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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Chris
I have tried quite a few different homemade taco seasonings and this is one of our families favorites so far. Thanks for sharing, this recipe is a keeper.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Chris, So glad that you like the taco seasoning!
Janessa
Nothing beats simple ground beef tacos for dinner and these did not disappoint!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Janessa!
Dana Sandonato
These are so delicious! We’ve made them for our weekly Taco Tuesday several times and they always deliver.
Blair Villanueva
I love a good taco and these are one of my favorites. So easy to make at home and they taste so much better than any restaurant I have been to. Thanks for the recipe.
Fransic verso
Well, I’ve never made taco seasoning before but good to know that it’s simple. This recipe look so yummy.
Nicole Bertrand
We just had these last night! Delicious way to celebrate taco tuesday!
Beth Pierce
Yes, indeed! So glad you enjoyed them.
Molly
We just had tacos last night! Excited to try some of these additional accoutrements next time!
heather
Yum! We eat tacos 2-3 times a month. I prefer ground beef but occasionally we use ground turkey as well.
Luna S
I am always down for tacos! I could have them pretty much every night, I love the variety of toppings you can put on them. These look fantastic.
Kelly Bolen
These look amazing! But then again, all tacos look good to me! LOL I will have to pin this for later! Yummy!
Monidipa
I love your recipes but as I’m not a beef person, can I add mutton to it?
Beth Pierce
Sure! Enjoy!
Gervin Khan
Wow! This taco recipe is absolutely delicious. I made them again for Taco Tuesday. I totally love them!
Debbie
A fabulous recipe with very great instructions. My husband loved these and he’s a huge fan of ground beef tacos. Thanks for sharing!
Marysa
I love how easy these are to make! Perfect for a Taco Tuesday night! I am going to add them to our regular rotation!
Yeah Lifestyle
This looks delicious and you have given me dinner inspiration now, I know what to make as I am sure my husband and kids would love eating beef tacos
Beth Pierce
Thanks! Enjoy!!
Mrs. Cherry
Yummy! These look so good. I need to make these!