    • Water or milk. Milk will give your fry bread a more rich flavor. Warm it slightly in the microwave to help the baking soda activate and work its magic to create fluffy shells!
    • Salt. Fine grain sea salt or regular table salt works.
    • You'll also need oil for frying the dough. Any cooking oil will work. I like to use avocado oil.

    For the Tacos

    • Ground beef. You can also use chicken.
    • Onion. To help season the meat.
    • Taco seasoning. Plus water as directed on the package.
    • Toppings: lettuce, shredded cheese, tomatoes, sour cream, and any other toppings you love on your tacos.

    That's it! Simple!

    ★ How to Make this Recipe ★

    These fry bread tacos come together in just a few steps. Here's a look at the process.

    Here's a look:

    How to Make Fry Bread Tacos
    1. Cook taco meat and heat refried beans.
    2. Make fry bread dough by mixing dough ingredients.
    3. Shape dough into discs.
    4. Fry dough in a pan.
    5. Layer with beats and meat.
    6. Add toppings like cheese, sour cream, and tomatoes.

    These are super easy and a super fun treat for taco night!

    ★ Tips & FAQs ★

    What is fry bread?

    Fry bread is a traditional Native American flatbread that is made by frying a simple dough mixture. It's known for its crispy exterior and soft interior, making it a versatile base for various toppings and ideal for delicious tacos just like the "Chalupas" they sell at Taco Bell.

    How do I make fry bread at home?

    Making fry bread involves mixing flour, salt, baking powder, and water or milk to form a dough. The dough is then shaped into rounds and fried until golden brown. There are various recipes available online to guide you through the process.

    What other types of fry bread tacos can I make?

    Fry bread tacos are incredibly versatile. You can top them with a variety of ingredients such as seasoned meats (beef, chicken, pork), beans, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, salsa, black olives, and more. The options are endless, allowing you to customize your tacos to your liking.

    Can I make fry bread with yeast?

    If you prefer yeast-activated fry bread for that extra bready flavor and more airiness, you can simply add an instant yeast in with the warm milk in place of the baking powder.

    What is the origin of fry bread?

    While fry bread itself has historical roots in Native American cuisine, the concept of fry bread tacos is a more recent adaptation. It combines the traditional fry bread with ingredients like seasoned meats and toppings commonly found in tacos.

    Can I prepare fry bread in advance?

    Fry bread is best served fresh for optimal taste and texture; however, you can prepare the dough in advance and refrigerate it until you're ready to fry. Ensure the dough is at room temperature before shaping and cooking for the best results. Too cold and the dough will not get as fluffy as it should.

    Can fry bread be baked instead of fried?

    Traditionally, fry bread is pan-fried using a small amount of cooking oil to achieve its characteristic soft yet crispy texture. While you may experiment with baking or air frying, it might yield a different result. Frying is recommended for the authentic taste and texture.

    What else can I do with fry bread?

    You can use fry bread just like a flat bread to make sandwiches or even a dessert! To create a dessert, add sweet toppings like Nutella, cinnamon-sugar, powdered sugar, or whipped cream.
    Fry bread can also be cut into pieces and serve with a dip! Try it with my street corn dip.

    How do I store leftover fry bread?

    If you have leftover fry bread, store it in an airtight container at room temperature. Reheat in a toaster or oven for a few minutes to restore its crispiness.

    Can I freeze fry bread?

    Yes, you can freeze fry bread for later use. Allow it to cool completely, then place it in a freezer-safe bag or container. To reheat, thaw and warm in an oven or toaster.

    ★ More Recipes You'll Love ★

    • Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas
      Creamy Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas
    • Mexican 5-Layer Dip with Guacamole
      Mexican 5-Layer Dip
    • Mexican Loaded Sweet Potato Fries
      Mexican Loaded Sweet Potato Fries
    • Warm Bean Chip Dip
      Hot Mexican Bean Dip

    Love Mexican food?

    Browse all my easy Mexican-style recipes. Pin your favorites for later!

    This easy recipe for homemade chalupa shells was featured on South your Mouth!

    Fry Bread Tacos

    Homemade Chalupa Shells

    Author: Angela G.
    Shake up taco night by making homemade Chalupa shells a.k.a. "fry bread" to replace your shells and tortillas! Made with just 3 ingredients, fry bread is easy to make — it's soft and pillowy on the inside with a lightly crisp outside.
    5 from 1 review
    Reviews
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: American, Mexican
    Skill Level: Easy
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Yield: 4 fry bread tacos

    Equipment

    • skillet

    Ingredients 

    Fry Bread

    • 1 cup self-rising flour
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ cup water or milk
    • 3-4 tablespoon cooking oil for frying

    Taco Filling

    • 1 lb ground beef
    • 1 onion, diced
    • 1 oz taco seasoning
    • 16 oz can refried beans

    Toppings

    • Mexican cheese, shredded lettuce, diced tomato, salsa, scallions, sour cream
    Shop ingredients at Walmart.comAdd ingredients, then choose Pick Up or Delivery.

    Mighty Mrs. is a #WalmartPartner.

    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Make fry bread. Add self-rising flour, salt, and warm milk (or water) in a large bowl and stir just until combined.
      Separate dough into 4 equal parts. Flatten out each ball of dough into discs.
      In a large skillet over medium high heat, heat up ¼" of oil. Oil is ready when a drop of water sizzles.
      Place discs into the hot oil for 30 seconds to 1 minute until light golden on one side. Flip over and brown the other side.
      Remove the bread from skillet and place on a paper towel lined plate.
    • Make taco filling. In a medium skillet, brown ground beef with the onions.
      Once browned, drain off excess grease and add taco seasoning along with any water the packet calls for.
      Warm up refried beans either in the microwave or on the stove.
    • Assemble fry bread tacos. Take each fry bread and add a layer of refried beans; next a good amount of seasoned taco meat mixture. 
    • Add toppings. Top with cheese, lettuce, sour cream, tomatoes, and any other toppings you like.

    Notes

    If you don't have self-rising flour, you can add 1 tablespoon of baking powder to all purpose or bread flour.
     

    Nutrition Facts

    Calories: 619kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 1594mg | Potassium: 378mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 760IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 4mg
    Follow Mighty Mrs. for more easy recipes!Find @MightyMrs on Pinterest

    Related:

    • 5-Ingredient Chicken Taquitos - Air Fryer or Oven
      Easy Chicken Taquitos (5-Ingredients)
    • Homemade Taco Pizza
      Taco Pizza
    • Bang Bang Shrimp Bowl
      Bang Bang Shrimp Egg Roll Bowl
    • Easy 5-ingredient Chicken Stir Fry with Noodles
      Sweet Chili Chicken Stir Fry
    227 shares

    Reader Interactions

    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Leave A Comment

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Tried this recipe? Leave a review!




    The maximum upload file size: 1 MB. You can upload: image. Drop file here

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi! Welcome.

    Hi there! I'm Angela, a working mom of three. Life is crazy! But it's organized chaos — and I want to help you get and stay organized as you manage your own household.

    Be sure to grab my free printable dinner menu and subscribe to receive my printable chore chart for free, too.

    Reader Favorites

    • Sprouted Onion
      How to Plant a Sprouted Onion (7 Steps)
    • Easy Cinnamon Roll Casserole
    • American Goulash - Delicious and easy pasta dinner
      American Goulash
    • Yule Log Cake made with Cake Mix
      Easy Cake Mix Yule Log
    • Sprouted Potato - How to plant and regrow
      How to Plant a Sprouted Potato (6 Steps)
    • Printable Meal Planner with Grocery List
      Printable Meal Planner

    Picnic Foods

    • Pineapple Rum Punch
      Pineapple-Orange Rum Punch
    • Homemade Strawberry Toaster Strudels with Icing
      Strawberry Toaster Strudels
    • Magic Marshmallow Puffs with Chocolate Cream Filling
      Magic Marshmallow Puffs with Cream Filling
    • Pear Farro Salad
      Toasted Farro Salad
    • Giant Strawberry Pop Tart
      Giant Strawberry Pop Tart
    • Auntie Anne's Copycat Soft Pretzel Bites
      Soft Pretzel Bites

    Footer

    Subscribe

    Stay inspired with seasonal recipe ideas, plus get my printable dinner menu and weekly meal planner, FREE.



    Dinner Menu

    Spring Dinner Menu

    Printable Meal Planner

    Shop | Subscribe | About | Become a Sponsor | Privacy Policy | Terms | Accessibility

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram

    FEATURED ON:

    Buzzfeed | Parade
    Country Living | Good Housekeeping

    ©2025 Mighty Mrs. All Rights Reserved. Some links on this site may be affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Mighty Mrs. is a #WalmartPartner.

    Exclusive Member of Mediavine Food

    Need Groceries? Use Walmart Pick Up or Delivery. #WalmartPartner
    Shop Now

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings

    Something went wrong. Please try again.