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How to Make a Cheesy Gordita Crunch (Taco Bell Copycat in 20 Min)

By Matt Price

Jun 06, 2024, Updated Mar 18, 2026

How to Make a Cheesy Gordita Crunch at Home

Copycat Cheesy Gordita Crunch – Taco Bell at Home!

I can’t speak for everyone – but for me?? Taco Bell is and will always be in the Big Back Snack Hall of Fame! I see a lot of Taco Bell hate these days on social media, but I will never turn my back on The Bell! If you've ever wondered how to make a Cheesy Gordita Crunch at home, you're in the right place.

One of my favorite items on their menu is the Cheesy Gordita Crunch (with the Doritos Loco taco in the middle for extra razzle dazzle). Today, I’m going to show you how to Make It Happen at home!

It’s nostalgic, comforting, and customizable—plus, no lines and no regrets.

Ingredients You Need

For the Taco Base

• 1 lb 80/20 ground beef
• Doritos taco shells (or nacho cheese taco shells)
• Soft taco shells or gordita flatbreads
• Shredded Mexican cheese blend
• Shredded lettuce
• Pico de gallo

For the Chipotle Lime Crema

• ½ cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoon chipotles in adobo
• Juice and zest of 1 lime
• 1 tablespoon garlic (minced)
• Pinch of sugar (optional, to balance heat)

For the Beef Seasoning

• 1 onion, diced
• 1 cup beef broth
• All-Purpose seasoning and taco seasoning (store-bought or homemade)

Optional Homemade Taco Seasoning

• 2 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Step-by-Step Instructions Cheesy Gordita Crunch Recipe

Step 1: Prep Ingredients

First things first, get your mise en place together. We are going to use store-bought nacho cheese taco shells, soft tortillas, or the flatbread/gordita option if you can find them. Everything else is fairly standard when it comes to a taco party – with the exception of maybe the Chipotle peppers in Adobo. (That also happens to be one of my favorite pantry staple items that I always keep on hand for various sauces, marinades, etc)

Start by finely dicing your onion and prepping the fresh toppings—lettuce and pico.

Step 2: Make Chipotle Crema

In a small bowl, mix your Chipotle Crema:
Combine 1 cup of sour cream, juice from 1 can of Chipotle’s in Adobo, lime juice and zest from 1 lime, and 1 tablespoon garlic. Season to taste. Add a pinch of sugar if the heat is too much. Set aside.

You can save this sauce for a week or 2 in the fridge and use it on whatever you like!

Step 3: Make the Taco Meat

Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the 80/20 ground beef (you can also sub out the beef and use ground chicken or turkey) and brown your ground beef or any other meat of your choice, until a deep color develops.

Drain off any excess fat, stir in diced onion, and cook until translucent.

Season with taco seasoning (store-bought or homemade with the recipe below). Pour in beef broth (about ¼ cup per pound of meat) or water and simmer until the liquid reduces and the beef is flavorful and saucy. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

Homemade Taco Seasoning:

Taco Seasoning Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• Optional: ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes for extra heat

Homemade Taco Seasoning Instructions:

Taco Seasoning Instructions:

1. In a small bowl, mix spices together until well combined.
2. Taste the seasoning blend and adjust any flavors to your preference. You can add more salt for saltiness, more chili powder for heat, or more cumin for a deeper flavor.
3. Store the taco seasoning in an airtight container or spice jar until ready to use.

Step 4: Warm the Tortillas

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Place soft tortillas on a baking sheet with a wire rack. The easiest way to do this IMO is right in the oven at 350 for a few minutes.

Sprinkle shredded cheese on each tortilla and warm until the cheese melts—about 5–7 minutes. This helps them stick to the hard shells later.

Step 5: Build the Cheesy Gordita Crunch

Spread a spoonful of chipotle crema on the melted cheesy side of the soft tortilla. Press a Doritos taco shell onto it to fuse them together. You might also love my double the beef. Don't miss my copy. crunch. conquer. make this crunchwrap supreme at home in 35 minutes for another delicious option.

Step 6: Fill & Finish

Build your taco to your preference and fill your crunchy shell with seasoned beef, shredded lettuce, pico, extra shredded cheese, and another drizzle of chipotle crema. Serve extra sauce on the side for dipping – and BOOM!! You have the best munchie cure on earth.. in less than 30 minutes and you don’t have to risk a DUI to drive to Taco Bell for your fix. You’re welcome…lol Looking for more? Try my download, sizzle, serve. If you love this, you'll also enjoy my budget. Don't miss my triple dipper magic for another delicious option.

Try this Birria Taco Recipe

Birria Taco Recipe

birria tacos recipe

Print & Download Recipe

Cheesy Gordita Crunch (Taco Bell CopyCat)

Matt Price

One of my favorite items on their menu is the Cheesy Gordita Crunch (with the Doritos Loco taco in the middle for extra razzle dazzle). Today, I’m going to show you how to Make It Happen at home!

5 from 1 vote

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Print Recipe
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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Beef Recipes, Copycat Recipes, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 4 servings

Calories 615 kcal

Equipment

1 Mr. Make It Happen Skillet or preferred cooking skillet

1 Baking Sheet with Wire Rack

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

For the Taco Base:

• ▢ 1 lb 80/20 ground beef
• ▢ Doritos taco shells or nacho cheese taco shells
• ▢ Soft taco shells or gordita flatbreads
• ▢ Shredded Mexican cheese blend
• ▢ Shredded lettuce
• ▢ Pico de gallo

For the Chipotle Lime Crema

• ▢ ½ cup sour cream
• ▢ 2 tablespoon chipotles in adobo
• ▢ Juice and zest of 1 lime
• ▢ 1 tablespoon garlic minced
• ▢ Pinch of sugar optional, to balance heat

For the Beef Seasoning:

• ▢ 1 onion diced
• ▢ 1 cup beef broth
• ▢ All-Purpose Seasoning and taco seasoning store-bought or homemade

Optional Homemade Taco Seasoning

• ▢ 2 tablespoon chili powder
• ▢ 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• ▢ 1 teaspoon paprika
• ▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ▢ ½ teaspoon salt
• ▢ ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional

Instructions

 

Step 1: Prep Ingredients

• First things first, get your mise en place together. We are going to use store-bought nacho cheese taco shells, soft tortillas, or the flatbread/gordita option if you can find them. Everything else is fairly standard when it comes to a taco party – with the exception of maybe the Chipotle peppers in Adobo. (That also happens to be one of my favorite pantry staple items that I always keep on hand for various sauces, marinades, etc)
• Start by finely dicing your onion and prepping the fresh toppings—lettuce and pico.

Step 2: Make Chipotle Crema

• In a small bowl, mix your Chipotle Crema:
• Combine 1 cup of sour cream, juice from 1 can of Chipotle’s in Adobo, lime juice and zest from 1 lime, and 1 tablespoon garlic. Season to taste.
• Add a pinch of sugar if the heat is too much. Set aside.
• You can save this sauce for a week or 2 in the fridge and use it on whatever you like!

Step 3: Make the Taco Meat

• Heat a skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add the 80/20 ground beef (you can also sub out the beef and use ground chicken or turkey) and brown your ground beef or any other meat of your choice, until a deep color develops.
• Drain off any excess fat, stir in diced onion, and cook until translucent.
• Season with taco seasoning (store-bought or homemade with the recipe below).
• Pour in beef broth (about ¼ cup per pound of meat) or water and simmer until the liquid reduces and the beef is flavorful and saucy. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

Homemade Taco Seasoning

Taco Seasoning Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• Optional: ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes for extra heat

Homemade Taco Seasoning Instructions

Taco Seasoning Instructions:

• In a small bowl, mix spices together until well combined.
• Taste the seasoning blend and adjust any flavors to your preference. You can add more salt for saltiness, more chili powder for heat, or more cumin for a deeper flavor.
• Store the taco seasoning in an airtight container or spice jar until ready to use.

Step 4: Warm the Tortillas

• Preheat your oven to 350°F. Place soft tortillas on a baking sheet with a wire rack.
• The easiest way to do this IMO is right in the oven at 350 for a few minutes.
• Sprinkle shredded cheese on each tortilla and warm until the cheese melts—about 5–7 minutes. This helps them stick to the hard shells later.

Step 5: Build the Cheesy Gordita Crunch

• Spread a spoonful of chipotle crema on the melted cheesy side of the soft tortilla.
• Press a Doritos taco shell onto it to fuse them together.

Step 6: Fill & Finish

• Build your taco to your preference and fill your crunchy shell with seasoned beef, shredded lettuce, pico, extra shredded cheese, and another drizzle of chipotle crema.

Notes

Pro Tips for Making It Happen at Home

• Sauce Storage: Chipotle Crema keeps in the fridge for 7–10 days in an airtight container. Try it on burgers, nachos, or breakfast tacos.
• Meat Swap: Sub ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
• Party Hack: Create a DIY taco station with warm shells, toppings, and sauce for a Cinco de Mayo crowd-pleaser!

Nutrition

Calories: 615kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 29gFat: 35gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 98mgSodium: 946mgPotassium: 671mgFiber: 6gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1671IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 202mgIron: 7mg

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