Description
Ground Beef Tacos – Quick & Flavorful. A juicy, spiced taco filling ready in under 30 minutes, perfect for hard or soft shells, family dinners, or taco nights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef (85% lean recommended)
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp paprika (sweet or smoked)
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Taco shells (hard, soft, or both!)
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced tomatoes
- Shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Mexican blend)
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt
- Salsa or hot sauce
- Avocado or guacamole
- Chopped cilantro
- Spicy: add jalapeño or chipotle powder
- Low-Carb/Keto: use large lettuce leaves instead of shells
- Swap Protein: ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based beef alternative
- Cheesy Fiesta: stir in shredded cheese at the end of cooking
Instructions
- Brown the Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add beef and let it sit 1 min before breaking it apart. Cook 5–7 min until no pink remains. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add onion and garlic to the skillet. Cook 2–3 min until fragrant and onion is translucent.
- Build Flavor Base: Push beef and onion aside. Add tomato paste and cook 30–60 sec. Pour in water and add chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir until evenly coated.
- Simmer: Reduce heat to low. Simmer 5–10 min until sauce thickens. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Warm Shells: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Warm hard or soft shells 5–7 min. Alternatively, warm soft tortillas in a skillet, 30 sec per side.
- Assemble Tacos: Set up a taco bar with beef filling, shells, and toppings. Layer strategically: beef → cheese → lettuce → juicy toppings to prevent soggy shells.
Notes
- Feel free to customize toppings based on your preference.
- This recipe is versatile for meal prep.
- Adjust spices based on heat preference.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 taco
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: Ground Beef Tacos, Quick Tacos, Family Tacos, Flavorful Tacos