Indian Tacos

We love getting Indian Tacos at the Oklahoma State Fair. So I knew I had to try and make it at home. The homemade fry bread is made with simple pantry ingredients and then deep fried for the best bread. It is a crispy texture but soft on the inside.

We love making these tacos when we have family gatherings. Add a taco bar with your favorite toppings for a crowd pleasing meal idea. If you love tacos as much as we do, try Crock Pot Birria Tacos or Easy Crock Pot Street Tacos recipe. You may like The Best Taco Night Ideas!

Why is it Called an Indian Taco?

Indian tacos or Navajo tacos originated when Indians living in Arizona were forced to relocate to New Mexico in 1864 on reservations. The tribes were only given a small portion of staples that included flour, salt and lard by the United States government to make Indian fry bread recipe.

Their traditional diet of vegetables and beans could not be supported in this new land so they made this fried dough.

Navajo Fry bread used to make Indian tacos became a staple in their journey. This Native American dish can be made with dough using very few ingredients. South Dakota has declared it their state bread.

Ingredients

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.

Variations Ideas

• Meat – We used ground beef but you can substitute ground turkey. We have even topped the fry bread with Crock Pot Pulled Pork or Slow Cooker Beef Carnitas.
• Seasoning – Try making homemade taco seasoning. It is very easy.
• Beans – We love to make homemade ranch style beans in the crock pot. I think refried beans would also be delicious or pinto beans.
• Cheese – We used cheddar but you can use any type of cheese you prefer. A Mexican blend cheese would also be delicious.

How Do You Make Indian Fry Bread Tacos

Step 1 – First, in a medium size bowl, combine the baking powder and ½ teaspoons salt with the all purpose flour.

Step 2 – Next, slowly stir in the warm water until a dough forms. Continue to gradually add the water until the dough forms. You may not need all of the water so it is important to add it gradually.

Step 3 – Once the dough has been combined, let it sit for 5 minutes. Now roll the dough out slightly on a lightly floured surface with a rolling pin. Cut it into 6 pieces. Then take each piece and roll it to about ½ inch thick circles.

Step 4 – Finally, heat about 3 inches of the oil in a large deep pot. Once you have heated the oil, start to fry the dough circles in the oil until the dough is golden brown. It will poof up slightly in the hot oil. That is when you flip the dough to fry the other side.

Step 5 – Once fried, place the dough on a plate lined with paper towels. This will allow excess grease to drain on paper towels.

Step 6 – Start by browning the ground beef in a large skillet over medium high heat.

• Step 7 – Once brown, add the tablespoon of taco seasoning and ¼ cup of water. Let this simmer uncovered for 4 to 6 minutes until everything is well combined.
• Step 8 – Next, heat the ranch style beans in the microwave until they are heated through. Now it is time to assemble the tacos.
• Step 9 – Just top each fry bread dough with the taco sauce, then the meat mixture and beans. Finally add your favorite toppings.

Recipe Tips

• When you are making the dough, do not knead it too much. This will result in the bread being tough.
• Gradually add water. You may not use all of the water so resist the temptation to just dump it all in at once.
• You can make the thickness of the bread to suit your needs. I like to roll the dough on the thinner side if I am using it for tacos.
• Keep the fry bread warm by putting it on a baking sheet in the oven. This is so handy if you are cooking for a crowd and need to keep it warm while frying.
• Save some dough and use it for dessert. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. The kids will love it. You can also drizzle honey on them dust with powdered sugar.
• Cooking Dough – Keep a close watch on the dough. It only takes a few minutes per side to cook.

Indian Taco Topping Ideas

• Lettuce. This is best shredded and makes it easier to eat.
• Tomatoes. Dice any kind you prefer. I like roma tomatoes.
• Onions. Red, white or Vidalia make good toppings. Just dice whatever type of onion you like best.
• Cheese. Shredded cheddar is tasty but other ideas include Colby and Pepper Jack cheese.
• Cilantro. This adds so much flavor to the tacos. Don’t skip this topping.
• Sour Cream. Just a little dollop of sour cream makes these even better.
• Salsa. Serve this Indian Taco with our Homemade Salsa Recipe for even more flavor.
• Slice Black Olives. This is a must our our taco bar.

Serve immediately and enjoy. I like to pile my tacos high with lettuce tomatoes, cheese, onion and more. It is fun to set out a topping bar so everyone can choose what they like on their tacos. I think this would also be a fun party idea.

Let everyone top the fry bread with the taco meat so it does not get soggy. Then choose any toppings they like. It is a great party idea or for Game day.

Serving Suggestions

• Refried Beans. You can buy the canned version but we love to make homemade refried beans. The slow cooker makes it really easy and you can actually freeze them for easy meals like this.
• Easy Spanish Rice. Our family loves this and I often make a double recipe to freeze for later. Once you make this and can freeze it, there is no reason to use those box mixes for Mexican Rice.

Can Fry Bread be Made Ahead of Time?

It is best served fresh as soon as you fry the dough. If you need to make it in advance, I would suggest making the dough the day before. Just put in a bowl and cover overnight in the fridge. Take out the next day and allow to come to room temperature.

Roll, cut and fry as normal. I know life gets busy so if you must fry them in advance, here is a trick to reheat them. Wrap in foil to prevent them from drying out and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

How to Use Leftover Fry Bread

• Leftover fry bread is perfect for dipping into chili or soups with another meal during the week.
• Make dessert with leftovers. I try to actually make extra dough because the kids love when I use it for dessert. They like it drizzled with honey and dusted in powdered sugar. It is also good with a cinnamon sugar mixture for a sweet treat.