Light, crispy fry bread topped with seasoned beef, fresh veggies, beans, and cheese—or drizzled with honey and powdered sugar for a sweet treat. The ultimate customizable comfort food!
Servings & Timing
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Yield: 6 fry breads
Dietary Tags: Comfort Food, Family-Friendly, Customibleza
📝 Ingredients
For the Fry Bread:
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3 cups all-purpose flour
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4½ teaspoons baking powder
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1 teaspoon kosher salt
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2 tablespoons softened butter or ghee
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1¼ cup whole milk
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3 cups vegetable oil (for frying)
Savory Toppings:
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1 lb ground beef (80/20)
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2 tbsp steak fajita seasoning or homemade taco seasoning
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15 oz black beans, drained
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2 cups iceberg lettuce, shredded
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3 plum tomatoes, diced
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Sour cream, to taste
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Queso sauce or shredded cheese of choice
Sweet Version:
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Honey
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Powdered sugar
🔪 Instructions
Step 1: Make the Fry Bread Dough
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In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
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Cut in the softened butter or ghee until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
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Stir in milk until a soft dough forms.
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Cover and let the dough rest for 10–15 minutes.
Step 2: Prepare the Beef
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Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat.
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Drain excess fat and stir in fajita or taco seasoning.
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Warm the black beans in a separate pan or the microwave.
Step 3: Shape and Fry the Bread
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Divide dough into 6 equal portions and roll each into a ball. Flatten into 6–8 inch discs.
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Heat vegetable oil in a deep skillet (about 350°F/175°C).
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Fry each piece of dough until golden brown and puffed, about 2–3 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.
Step 4: Assemble Savory Tacos
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Top fry bread with seasoned beef, black beans, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese or queso, and sour cream.
Step 5: Sweet Version
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For a dessert option, drizzle warm fry bread with honey and a dusting of powdered sugar.
💡 Notes & Tips
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Lighter option: Use ground turkey or chicken and reduced-fat cheese and sour cream to lower W-W points.
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Shortcut: Use pre-cooked taco meat or beans for faster prep.
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Make-ahead: Fry bread dough can be made up to a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator.
📸 Step-by-Step Guide
(Suggested photos: making dough → frying bread → browning beef → assembling tacos → sweet version with honey and sugar)
Pro Tip: Keep fry bread warm in a low oven while cooking all the pieces.
🥄 Ingredient Insights & Swaps
Why these ingredients?
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Fry bread dough: Simple pantry staples for a classic base.
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Ground beef & beans: Protein-packed savory toppings.
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Lettuce, tomatoes, cheese: Classic taco fixings for freshness and texture.
Substitutions:
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Swap flour for a gluten-free blend for GF fry bread.
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Use refried beans instead of black beans.
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Try Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.
🎨 Flavor Variations & Serving Ideas
Flavor Ideas:
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Add pickled jalapeños or sliced avocado to the savory version.
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For sweet fry bread, try cinnamon sugar instead of powdered sugar.
Serving Suggestions:
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Pair with Mexican rice or a simple salad.
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Serve sweet fry bread with vanilla ice cream for a decadent dessert.
🧊 Storage & Make-Ahead
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Storage: Store leftover fry bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
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Reheating: Warm in the oven or air fryer to restore crispiness.
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Freezing: Fry bread can be frozen and reheated as needed.
🔎 Nutrition & W-W Points (per serving estimate)**
Savory Fry Bread Taco (per serving, including beef, beans, cheese, lettuce, and sour cream):
Calories: ~550 kcal | Protein: ~25g | Carbs: ~35g | Fat: ~30g
W-W Points:
➡️ 15 Points (using 80/20 beef, regular cheese, and sour cream)
Lightened Version (with lean beef or turkey, reduced-fat cheese, and light sour cream):
➡️ 10 Points
Sweet Fry Bread (plain with honey and powdered sugar, per piece):
Calories: ~310 kcal
W-W Points:
➡️ 9 Points
Points can vary significantly based on toppings and specific ingredient brands. For best accuracy, enter your exact ingredients into the W-W app.
Allergens: Wheat, Milk (cheese, sour cream)
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I bake the fry bread instead of frying?
A: Traditional fry bread requires frying for the classic texture, but you can bake at 400°F for about 10–12 minutes. The result will be more like flatbread.
Q: Can I make the dough ahead?
A: Yes—prepare and refrigerate up to 24 hours in advance.
Q: Can I freeze fry bread?
A: Absolutely. Cool completely, wrap individually, and freeze for up to 2 months.
📝 The Story Behind the Recipe
Fry bread tacos (or “Indian tacos”) are inspired by traditional Native American fry bread, which has become a cherished comfort food across many homes. This version combines classic taco toppings for a satisfying, family-friendly dish—and we couldn’t resist adding a sweet version, too!
🗨️ Let’s Chat!
Did you try these fry bread tacos? Did you go savory, sweet, or both? Drop a comment or tag me—I’d love to see your delicious creations!