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.
Ingredients
For the ground beef taco filling:
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano (or Italian seasoning)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper (or to taste)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/4 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
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup sour cream (optional)
- 1 lime, wedged
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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