Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
I Finally Found a Tortilla Rack That Bakes Crispy Taco Shells Without Oil
49
items Soggy store-bought taco shells crumble in your hands, and frying your own spatters grease everywhere. If you've been wrestling with tongs over a hot skillet just to get a halfway decent taco night going, this list is for the home cook who wants crisp...
Sections
7
Taco Shell Racks That Actually Work in the Oven
Tortillas Worth Baking Into Shells
Sheet Pans and Baking Gear for Taco Night
Seasonings That Make Oil-Free Shells Taste Incredible
Spray Bottles and Misters for Oil-Free Cooking
Taco Fillings That Pair Perfectly With Baked Shells
Taco Shell Racks That Actually Work in the Oven
I used to drape tortillas over oven grates like some kind of sad kitchen MacGyver. These racks hold them upright so they bake into perfect shells every single time.
Grab this if you're tired of tortillas flopping over mid-bake. Holds them perfectly upright and I got six crispy shells in one round. Stainless steel so it won't warp after a dozen uses like my last cheap one did.
Shop Taco Holder Stands for Home Use
Use this for flour tortillas specifically. They come out with that slight curve that holds all the toppings without spilling down your wrist. My kids actually eat tacos without making a crime scene on the table now.
Aufmer 4 Pcs Taco Shell-Maker, Taco Maker Press Fried
Fits perfectly on a standard sheet pan, which sounds obvious but two other racks I tried hung over the edges. Dishwasher safe too, so cleanup takes about four seconds.
Stainless Steel Taco Stand Rack Tray Style
Switch to this one if you want mini street-taco sized shells. I use corn tortillas, 8 minutes at 375, and they come out with that restaurant-level crunch. Friends thought I deep fried them.
Taco Shell Holder Stand, Stainless Steel Taco Stand Rack
Perfect for someone feeding a crowd. Holds a ton of shells at once so you're not doing five batches while everyone waits around starving. Taco Tuesday went from 45 minutes to 20.
ReaNea Taco Holder 4 Packs Stainless Steel Taco Stand
Try this if your oven runs hot and you keep burning shells. The wider slots let air circulate better so you get even browning instead of charred edges and a raw middle.
The Taco Toaster 2.0
Picked this up on a whim and it's been in rotation for eight months straight. Sturdy enough that I've accidentally dropped it twice and it didn't bend. For the clumsy cooks out there.
Blackstone Stainless Steel Taco Rack Holder with Handles
Tortillas Worth Baking Into Shells
Not all tortillas crisp up the same way. I ruined a whole pack of the wrong kind before figuring out which ones actually hold their shape in the oven.
Use these for that classic crunchy taco shell taste. They crisp up in about 7 minutes and don't crack when you load them with meat and cheese. Way better than the yellow corn ones for baking.
Mission Super Soft White Corn Tortillas, 30 Count
Grab these if you want a softer crunch, more like a baked flour chip texture. They puff up slightly in the oven and taste almost buttery without adding any oil at all.
Guerrero Caseras Flour Tortillas, Fajita Size, 20 Count
For anyone who's gluten-free and sick of sad, cardboard-tasting alternatives. These crisp up beautifully and actually taste like real corn. My celiac friend literally teared up at taco night.
Customer reviews for La Banderita Yellow Corn Tortillas 80
Try these if you're brand new to baking your own shells. They're forgiving, meaning even if you overbake by a minute they don't burn. Good training wheels before you graduate to corn.
Old El Paso, Flour Tortillas, 8 Ct, Soft for Burritos
Paleo and grain-free folks, this is your move. They crisp differently, more like a thin cracker, but the flavor is nutty and honestly addictive. Worth the higher price if you have dietary restrictions.
Siete Almond Flour Tortillas, 7 Ounce (Pack of 1)
These are thicker so they hold up to heavy fillings without cracking. Bake them 2 minutes longer than corn and you get a shell sturdy enough to survive a loaded walk from kitchen to couch.
Mission Super Soft Flour Tortillas, Fajita Size, 20 Count
Stock up on these because they come in big packs and freeze well. Pull out however many you need, straight from freezer to rack to oven. No thawing required, which blew my mind the first time.
Guerrero White Corn Tortillas, 18 Count
Sheet Pans and Baking Gear for Taco Night
My old warped cookie sheet had shells sliding around like a pinball machine. The right pan underneath the rack makes all the difference.
Pair this with your taco rack and nothing slides or tips. Flat as a board even after months of use. My old pans were so warped they'd spin on the counter like a top.
Half Moon Bay Local Minimum Wage
Toss this under your rack to catch any crumbs or drips. The non-stick coating means you're not scrubbing baked-on tortilla bits at 10pm. Life is too short for that.
Wilton Perfect Results Premium Non-Stick Bakeware Large
Line your pan with these before setting the rack on top. Zero cleanup. I'm serious, you just ball up the paper and throw it away. Whoever invented pre-cut sheets deserves a medal.
Reynolds Kitchens Cookie Baking Sheets
Swap this in if you're tired of buying parchment paper every month. Reusable, nothing sticks to it, and it keeps your pan looking new. Paid for itself in about three taco nights.
Silpat Silicone Baking Mats for Home Baking
Use this as a second-level rack if you're doubling your batch. Stack it above your taco rack and bake tortilla chips on top while shells crisp below. Two birds, one oven.
Baker's Secret Non-stick Set of 3 Cooling Rack Set 15.7"x9.
Budget-friendly pick for anyone who doesn't want to spend much on a pan. Does the job, cleans easily, and hasn't warped on me yet after four months. No complaints.
Farberware Jumbo Nonstick Cookie Sheet, 15.5 in x 20
Wrap your rack in this before loading tortillas and the shells release without any sticking. Especially helpful with corn tortillas that love to grip onto metal like their life depends on it.
Great Value Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil, 50 sq ft
Seasonings That Make Oil-Free Shells Taste Incredible
Without oil, you need flavor somewhere. A quick spritz and sprinkle before baking turns plain tortillas into something people actually fight over at the table.
Shake this on corn tortillas before baking and they come out tasting like street food. The chili-lime combo hits different when it's toasted. My neighbor asked for the recipe and couldn't believe it was just one ingredient.
14 Tasty Ways to Use Tajin
Dust a little on flour tortillas before they go in the oven. The shells come out pre-seasoned so your whole taco has flavor from the outside in. Saves a step and tastes way better.
McCormick® Original Taco Seasoning Mix, 1 oz (6-Pack)
Try a light sprinkle if you want that classic American taco night vibe. Not fancy, not trying to be. Just salty, savory, and exactly what you remember from childhood taco nights.
365 by Whole Foods Market Seasoning Salt, 2.96 OZ
Sounds weird on a taco shell but hear me out. Bake flour tortillas with this and fill them with cream cheese, lox, and capers. Taco-shaped brunch that'll confuse and delight everyone.
McCormick Culinary Everything Bagel Seasoning
For the person who goes through Tajin too fast and wants a backup. Slightly different flavor profile, a little smokier, works especially well on thicker flour tortilla shells.
Trader Joe's Chile Lime Seasoning Blend, 2.9 oz, Pack of 2
Keep it simple. Garlic powder plus a pinch of salt on a flour tortilla shell is honestly all you need some nights. Not everything has to be complicated to taste amazing.
McCormick® Garlic Powder, 3.12 oz
Sprinkle this on before baking and your kitchen smells like a barbecue restaurant. The shells get a subtle smoky flavor that pairs ridiculously well with pulled pork or grilled chicken.
Simply Organic, Ground Smoked Paprika
Spray Bottles and Misters for Oil-Free Cooking
A fine mist of lime juice or broth instead of oil gives you browning and crunch without the grease. Changed my whole approach to baking tortillas.
Fill this with lime juice and give each tortilla a quick spritz before baking. The acid helps them crisp up and adds flavor. Way more control than squeezing a lime and hoping for the best.
EVO 18 Ounce Reusable Oil Mister Sprayer
Use this with chicken broth instead of oil for savory shells. Sounds strange but the thin mist gives you browning without any grease. My nutritionist friend taught me this trick.
Misto Aluminum and Plastic Bottle Oil Sprayer, Silver
Grab this if you want the option to use a tiny bit of avocado oil spray on special occasions. The mist is so fine you use maybe a tenth of what you'd pour. Guilt-free crunch.
HOUEVIYS Oil Sprayer for Cooking, 2 Pack Olive
For anyone who's been using those aerosol cooking sprays with the weird propellants. Fill this with whatever you want, know exactly what's going on your food. Simple switch, big difference.
Oil Bottles, Dispensers & Sprayers
This one has a pump mechanism that builds pressure, so the spray is super even. No drips, no puddles, just a perfect coat. Tortillas brown evenly instead of getting soggy spots.
Norpro Stainless Steel Oil Mister, 7.75in/19.5cm, As Shown
Try filling this with apple cider vinegar for a tangy shell. Bake at 375 and the vinegar evaporates, leaving behind just a hint of tang. Works amazingly with fish tacos.
Oil Sprayers for Cooking and Kitchen Use
Glass bottle so you can see exactly how much liquid is left. I kept running out mid-batch with opaque sprayers. Now I refill before I start and never have to pause with half-baked shells.
Aozita 17oz Glass Olive Oil Bottle Set 500ml Dark Brown
Taco Fillings That Pair Perfectly With Baked Shells
A crispy oil-free shell deserves fillings that don't turn it soggy in thirty seconds. Learned that lesson the hard way with watery salsa.
Keep this in the pantry for emergency taco nights when you forgot to thaw anything. Heat it up, load the shells, done in ten minutes. Surprisingly decent for a shelf-stable option.
Old El Paso
Use this instead of watery red salsa. It's thicker so it doesn't immediately soak through your crispy shell. Drizzle it on top right before eating, not five minutes before.
Salsa Verde Mild - Herdez
For the person who loves guac but hates the twenty minutes of mashing and seasoning on a weeknight. Tastes homemade enough that nobody questions it. Your secret is safe.
WHOLLY GUACAMOLE Classic Bowl Family Size
Dollop this on at the very last second. Cold sour cream on a warm crispy shell is one of those texture combos that just works. Don't skip it even if you're cutting calories elsewhere.
Daisy Pure and Natural Sour Cream, 16 oz (1 lb) Tub
Sprinkle this inside the shell during the last minute of baking. It melts into the tortilla and creates this cheesy crust layer. Absolutely worth the extra step.
Kraft, Mexican Style Four Cheese Shredded
Toss these in a hot pan with taco seasoning for a quick veggie filling. Keeps the shells crispy because steamed veggies aren't dripping wet. Meatless Monday solved.
Birds Eye Steamfresh Rotini & Vegetables with Roasted
Drain these well and use as a chunky salsa alternative. The green chilies add heat without liquid, so your shell stays crunchy through the whole taco. Drain them twice if you're paranoid like me.
ROTEL Original Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies, 28 oz
Storage and Leftover Solutions for Baked Taco Shells
Made too many shells once and just left them on the counter. By morning they were chewy and sad. Now I store them properly and reheat without losing the crunch.
Stack cooled shells in here with a paper towel between each one. They stay crispy for two days in the pantry. Saved me from the heartbreak of throwing away perfectly good shells.
Brilliance™ Food Storage Containers
Squeeze out all the air before sealing and shells keep their crunch overnight. Quick and lazy storage for when you don't feel like pulling out a container. No judgment.
Storage Bags: 2-Gallon, 1-Gallon & Quart Sized
Wrap leftover shells loosely in foil and reheat at 350 for 3 minutes. They come back almost as crispy as fresh. Tightly wrapped shells steam themselves soggy, so keep it loose.
Reynolds Wrap Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil, 12 Inch Wide
Airtight seal keeps humidity out, which is the real enemy of crispy shells. Worth it if you live somewhere humid. Florida taco lovers, this one's specifically for you.
OXO, Good Grips POP Container, 0.4 Qt
Layer these between stacked shells before storing. They absorb any residual moisture and prevent that dreaded chewy texture. Cheap insurance for your crispy investment.
Bounty, Paper Towels, Select-a-Size, Half Sheet, White
Reheat leftover shells in here instead of the microwave. Microwave turns them rubbery in about four seconds. The toaster oven brings back the crunch like they just came out of the big oven.
Hamilton Beach Countertop Toaster Oven with Convection
Use the rectangular ones to store shells standing upright so they don't crack under their own weight. Glass doesn't hold odors either, so your shells won't taste like last week's pasta sauce.
Pyrex Simply Store 28-Piece Glass Food Storage Set