Description
Ground Beef Tacos are a quick, flavorful, and family-friendly meal perfect for busy weeknights. Combining seasoned ground beef with fresh toppings and your choice of shells or tortillas, this recipe offers a customizable, satisfying dinner that’s ready in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 for best flavor and juiciness)
- 1 packet taco seasoning (or 2 tbsp homemade mix of chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and paprika)
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
Taco Assembly
- 8 taco shells or soft tortillas
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican cheese blend
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 1 medium tomato, diced
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 avocado, sliced
Optional Toppings
- Sour cream or salsa for serving
- Pickled onions, queso fresco, lime wedges (for Mexican street style)
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients: Chop the onion and mince the garlic. Open your taco seasoning and shred your cheese so all ingredients are ready for cooking.
- Cook the Ground Beef: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add the ground beef. Brown it while breaking it up with a spatula until no longer pink and starting to brown, about 5–7 minutes.
- Add Onion and Garlic: Stir in the chopped onion and minced garlic. Cook until onions become translucent and fragrant, about 3–4 minutes.
- Season the Meat: Sprinkle the taco seasoning evenly over the beef mixture, pour in the tomato sauce, and stir well to coat the meat. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes to deepen the flavors.
- Warm the Taco Shells: While the beef simmers, warm taco shells or tortillas per package instructions or in a dry skillet until pliable and fragrant.
- Assemble the Tacos: Fill each shell with a generous scoop of the ground beef mixture. Top with shredded cheese, fresh toppings like lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro, avocado, and a dollop of sour cream or salsa if desired.
Notes
- Drain excess fat after browning the beef for a less oily filling.
- Season gradually—add taco seasoning little by little and taste to adjust spice level.
- Use fresh herbs such as cilantro and green onions for added brightness.
- Don’t overcook; simmer briefly after adding tomato sauce to keep meat juicy.
- For crunch, add chopped radishes or pickled jalapeños as toppings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tacos
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: ground beef tacos, quick dinner, family-friendly tacos, easy taco recipe, Mexican tacos, weeknight meal
