Spice up your weeknight dinner with these delicious and simple ground beef tacos. Ready in just 30 minutes, these tacos are a family favorite and perfect for a busy night. Top with your choice of fixings, and serve with refried beans or cilantro lime rice.
Set up a taco bar and let your friends and family customize their tacos. For a complete fiesta, serve these with Mexican shrimp cocktails and chicken enchilada soup.
Why You’ll Want To Make These Again and Again
Whether you like crispy taco shells, soft flour tortillas, or corn tortillas, dinner does not get much easier or more delicious. These tacos can be dressed and on the table in less than twenty minutes, making them the ideal weeknight meal.
With just a handful of spices, even your teenager can get these made for dinner. If you are always in a hurry, make a double portion of the ground beef mixture and freeze half for up to two months for another delicious taco meal. Customize the toppings to suit your taste.
How To Make Ground Beef Tacos
Making ground beef tacos is as simple as browning the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When it is about halfway browned, add a little chopped onion. Then add the spices, salt, pepper, and a little bit of beef or chicken broth and let it simmer for a few minutes.
Finally, scoop the beef mixture into your shells and top with lettuce, sun-ripened tomatoes, shredded cheese, jalapeno rings, and whatever your little heart desires.
Preparation Tips and Storage
- Carefully blacken the edges of the corn tortillas right over an open flame on a gas stove using tongs.
- The shells should not be stuffed until ready to eat, as they may become soggy and cold.
- Drizzle your tacos with ranch, chipotle ranch, or fire-roasted salsa for extra flavor.
- Store all leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator, although tacos are always best eaten as soon as they are prepared.
Use Homemade Taco Seasoning
Homemade Taco Seasoning is quick and easy to make, with so much flavor compared to those dry taco seasoning packets that have been sitting on the shelves for months.
Many of the herbs and spices in this recipe may already be in your pantry or spice cupboard. Mix a triple or quadruple batch of homemade taco seasoning. Store in an airtight container for up to six months.
When making tacos, use 2 1/2 tablespoons for each pound of ground beef. You can also use it in soups, fajitas, taco pasta salad, and taco salad and as a dry rub for chicken, beef, or pork. It tastes much better than the taco seasoning packets and is easy to mix up and store.
Taco Toppings
The possibilities are endless, but here are a few of my favorites. Ideally, set up a taco bar and let your family and friends select which toppings they like the best.
- chopped iceberg lettuce
- chopped tomatoes
- cheddar cheese
- pickled jalapenos
- thinly sliced red onion
- chopped or torn cilantro
- guacamole
- sour cream
- salsa
- thinly sliced jalapenos
- black olives
Frequently Asked Questions
You can substitute ground turkey, chicken, or even pork for the ground beef.
You can prepare taco meat up to a day in advance and reheat it in the microwave. If it gets dry, add a little beef broth, or water.
It is best to store the ground beef taco mixture separately. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Use freshly warmed taco shells and freshly chopped toppings.
More Taco Recipes
Ground Beef Tacos
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1/2 medium onion chopped
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 pinches ground cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons beef or chicken broth see notes
- 8 taco shells either crunchy or soft
- Chopped lettuce
- Chopped tomatoes
- Shredded cheese cheddar, cheddar Jack, Monterey Jack
- Pickled Jalapenos
Instructions
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef breaking it up as it cooks. About halfway through the browning process, add the onion. Cook until the beef is brown and the onion is soft. Drain any excess grease.
- Turn the heat to low. Add the chili powder, cumin, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, oregano, red pepper flakes, ground cayenne pepper, and beef broth. Simmer for 4-5 minutes.
- Divide the beef mixture evenly between the taco shells. Top with desired toppings. Serve promptly.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey, chicken, or even pork for the ground beef.
- Carefully blacken the edges of the corn tortillas right over an open flame on a gas stove using tongs.
- Taco meat can be prepared up to a day in advance and reheated in the microwave. If it gets dry, add a little beef broth or tomato sauce.
- The shells should not be stuffed until ready to eat, as they may become soggy and cold.
- For a little extra flavor, drizzle your tacos with ranch, chipotle ranch, or fire-roasted salsa.
- Store all leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator, although tacos are always best eaten as soon as they are prepared.
Nutrition
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Carol Colborn
I do the same spices but i have to try sauteeing onions with the ground beef!
Frank
These were so yummy, they were just as good as the ones my Mom made when were little. Thank you, Beth!
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Frank!
Elizabeth
These beef tacos were absolutely delicious and easy to make 😍! Perfect for a busy weeknight. Can’t wait to make them again. The kids loved them.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Elizabeth! I am glad that they liked them!
Emily
I found this delicious plant-based ground at the grocery store recently and will try making this recipe with that! I can’t wait, your seasoning mix sounds INCREDIBLE!!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Emily! Enjoy!
Michael Edgar
Great ground beef tacos. I had not had tacos like these in so long. My wife love them too and wants me to make them again next week. Thanks for the recipe.
Beth Pierce
My pleasure, Michael Edgar!
Barb R
I just made these tacos last week. They are yummy and easy to make. They are always a hit with the family!
SONIA SEIVWRIGHT
I just love the idea of setting up a taco bar so everyone can customise their tacos. The homemade taco seasoning sounds impressive and much better than store-bought packets. Thanks for sharing such a versatile and flavorful recipe!