Former Taco Bell employee here. I just wanted to throw a couple of fun facts your way about Taco Bell because I think it's kind of interesting how they do things. For the Chalupa, the shell is made by deep frying their round flatbread in a specially made utensil. The bottom half cups the flatbread into the shape of a taco shell and the top half holds it in place while it fries. If I remember correctly, they fry for about 45 seconds. I've burnt more than a couple forgetting to set the timer. They use premade ground beef, obviously, but it's warmed up or prepared for service in what's called a thermalizer. Essentially a sous fide, with water that reaches 212 degrees F. Metal slots separate the different meats within the thermalizer, all of which are in plastic bags. They are put in and a timer is set for 30 minutes. Ideally, the bags will come out of the thermalizer after the 30 minutes, but that doesn't always happen. Even the Nacho Cheese is reheated in the thermalizer. I genuinely loved my first couple of years working at Taco Bell. Staying in fast food too long is what ruins it, I believe.

The chalupa is my favorite thing on the menu. When you get it fresh, the shell is amazing.

No one understands how badly I have wanted this video. I requested it years ago. I’ve searched different tutorials. I tried to find out how Taco Bell makes them. It’s here. The chalupa video

3:32 "Texas Wagyu Chuck Roast into a grinder" Ah yes, the part that makes this particle board so robust is how it was made from the finest oak desk passed through the finest woodchipper.

I love the fact that while Josh is more than willing to dunk on the building and the menu, he always makes sure to compliment the actual workers of the places he visits

I love these "But Better" videos. What would be even better? A "But Better" recipe book. Make one of those, and I'll buy that! :)

For people who don't want to go all the way through the dough/tortilla-making process--I've been making mine with store-bought Naan bread. You can get them in small rounds that are similar to a taco size. I pan-fry them on both sides then shape them, set them on a taco holder and let them dry. You could also then bake them for about ten minutes in the oven to make them extra crispy. Or you can deep fry them as shown. But anyway, the Naan bread fries up nice and crispy and bubbly, just like the chalupa.

In our culture it’s called “fried bread” aka “bannock” 😅 love it on everything specially with cheese burgers or if you make a chicken noodle soup! So good!

The like, evolution of the crew understanding articulating flavor and Knowing what they're biting has been fun to watch over the years.

The Santa Fe chalupa was so good back in the day. They discontinued it a long time ago. It had a corn, blackbean, red bell pepper, onion and cilantro salsa with a sauce made with mayo, chili sauce (like ketchup, not asian-style), lemon juice, and white vinegar, and of course some lettuce and cheese. I still make these, only I just use tortillas instead of fried flatbreads.

Made these tonight and they were incredible! The shells are so good and the taco meat recipe you used is my new favorite. This is a keeper for sure. Thank you!

I’m so thankful for your channel. I have such a hard time wanting to make food for myself let alone making yummy food. Thanks so much for all you and your team does❤

This was one of the very few fast foods I got as a little kid as well, and this has me eager to make this new and improved version! The puffiness of that improved chalupa shell alone has my mouth watering!

I have a Taco Bell literally 2-3 blocks from me, so I've eaten there... countless times. The chalupas are and always have been the best item on the menu. And it's the shell that makes it. K I N D A a soft shell K I N D A a hard shell. Now I know how to make them. I never need to go back. Thank you, PaPa ❤

This guy is a freaking legend I love you man. Thanks to watching you for years and many others I can cook anything out of any ingredients and make amazing meals for myself my family and everyone I love

I like the cold cheese on tacos. It's a nice contrast with the warm meat and crisp crunch of the lettuce.

NO WAY! Josh, I was literally sitting in my car yesterday morning eating a chalupa in the mall parking lot and thought, I want to reach out to you and try to see if you could make a chalupa recipe!! This is something I’ve been waiting for my whole life 🤣👏🏻👏🏻thanks so much! ❤️

I actually use Navajo Fry Bread as my chalupa shell. Your recipe is quite similar, which means now I'll have to try it to see which is better.

I made this tonight for dinner and oh my gosh was it incredible! The family loved it!!

You're 100% my favorite KZfaq channel and I can't wait for your next book!

Chalupa shells are also Gordita shells, so if you want to make cheesy Gordita crunches at home heat the shells up in a skillet instead of frying them. I worked at Taco Bell 20 years ago and I was amazed to find this out back then

I know this is sappy, but watching these videos is helping me get through the worst anxiety/depression funk of my life. Trying new recipes and bettering my knife skills gives me something to do. And if I cook for my family I get a sense of accomplishment and I feel like I have some purpose again after losing my job.

Dude the recipe’s amazing. I’m literally blown away by how tasty they come out Love you Joshua

Love Love Love your cookbook!!! Great Job.. so proud of you!!

Looks like we’re having homemade chalupas for breakfast… Thanks Josh!

I wonder if josh just has a shed with every cooking equipment in the entire world. And it’s neatly organized like a museum.

That taco bell chalupa is not nasty..it's the best thing on that menu. Could it be built better yes but so can alot of fast food items , lol. Honestly I would rather go buy one than do all this work just to eat one.

1:15 I love to see that you got yourself a new Defender.

I am 100% making this at some point. Takes a bit of prep, but most things can be kept warm while you make the shells.

Love how he goes from his healthy meal prep series to THIS 🤣

Thanks Josh. I'm also going to use the chalupa shell recipe for breakfast with potatoes, Mexican cheese mix, bacon/sausage, eggs, and homemade "pace" picante. I agree with Rob Price that a "Better Than" cookbook would be a great idea!

thank you so much for this you are awesome .. this is our new family thing ty for showing me on to make this ty

also thanks for being you josh you inspired me with your love of food to go the culinary school all the best from ireland

Lesson I learnt through this video is that it's better to be consistently okay than bad everytime

That looks so good 😊 thanks for remaking it!

Thank you for food video. This is one of my favorite foods like a big mac so i am grateful for your delicious food videos.

I am so trying this recipe as I'm a secret Chalupa lover even though TB chalupas are crap. Thanks for sharing!

I just bought your cookbook! I love it! The recipes are so easy to follow!

We made this yesterday. It took us two hours. The meat and the salad topping was delicious. I liked the shell but I think next time I would just use a traditional taco shell.

Reminds me of the frybread i made with taco toppings. Turned out excellent as well, and reminded me of a better version of the Chalupa. Thanks for sharing, will have to give these a go.

"I used to eat these regularly... I don't know why... I hated it..." Sums up the Taco Bell experience pretty well 👌

The reason we all ate Taco Bell as a kid was.... IT WAS GOOD! I actually worked there for 7 years starting back in 1986. Everything (And I do mean EVERYTHING) was made fresh. There were no corners cut at all. Tomatoes/Onions/Green Onions/Olives - ALL hand dices/sliced. We would get 40 heads of Iceburg and hand slice. Cheese came in 40 lbs blocks and we would use piano wire to cube it and shred. Beans were made in a huge pressure cooker (And YES with Lard!). Beef was done in a big pan 20-40 lbs at a time. ALl shells were hand fried in a fryer. After 1995... I never EVER ate Taco Bell again. It was disgusting 🤢 🤢

That will be about 100 $ of seasoning and groceries 😂

Josh really out here making me hungry asf at 1:42 am

YOU FINALLY MADE IT I'VE BEEN ASKING FOR THIS FOR YEARS THANK YOU

To be honest, cold cheese on a taco is nice. Adds to the variety of textures and temperatures.

I am watching this at work and I think I will order me a quad americano with lots of syrup for delivery now . Hope you guys New Years is going well !!

I love this guy so much. Josh you are such an inspiring chef. I'm a web developer by trade and you make me want to be a chef lol. Keep up the great work man you're awesome.

OMG YAY! I have been asking and waiting for this video. I love the chalupa and I’d love to be able to make it at home! 😊

I used to make my own homemade chalupa by making it similar to an Indian/Native American taco. Seeing this have me missing those delicious days of cooking homemade meals almost daily.

Chalupas are a childhood classic. Still love them to this day.

The beat at the end was dope

This takes the Taco making game to the next level 🙏🏼😭🤯

Anything beats Taco Bell if you’re sober imo

That looks absolutely amazing! I never dreamed that a dish from a taco restaurant could b so delicious! I haven't tasted it of course but i just know absolutely that w everything uve put into it that i will love it. Ill b trying this soon & ill let u know how it turns out! I know that my kids (all adults now btw) r gonna LOVE this! Thank u. & thanks for explaining the reasons u do certain things! That makes such a difference! 🎉

Love your video with the step by step thank you

I just clicked on this only, but let me tell you something - I don't care how many ingredients Papa uses or how much it costs to make these! I AM MAKING THEM REGARDLESS!!!! I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS SINCE FOREVER!!! Papa, you get all the kisses. All of them.

I am so going to make this. I actually like Taco Bell, Chalupas especially, but my Taco Bell is cheap AF and puts about 1/4 of the amount of beef your Taco Bell did. It's like a friggin' smear of beef and then like two heaping handfuls of lettuce.

I love taco bell, it's 4 am and I'm starving. Thanks Josh 😂

This was so amazing, that I saved this video to make these! Thank you kindly Sir!

I swear, Taco Bell employees are seriously the sweetest fast-food workers in the industry.

The chalupas are one of the best things Taco Bell still sells.

Fine taco meat: SEAR hot get the brown bits early then turn down heat and add liquid (water, wine, stock, etc halfway up the pot or so) and seasoning of choice. Break up and stir vigorously until fine mince is born. Cook off liquid and done.

I just followed this recipe they came out perfect 👌 tasted delicious also a little bit of green onions to top the queso was a nice add on

I'm making this TODAY! 🤤🔥

Whats really amazing about Joshua Weissman is that he makes satisfying videos to watch, and also you can follow them ar home. people are accusing me of being a bot??!!

Omg, that looks amazing!!!

the fact that im on a cut right now and i cant stop watching him make the best looking food ive ever seen

Just made this for lunch with my brother. Absolutely a 10/10. It was my first time trying to make any sort of dough too so I was pleasantly surprised with how well the shells came out!

Love your videos, they’re always fun and entertaining to watch. Keep up the good work!

I like the contrast in the cold unmelted cheese

Not one day earlier, I was looking for this from you and found nothing. It's like you read my mind and just hurried up and put out this video. 😁

Joshua never disappoints. His content is always top.notch.

I find it interesting how my palate has changed with age. As a kid I hated Chalupas and preferred Gorditas and Cheesy-Gordita Crunches (minus the baja sauce). The Chalupas have or had this seasoning that just wasn't to my liking when I was younger. Fast-forward to today and I kinda like these flavors now

I liked this recipe. Maybe I will try to make it in my free time

Josh you should make b-roll shorts, tiktoks, and reels, because that would be glorious!

Seems like too much work for a couple chalupas. But it addresses my biggest problem with taco bell, which is that they never cook the chalupa shells until they're crispy anymore.

I'll definitely be making this in the near future!! Looks amazing as always. I think it'd be great if you could do Culvers next. They're the #1 place to get hamburgers from (if my sources are correct at least) and I'd love to see you compete against them!!

I love this recipe! 🙂

yes sir you clap back at that fast food quality menu with an authentic top-notch restaurant quality, that im sure took a generous 30 minutes to make

The way I clicked on this video within seconds.

Let's be fair..We don't go to Taco bell because it's good. We go there because it was cheap, fast and fairly tasty for what it was. It isn't difficult to top anything the bell makes. That said, since they have raised their prices sky high, and their service at least here has turned into a 15+ minute nightmare. I haven't found any reason to go in a very long time.

i am absolutely begging you to do pringles i've always been curious about how they're made ❤️ thank you so much

Looks like something a 5-star restaurant would make! So mouth watering.

I hate when ppl re create things from places and they pretty much just shit on the restaurant we get yours is better but don’t make it seem Like theirs is just straight up nasty

Best video I’ve seen. Looks so good ❤❤

Tacobell Chaloopa used to be my go to in my 20s. I have not been there in 10 years, making this tonight!

Omg that looks delicious 🤤

Ty for making this I also love chalupas and used to always order this from Taco Bell! Looks so good, tx bro!

I’m in LOVE!

thank you for this!!!!

B roll is Always my favorite! Bang on job with this one Josh! :D

Ohhh Dang! 😮 Looks Delicious 😋 I am definitely saving this video! Thank You

I just made the bread....oh yeah!!!! Loving this! New staple! Even if it's just fried bread on the side.

I wish we'd get more of these videos. I always liked this series.

Joshua, great as always. I used to order the Baja Chalupa, and it had "baja sauce". I think the best thing Taco Bell ever made was called the Steak Soft Taco. I don't think it's on the menu anymore. But, I'd love to see your version if that is anyway possible. Thanks.

Omg the "fooooonndd" was stunning lol

Holy cow that looks so good 🤤

Dreams do come true I love the chalupa shell

I am shook that you added Hicama to the lettuce. Shooketh I say I'm absolutely gonna have to try that I bet it's sooooooooooo gooooooodddddd