Mexican Ground Beef Tacos

Ground beef tacos are delicious, authentic, and so easy to make. This traditional Mexican dish is packed with well-seasoned ground beef tacos, wrapped in soft flour tortillas, and topped with tomatoes, onions, and cheese. It's garnished with fresh cilantro, sour cream, and freshly-squeezed lime juice for the best balance of flavors. It's savory, spicy, creamy, and fresh. These tacos are the perfect item for a Mexican fiesta, to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, or for any time of year. Either way, these are always a big hit.

Why You’ll Love Mexican Ground Beef Tacos

• Mexican beef tacos are easy to love. These ground beef tacos are so yummy that it’s hard not to love them. Ground beef, tomatoes, onion, and cheese, all wrapped up in a flour tortilla, make a whole meal that’s filling and delicious.
• Made with flavors that everyone will enjoy. Seasoned with cumin, chili, paprika, garlic, and oregano, the ground beef in these Mexican beef tacos is savory, spicy, and all-around delicious.
• Fresh garnishes steal the show. Sour cream, cilantro, and fresh lime juice make these ground beef tacos shine. And you don’t have to stop there. Add pico de gallo chunky salsa, corn, black beans, or guacamole for even more flavor!
• Feeding a family? Have a fun and interactive taco night where kids and adults can build their own tacos. Just prep all the toppings and serve on the table so that everyone can make their own customized to their exact preferences. For more taco night ideas, try Fish Tacos with Lime Crema, Shrimp Tacos with Lime Crema Slaw, or Korean Beef Steak Tacos.

Ingredients

To make these delicious and easy ground beef tacos, you will need the following ingredients:

• vegetable oil
• ground beef - if you don’t like ground beef, you can substitute it with 1 lb. of ground turkey. You can also consider using diced or shredded chicken or pork. For a vegetarian option, you can use tempeh, chickpeas, or tofu.
• taco seasoning - made with cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, dried oregano (or Italian seasoning), salt and pepper.
• tomato paste
• beef broth or water
• small flour tortillas - make your own homemade flour tortillas — they are easier than you think!
• cheese - I would used a Mexican blend (Tex-Mex) of cheese. You can also use any cheese that shreds and melts easily such as cheddar, mozzarella, or Monterey Jack cheese.
• tomatoes
• onions - you can use red onion or white onion.
• fresh cilantro
• sour cream - optional.
• lime - to squeeze on some lime juice on the tacos, if desired.

You will also need measuring cups and spoons, and a skillet (I used my cast-iron skillet).

How to Make the Best Mexican Ground Beef Tacos

1. Cook the ground beef. Heat oil in a large skillet for 2 minutes over medium-high heat until the hot oil sizzles. Add ground beef and stir well to cook evenly until browned, about 6-8 minutes. Make sure to break up beef into small pieces to help even browning.
2. Add seasoning. Add cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, salt, pepper, tomato paste and beef broth. Reduce heat to medium and let the mixture simmer for 3-5 minutes until the sauce thickens a bit, stirring occasionally. Turn off heat and set aside. 

1. Heat the tortillas. Heat the soft flour tortillas according to the package instructions, or heat in an ungreased skillet over medium-high heat for 30 seconds per side. You can also heat it directly on a gas burner for a few seconds to get char marks on the edges.
2. Assemble the tacos. Add 2-3 tablespoons of the ground beef mixture on each tortilla. Top with cheese, onion, tomato and cilantro. Add a dollop of sour cream and a squeeze of fresh lime juice, to taste.

More Mexican-inspired Recipes

• 30 Best Mexican Recipes
• Beef and Bean Burritos
• Fish Tacos with Lime Crema
• Sheet Pan Nachos
• Chicken Enchiladas
• Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
• Beef Taco Soup

Recipe

Mexican Ground Beef Tacos

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5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 8 reviews

• Author: Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 8 tacos
• Diet: Gluten Free

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Description

Ground beef tacos are delicious, authentic, and so easy to make. They're savory, spicy, creamy, and fresh. The perfect recipe for a Mexican fiesta.

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Ingredients

For the ground beef taco filling:

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano (or Italian seasoning)
• ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper  (or to taste)
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• ¼ cup beef broth or water

For assembling the tacos:

• 8 small flour tortillas
• 1 cup Mexican cheese blend, shredded
• 2 medium tomatoes, diced
• 1 medium red onion or white onion, diced
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
• ¼ cup sour cream (optional)
• 1 lime, wedged 

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Instructions

1. Heat oil in a large skillet for 2 minutes over medium-high heat until the hot oil sizzles. Add ground beef and stir well to cook evenly until browned, about 6-8 minutes. Make sure to break up beef into small pieces to help even browning.
2. Add cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, salt, pepper, tomato paste and beef broth. Reduce heat to medium and let the mixture simmer for 3-5 minutes until the sauce thickens a bit, stirring occasionally. Turn off heat and set aside. 
3. Heat the soft flour tortillas according to the package instructions, or heat in an ungreased skillet over medium-high heat for 30 seconds per side. You can also heat it directly on a gas burner for a few seconds to get char marks on the edges.
4. Add 2-3 tablespoons of the ground beef mixture on each tortilla. Top with cheese, onion, tomato and cilantro. Add a dollop of sour cream and a squeeze of fresh lime juice, to taste.
    

    

    

Notes

How to store: Store the components of the ground beef taco separately for the best results and assemble when you’re ready to eat. You can store all ingredients in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

How to freeze: You can freeze the ground beef taco filling once you have cooked it. Allow it to cool to room temperature, then transfer to an airtight container or freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. To use, allow it to thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat. 

How to reheat: To reheat the beef filling, heat on the stove over medium-low heat until warmed through. Add a splash of water if the mixture has thickened up too much when stored in the refrigerator. Alternatively, you can reheat in the microwave in 20-second increments until warmed through.

How to make gluten-free and dairy-free: These ground beef tacos are easy to make gluten- and dairy-free. Simply substitute corn tortillas instead of flour tortillas to remove the gluten and serve without cheese and sour cream to remove the dairy. Now everyone can enjoy the Mexican beef tacos, regardless of dietary preferences!

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Beef
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Mexican

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