0 from 570 votes
Best Ground Beef Taco Recipe
The absolute BEST ground beef Tacos! An easy to make homemade taco seasoning and a secret ingredient that makes this the most flavorful and juiciest taco meat EVER! The perfect family weeknight meal that can be ready in less than 30 minutes!
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
22 mins
Servings: 4
Course:
Dinner
Cuisine:
Tex-Mex
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef 70-80% lean*
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ tsp cumin
- ½ tsp dried Mexican oregano
- ¼ tsp granulated garlic
- ¼ tsp granulated onion
- ½ cup tomato sauce
Taco Shells
- 8 white corn tortillas
- ½ cup oil avocado or vegetable
Instructions
- Cook Ground Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef. Break the beef up with a wooden spoon while cooking. Cook the ground beef fully, until browned and no longer pink.
- Drain: Drain any excess grease from the skillet. Then return to the stove and reduce the heat to low.
- Season: Add the 1/2 cup tomato sauce and taco seasoning. Stir together until the meat is coated in the sauce.
- Simmer: Allow to simmer for 5 minutes.
- Fry Tortillas: Pour 1/2 cup oil in a medium size skillet, heat over medium high heat. Carefully dip a tortilla, if the oil sizzles and bubbles then it's hot enough. Gently lay the tortilla in the oil and fry each side for about 30 seconds, just enough to give some color and add some crispness.
- Shape Tortillas: Remove the tortilla to a paper towel to absorb oil, and carefully fold the tortilla over to create a taco shape. I do this with my tongs, or two forks, whatever I'm using to lay the tortillas in the oil and remove them.
- Toppings: Fill the tortillas with the ground beef taco meat and add desired toppings
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Ground Beef: Using 80/20 ground beef, this keeps the meat flavorful, but not greasy.
- Ground Beef Substitution: instead of ground beef use ground chicken or turkey.
- Extra Veggies: looking to add some more veggies? Chop up some peppers, zucchini, and carrots to sauté with the meat while it cooks.
- Control the Heat: if you are wanting to add more heat to this recipe sprinkle some crushed red pepper into the seasoning blend according to your preference.
- Tortillas: Taco shells shown are white corn tortillas that have been fried in canola oil.
- Topping ideas: shredded mild cheese, shredded lettuce, sliced grape tomatoes, diced cilantro, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, jalapeños, and onion.
- How much meat per person? Plan on using 1 lb per 4 people. This is approximately 2 tablespoons of meat per taco.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1
Calories
152kcal
(8%)
Carbohydrates
2g
(1%)
Protein
10g
(20%)
Fat
12g
(18%)
Saturated Fat
4g
(20%)
Cholesterol
40mg
(13%)
Sodium
280mg
(12%)
Potassium
223mg
(6%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
1g
(2%)
Vitamin A
363IU
(7%)
Vitamin C
1mg
(1%)
Calcium
17mg
(2%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 | |
| Calories | 152kcal | 8% |
| Carbohydrates | 2g | 1% |
| Protein | 10g | 20% |
| Fat | 12g | 18% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Cholesterol | 40mg | 13% |
| Sodium | 280mg | 12% |
| Potassium | 223mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 363IU | 7% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 17mg | 2% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.