These easy Indian Fry Bread Tacos are quick to prepare and full of flavor. If you haven’t tried this delicious variation before, you’re in for a treat: crisp, golden fry bread topped with seasoned meat, beans, cheese, and fresh toppings. This dish is also a great way to use up leftover taco meat or beans.
Indian Fry Bread Tacos
Indian Fry Bread Tacos—also called Navajo Tacos or Indian Tacos—blend Native American fry bread with classic taco toppings. Instead of a folded tortilla, fry bread provides a warm, slightly puffy, fried base for savory fillings like seasoned ground beef, beans, cheese, and fresh vegetables.
Fry bread is made from a simple dough that is fried until puffed and golden. Its texture is airy and slightly chewy with a crisp exterior; while not sweet like a doughnut, it delivers a satisfying richness from the frying process. Fry bread has a complex history. It became a common food in many Native American communities after the 1860s when displaced populations were provided basic staples like flour, salt, sugar, and fat. For many people today, fry bread represents resiliency and cultural continuity.
Traditional and modern toppings vary widely. Typical combinations include seasoned ground beef or roasted meats, pinto or black beans, shredded cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, salsa, and sour cream. You can also add avocado, jalapeños, or olives as desired. Because the fry bread is flat and open-faced, the finished dish resembles a tostada rather than a folded taco.
A note on the name of this recipe
The phrase “Indian Tacos” can be sensitive because the word “Indian” is an older term used to describe Native American peoples. Some communities prefer “Native American,” or to use the specific tribal names when possible. Many people searching online still use “Indian Taco” as a search term, so that name persists in recipe titles, but it’s important to respect the cultures that created and preserved these foods.
Wherever a recipe originates outside of your own culture, approach it with respect for its history and traditions. Enjoy these tacos with awareness of their origins and with appreciation for the people whose recipes and practices shaped them.
More South-of-the-Border Inspired Recipes here!
Recipe Shopping List
Here are the ingredients you will need. For exact quantities and the full method, see the recipe card below.
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Vegetable oil (for dough and frying)
- Ground beef (or other protein)
- Taco seasoning
- Pinto beans
- Black beans
- Salsa verde
- Shredded Mexican blend cheese
- Onion
- Sour cream
- Salsa
- Avocado
- Black olives
- Diced tomatoes
Try our Blackstone Chicken Fajitas
How to Make Indian Fry Bread Tacos
This overview summarizes the process. Follow the full instructions below for exact measurements and timing.
- Mix the dough – Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and cold water. Knead briefly until smooth, form a ball, rub with a little oil, and let rest 15–20 minutes.
- Prepare the meat and beans – Brown and season ground beef, or warm up leftover cooked meat. Heat beans with taco seasoning and salsa verde.
- Fry the bread – Divide dough into 8 portions, roll into thin rounds roughly 4–6 inches across, and fry in oil heated to about 350–375°F until golden on both sides (2–3 minutes each).
- Assemble and serve – Top each piece of fry bread with meat, beans, cheese, and your preferred fixings. Serve immediately for best texture.
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Recipe FAQ
Fry bread is at its best right after frying, while the exterior is crisp and the interior is airy. If you must make them ahead, keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for a few hours; reheating in an oven or air fryer will help restore some crispness.
Store leftover fry bread in a sealed container. Reheat briefly in a preheated oven, toaster oven, or air fryer until warm and slightly crisp—avoid microwaving if you want to maintain texture.
Make some Homemade Salsa Verde to go with these!
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- Blackstone Brisket Tacos
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Indian Fry Bread Tacos
Golden, homemade fry bread topped with seasoned meat, beans, cheese, and fresh toppings. A crowd-pleasing, hands-on meal perfect for family dinners or gatherings.
15 minutes
25 minutes
40 minutes
Ingredients
Fry Bread
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup cold water
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (for dough)
- 3 cups oil (for frying)
Taco Meat
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
Beans
- 1 can pinto beans, drained
- 1 can black beans with garlic and onion, drained
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- ¼ cup salsa verde
Fixings
- 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
- Chopped onion
- Sour cream
- Salsa
- Avocado
- Black olives
- Diced tomatoes
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add cold water and stir until a dough forms. Knead briefly until smooth and shape into a ball.
- Rub the dough ball with 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, cover with plastic wrap or a towel, and let it rest for 15–20 minutes.
- While the dough rests, brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat. Drain excess fat, stir in taco seasoning, and set aside. If using leftovers, heat them through.
- Combine pinto beans, black beans, taco seasoning, and salsa verde in a small pot. Warm over low heat until heated through, stirring occasionally.
- Pour 3 cups of oil into a deep, high-sided frying pan and heat to about 350–375°F. If you do not have a thermometer, the oil should shimmer and a small piece of dough should sizzle and rise quickly.
- Divide the rested dough into 8 equal pieces. Roll each into a ball, then roll out with a rolling pin into rounds about 4–6 inches in diameter. Keep them fairly thin for even frying.
- Fry each round in the hot oil until golden brown, about 2–3 minutes per side. Remove with tongs and place on paper towels to drain briefly.
- Assemble each fry bread with seasoned meat, warmed beans, shredded cheese, and your preferred fixings: onion, tomatoes, avocado, sour cream, salsa, and olives. Serve immediately while the fry bread is warm.
Nutrition Information
Yield: 8
Serving Size: 1
Amount per serving (estimate):
- Calories: 705
- Total Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Cholesterol: 128 mg
- Sodium: 1147 mg
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 10 g
- Protein: 48 g
Nutrition data provided here is only an estimate.