Homemade Navajo Tacos are a delicious and fun dish featuring crispy Indian fry bread topped with savory taco ingredients like seasoned beef, beans, and fresh vegetables. It’s a versatile recipe that you can adapt with different toppings and is perfect for a family meal or a gathering with friends.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
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Simple Ingredients: The dough is made with basic pantry staples like flour, baking powder, and salt, making it easy to whip up without special ingredients.
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Quick Preparation: This dish comes together in just about 30 minutes, making it perfect for a quick weeknight meal or a weekend treat.
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Customizable Toppings: You can load your Navajo taco with a variety of toppings, from traditional taco meat and beans to fresh veggies, cheese, and more.
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Fun to Make: Frying the bread yourself and building your own taco makes this recipe interactive and perfect for everyone to personalize their meal.
Ingredients
(Tip: You'll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
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All-purpose flour
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Baking powder
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Salt
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Hot water
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Vegetable oil (for frying)
Optional Toppings:
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Chili beans
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Taco meat (ground beef or ground turkey)
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Lettuce
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Tomatoes
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Avocado
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Cheese
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Sour cream
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Salsa
Directions
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Make the Dough: In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add the hot water and stir until a dough forms. Knead until smooth and cover it with a cloth. Let it rest for about 10 minutes.
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Heat the Oil: While the dough is resting, heat vegetable oil in a pan over medium-high heat, ensuring there is enough oil to submerge the bread (about 1-2 inches deep). Heat it to around 350°F.
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Shape the Dough: Divide the dough into small portions (about the size of a golf ball) and roll them into small circles, about 6–7 inches in diameter.
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Fry the Bread: Carefully drop the dough circles into the hot oil and fry for 2–3 minutes per side or until golden brown and crispy. Remove from the oil and drain on paper towels.
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Assemble the Tacos: Top each fry bread with your choice of taco ingredients—such as seasoned ground beef, chili beans, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and avocado.
Servings and Timing
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Servings: This recipe makes about 12 pieces of fry bread, depending on size.
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Preparation Time: 10 minutes
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Cook Time: 20 minutes
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Total Time: 30 minutes
Variations
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Sweet Fry Bread: Instead of taco toppings, drizzle the fry bread with honey, powdered sugar, or chocolate syrup for a sweet treat.
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Vegetarian Toppings: Skip the meat and opt for beans, grilled vegetables, or a plant-based protein for a vegetarian version.
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Different Meats: Swap taco meat for shredded chicken, or a vegetarian meat substitute.
Storage/Reheating
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Storage: Store any leftover fry bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
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Reheating: To reheat, place the fry bread in a 350°F oven for 5–7 minutes to get it crispy again. Avoid microwaving, as it may make the bread soggy.
FAQs
What is Indian Fry Bread?
Indian Fry Bread is a flat dough that is fried until golden and puffed. It's traditionally used in Native American cuisine and serves as a base for a variety of toppings, such as taco ingredients, or sweet treats.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the dough in advance. Just cover it and store it in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Let it come to room temperature before rolling it out.
Is there a gluten-free version of this recipe?
To make a gluten-free version, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend. The texture may differ slightly, but it should still be delicious!
What oil is best for frying?
Vegetable oil is commonly used for frying Indian Fry Bread, but you can also use canola oil or peanut oil. These oils have high smoke points, making them ideal for frying.
How do I know when the oil is ready for frying?
The oil is ready when it reaches about 350°F. If you don’t have a thermometer, drop a small piece of dough into the oil. If it sizzles and rises to the surface, the oil is hot enough.
Can I bake the fry bread instead of frying it?
While traditional fry bread is fried to achieve a light, crispy texture, you can bake it if you prefer. Just place the dough circles on a baking sheet and bake at 400°F for about 10 minutes, but the texture will be different.
What are some common toppings for Navajo Tacos?
Common toppings include seasoned taco meat, chili beans, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, and salsa. You can also add avocado, jalapeños, or olives for extra flavor.
Can I freeze the fry bread?
Yes, you can freeze the fry bread once it’s fully cooled. Wrap each piece in plastic wrap or foil and store in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Reheat in the oven when ready to serve.
How can I prevent the bread from becoming too greasy?
Make sure the oil is at the correct temperature and don’t overcrowd the pan. After frying, drain the bread on paper towels to remove excess oil.
Is this recipe authentic?
This recipe is a modern take on traditional Navajo fry bread, which is often served with savory toppings like taco fillings. For a more authentic version, you can look into other Native American fry bread recipes.
Conclusion
Homemade Navajo Tacos with Indian Fry Bread are an easy and delicious meal that brings a unique twist to your taco night. Whether you enjoy it with traditional taco fillings or create a sweet version, this dish is perfect for customizing and sharing with family and friends. Enjoy the crispy, golden fry bread topped with your favorite ingredients for a satisfying meal!
Homemade Navajo Taco
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: About 12 fry bread pieces
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Homemade Navajo Tacos, featuring crispy Indian fry bread and savory taco fillings like seasoned ground beef, chili beans, and fresh toppings, are a delicious and customizable meal perfect for any occasion. This simple, 30-minute recipe is a fun twist on traditional tacos, offering endless options for toppings. Whether you're serving it as a family dinner or a gathering treat, you'll love the crispy texture of the fry bread and the versatility of this dish.
Ingredients
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
¾ cup hot water
Vegetable oil (for frying)
Optional Toppings:
Chili beans
Taco meat (ground beef or turkey)
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Avocado
Cheese
Sour cream
Salsa
Instructions
Instructions:
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Make the Dough: In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add hot water and stir until a dough forms. Knead until smooth, then cover and let rest for 10 minutes.
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Heat the Oil: Heat vegetable oil in a pan over medium-high heat to about 350°F (1-2 inches deep).
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Shape the Dough: Divide the dough into golf ball-sized portions and roll them into 6-7 inch circles.
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Fry the Bread: Carefully fry each dough circle in the hot oil for 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown. Remove from oil and drain on paper towels.
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Assemble the Tacos: Top each fry bread with taco fillings like seasoned meat, beans, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and more.
Notes
- Storage: Leftover fry bread can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- Reheating: To reheat, place fry bread in a 350°F oven for 5-7 minutes for crispiness.
- Sweet Variation: For a sweet treat, drizzle fry bread with honey or powdered sugar instead of taco toppings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Native American, Southwestern
