The Healthier Homemade Crunchwrap Supreme…taking everyone’s favorite fast food and making it healthier…and at home too. Plus all the fixings. Because loaded crunchwraps are just better. Ground meat (chicken or beef) seasoned with a homemade taco seasoning mix, layered up with cheese, peppers, crispy baked tostadas, and more! Cook these up in the skillet until they’re crispy on the outside, but warm and cheesy inside. Serve each Crunchwrap with a mix of your favorite taco toppings. They come together in minutes and are so delicious…the perfect weeknight dinner. And honestly? A whole lot better than the fast-food version.
I would never have thought I would be typing these words, but today’s recipe is inspired by Taco Bell! Well, Taco Bell and every other brother and cousin in my life. My family has been begging me to recreate the Crunchwrap for well over a year. And after some serious convincing over Christmas, I caved in.
I know, I know. Everyone loves the Crunchwrap. it’s such a thing, but honestly? I’ve never had one. I was that very, very strange child that really didn’t care for fast food…other than Dairy Queen that is, which I of course loved. I was a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup or Cookie Dough Blizzard kind of girl. How about you? I’ve been told that I really missed out on the cookies n’ Cream Blizzard…
Anyway, I wasn’t much into fast food, but thankfully I have brothers and cousins. A few of whom, have really expressed the need for me to create this recipe. So here we are. And you know something? I’ve got to say, this homemade version is pretty darn good. I guess I can’t say it tastes just like the Taco Bell original, but it passed the test of every last family member, and they always tell it like it is.
Ingredients
Taco Meat
- ▢ 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ▢ 1 pound ground chicken, beef, or turkey
- ▢ 1 yellow onion, chopped
- ▢ 2-3 teaspoons chipotle chili powder use to your taste
- ▢ 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- ▢ 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
- ▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ▢ 1/4-1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper use to your taste
- ▢ 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- ▢ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
For Assembling
- ▢ 6 corn tortillas
- ▢ extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- ▢ 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ▢ 1/2 cup cubed Monterey Jack cheese
- ▢ 1 poblano or jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped
- ▢ 6 large (burrito size) whole wheat or gluten-free tortillas
- ▢ 6 mini taco size whole wheat or gluten free tortillas
- ▢ 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
- ▢ 2 cups shredded romaine lettuce
- ▢ 1 cup cherry tomatoes, chopped
- ▢ fresh cilantro, limes, avocado, and hot sauce, for serving
Instructions
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1. Preheat the oven to 400° F.
2. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over high heat. When the oil shimmers, add the ground meat and onion. Cook, breaking up the meat as it cooks, until the chicken is browned, about 5 minutes. Add the chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, oregano, and salt. Add 3/4 cup water. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the sauce has thickened slightly around the chicken, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat.
3. Meanwhile, make the tostadas. Line the corn tortillas up on a sheet pan and rub lightly with olive oil. Transfer to the oven and bake 6 minutes. Flip, and bake another 4-5 minutes, until crisped. While warm, sprinkle with sea salt and lime zest or the “Doritos” seasoning blend (recipe in notes) for extra flavor.
4. To assemble, warm a large tortilla for 20 seconds in the microwave, then brush with water to dampen. Lay flat on a surface. In the center, layer the meat, a sprinkle of cheddar, a few cubes of Monterey Jack, and a sprinkle of peppers. Add 1 tostada on top, spread with yogurt, hot sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, and cilantro. Place 1 small tortilla on top, brush with water, then fold the edges of the large tortilla in, pressing to seal (see above photos). Repeat with the remaining wraps.
5. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a skillet, add 1 crunchwrap and cook 2-3 minutes per side until crisp and golden brown. Serve warm with any amount of desired toppings, avocado, hot sauce, yogurt, cilantro, salsa, whatever you love!
