Oh my gosh, we had to try this. A few weeks ago, we were brunching at ABV on East 96th (seriously, their chicken and biscuit sandwiches are to die for), and we spotted a relatively new Taco Bell right across the street. Naturally, we had to investigate. On our rare Taco Bell adventures, my absolute must-have is the Crunchwrap Supreme. It’s just… glorious. There’s something about that magical combo of moist, taco-seasoned beef, spicy queso, and the crunch from that giant tostada chip that just hits the spot. It’s no wonder it’s such a fan favorite.
Now, let’s be clear: this isn’t about making a “healthy” Crunchwrap Supreme. Let’s be real, that’s not the point. While you do get the satisfaction of knowing exactly what’s going into your homemade version (and hand-picking your ingredients!), you won’t quite replicate that deliciously guilty, “I know I shouldn’t, but it’s so good” feeling you get after a Taco Bell run. This is simply a way to enjoy a Crunchwrap Supreme in the comfort of your own home – perfect for a cozy winter night!
Why Make Your Own Crunchwrap Supreme?
Okay, so you might be thinking, “Why bother making it at home when I can just drive to Taco Bell?” Fair question! Here’s the thing: homemade Crunchwraps offer a few key advantages:
- Control over Ingredients: You choose the quality of your beef, the spiciness of your queso, and the freshness of your veggies. No mystery meat here!
- Customization: Want extra cheese? Go for it! Hate sour cream? Leave it out! You’re the boss of your Crunchwrap.
- Fun Factor: Let’s be honest, cooking can be fun! Especially when you’re recreating a beloved fast-food classic. It’s a great activity for a weekend night with friends or family.
- Portion Control (Sort Of): Okay, maybe not strict portion control, but you can definitely make them a bit more substantial (or a bit smaller) than the restaurant version.
What You’ll Need to Make a Killer Crunchwrap Supreme
Here’s the lowdown on the ingredients you’ll need to assemble your homemade masterpiece:
- Ground Beef: Go for a good quality ground beef – it makes a difference!
- Taco Seasoning: You can use a packet or make your own (I’ll share my recipe below!).
- Queso: Store-bought or homemade, whatever floats your boat. I prefer a spicy queso for that extra kick.
- Tostada chips or hard shell tacos: These are crucial for that signature crunch!
- Large Flour Tortillas: These will wrap everything up.
- Shredded Lettuce: Adds some freshness and texture.
- Diced Tomatoes: More freshness!
- Sour Cream: Optional, but I love the tang it adds.
- Nacho Cheese Sauce: Because, why not?
- Onion (optional): I like to add a little bit of diced white onion to my ground beef.
My Go-To Taco Seasoning Recipe
If you want to skip the packet and make your own taco seasoning, here’s my simple recipe:
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon oregano
- Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- Salt and pepper to taste
And there you have it! A delicious, homemade Crunchwrap Supreme that rivals (or maybe even surpasses!) the Taco Bell version. Grab a drink, kick back, and enjoy your creation!
Homemade Crunchwrap Supreme
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4
- Category: Dinner
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 whole and 1 half burrito-sized flour tortillas per person
- Favorite Queso
- 1lb ground turkey (or beef)
- Taco seasoning
- 1 hard taco shell broken in half, or disk tortilla chips
- Sour Cream
- Shredded Lettuce
- Diced tomatoes
- A few pinches of shredded cheese
- Whatever else you want!
Instructions
- Heat a skilled on medium-high heat.
- Cook and season your ground meat (about 10 minutes).
- Move to a bowl. If it seems your meat is overly moist or has excess liquid, make sure to drain it.
- Clean skillet and return to heat.
- Layout the whole burrito-sized tortilla and dollop some queso in the middle of the tortilla. To give yourself a size guide, place the two halves of the broken tortilla shells together (to form a whole circle). This is how wide you’d want to made your spread of queso.
- Layer ground meat on top of the queso and cover fully.
- Place hard taco shells on top of the turkey meat (again, to form a whole circle).
- Dallop and spread sour cream on top of the hard taco shells.
- Top with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, and shredded cheese.
- This is where the half of the other tortilla comes into play. Place it on top of your pile of goodness.
- Sear some butter around in your skillet to heat up.
- Take the edges of the bottom tortilla and fold them up to the top all the way around. Somewhat folding over one another.
- Keeping the supreme folded, gently the folded sides down into the skillet.
- Cook until the side is a darker, golden-brown.
- Flip it and cook the other side.
- Remove from heat, let cool for a minute or two, and eat.