There is nothing better than homemade Ground Beef Tacos for an easy dinner idea. Made with the best taco seasoning and finished with all the best toppings. This will become your family’s go-to meal for busy weeknights.
Ground beef tacos are one of those meals we all grew up with. It was a great meal for busy weeknights, but it was usually made with bland store-bought taco seasoning and boring toppings. So I have revived this old classic and created a flavorful dinner that you will want to eat every single night.
Best of all this recipe is kid-friendly and they can choose all the topping that they want. If you are looking for more easy Tex-Mex recipes that use ground beef or my Homemade Taco Seasoning. You definitely need to check out our Taco Soup or our Homemade Taco Pizza Recipe. If you are looking to spice up spaghetti night you should try our Taco Spaghetti.
Ground Beef Tacos Ingredients
- Ground Beef: I like to use lean Angus ground beef.
- Garlic: I prefer to use fresh minced or Minced Garlic in a jar. It adds so much to this recipe.
- Spices: To make my homemade taco seasoning you will need. Chili powder, cumin, onion powder, paprika, kosher salt, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and black pepper.
- Tomato Paste: Makes the sauce thicker and gives it a rich flavor.
- Beef Broth: Adds so much flavor to the filling and can be substituted with chicken broth.
- Tortillas: I used flour tortilla, but you can use any kind that you like.
- Lettuce: I like to use Romaine lettuce and chop it up. But feel free to use your favorite kind of lettuce.
- Tomatoes: Tomatoes that are firm with a low juice content work best.
- Cheese: I use a four-cheese blend for the most flavor.
How To Make Ground Beef Tacos
Ground beef tacos are one of the easiest meals that you can make, especially if you make a big batch of taco seasoning ahead of time. They come together in 4 easy steps.
- Brown Beef
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, add ground beef and break it apart with a spatula. Cook, stirring occasionally until ground beef is completely browned. About 5-6 minutes, then drain off excess grease.
- Add Seasonings
Reduce heat to medium-low and add garlic, chili powder, cumin onion powder, paprika, kosher salt, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. Stir until well combined, then add beef broth and tomato sauce.
- Simmer
Simmer for 3-5 minutes or until the taco meat filling has reduced and thickened.
- Assemble
Spoon the taco meat onto the flour tortillas and add lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and red onion. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Topping Ideas
When I make tacos I put all the out on the table, so that my family can choose how they want to make their taco. Here are a few of our favorites.
- Shredded Cheese: Cheddar or a Mexican blend are my favorites.
- Jalapenos: I will slice them up and remove the seeds. Most of my family do not like spicy things.
- Tomatoes: I will dice up cherry or Roma tomatoes.
- Avocado: I love to slice up some ripe avocado and add them to my taco.
- Guacamole: There is nothing better than homemade guacamole to add tons of flavor.
- Olives: These are great because I always have a can on hand.
- Cilantro: only use fresh cilantro here, dried wouldn’t be the same.
- Sour Cream: My kids won’t eat them without a dollop of sour cream.
- Salsa: I love to use my canned salsa. It has so much flavor and I use it all year long.
If you really want to add some flavor I would use some pickled red onions or pickled jalapenos. They both add a unique flavor profile to the ground beef.
How Can I Change The Spice Level?
- Mild Spice Level: Completely remove the cayenne pepper from the spices.
- Medium Spice Level: Leave the recipe as is. It will have a slight kick.
- Spicy: Start by adding 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. If you really want to add some kick to them. Start adding 1/4 teaspoon of crushed red pepper and repeat until it reaches your desired heat level.
What Is The Best Ground Beef For Tacos?
When it comes to the meat for the tacos I like to use 85-90% lean Angus ground beef. It is tender and has so much flavor and does not contain a lot of fat. But it has enough just enough to add a little flavor. If you would like to use 80% lean ground beef. Make sure that you drain off the excess grease after the browning process.
What Kind Of Tortillas Should I Use?
Honestly, you can use any kind of tortilla or taco shells that you want. Here a few options that I like to use.
- Corn Tortillas: Traditional Mexican-style corn tortillas are made with only 3 ingredients. Make sure that they are fresh, this will ensure they are soft and pliable. So that they don’t tear while assembling your taco.
- Pre-Cooked Flour Tortillas: This is what my family goes to, they tend to be softer and fluffier than corn tortillas. They work great in the small 5″-6″ size, or you can use the large 10″-12″ size if you want to roll up your tacos. These are even better if you warm them up on a hot skillet.
- Uncooked Flour Tortillas: You can usually find these in your local grocery store in the deli section. These are fun to use so they are fresh and have char marks from cooking them. These will give your tacos the feel they came from your favorite Mexican restaurant.
- Hard Taco Shells: You can find these in the ethnic food aisle at the grocery store. They come in the traditional taco shell shape. As well as in a flat bottom to make it easy to put your taco together or fun taco boats.
How Can I Make Them Healthier?
There are several ways to make these healthier. Whether you are trying to be gluten-free, low carb, or have a healthier meat option. Here are a few suggestions for you.
- Low Carb: Ditch the tortilla or taco shell and add the beef filling and toppings to a piece of Romain or iceberg lettuce.
- Gluten-Free: If you are trying to be gluten-free. Using corn tortillas that have been certified as gluten-free is the best option. Everything else is gluten-free in the recipe.
- Ground Turkey: This is a great option to cut down on the fat. Just as a tip ground turkey is a lot leaner. So you will need to add 1-2 tbsp of olive oil when cooking it. It also will not brown the same as beef.
Some More Delicious Mexican Food Recipes
- Crock Pot Fiesta Chicken Goes on just about anything.
- Sheet Pan Chicken Nachos The perfect dinner or party meal.
- Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas Perfect for a quick and easy dinner.
- Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe Better than the original.
Ground Beef Tacos
Ingredients
Ground Beef Filling
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1½ tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 2 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ½ cup tomato paste
- ½ cup low-sodium beef broth
Tacos
- 8 flour tortillas (5 – 6 inch)
- 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
- 2 cups shredded lettuce
- 1 cup tomatoes (diced)
- ½ cup red onion (diced)
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, add ground beef, and break it apart with a spatula. Cook, stirring occasionally until ground beef is completely browned. About 5-6 minutes, then drain off excess grease.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and add garlic, chili powder, cumin onion powder, paprika, kosher salt, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. Stir until well combined, then add beef broth and tomato sauce.
- Simmer for 3-5 minutes or until the taco meat filling has reduced and thickened.
- Spoon the taco meat onto the flour tortillas and add lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and red onion. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?
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