5.0 from 3 votes
Spiced Taco Beef with Beans and Quinoa
My simple and easily customizable recipe for stretching spiced taco beef with nourishing pantry staples.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
32 mins
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 193 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Mexican
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb organic lean ground beef
- 1 small onion finely diced
- 1 oz can black beans drained and rinsed
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups cooked quinoa
- 1 lime
- 1/4 cup minced cilantro stems
Instructions
- Preheat a large cast iron skillet and add the olive oil. Sear the beef over high heat, breaking the meat apart with a wooden spoon, for about five minutes or until the meat is grey and crumbed apart. Drain off excess fat or liquid.
- Add the onion. Cook over medium low heat for another five minutes until onions are soft. Add the beans to the beef.
- Sprinkle in the garlic, cumin, chili powder, oregano, salt and pepper to the pan. Stir to combine. Cook the taco meat for five minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in the cooked quinoa to the beef and bean mix. Zest a lime over the top, then cut in half and juice the lime into the pan. Sprinkle over the chopped cilantro stems and stir everything together.
- Cook the taco filling on low for another few minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings accordingly. You may wish to add more salt or chili powder.
- Serve at once with taco fixings. Alternately, cool completely, transfer to an airtight container and freeze for up to three months.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- I make this taco seasoning medium spiced for our family but you can spice them up (or down) as much as you like with additional chili powder or crushed red chilies.
- You can use cilantro leaves, too. But I usually serve the leaves as a taco garnish and chop up the stems to soften in the taco meat. Zero waste!
Nutrition Information
Calories
193kcal
(10%)
Carbohydrates
13g
(4%)
Protein
19g
(38%)
Fat
7g
(11%)
Saturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
4g
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
47mg
(16%)
Sodium
448mg
(19%)
Potassium
397mg
(11%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
1g
(2%)
Vitamin A
161IU
(3%)
Vitamin C
5mg
(6%)
Calcium
32mg
(3%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 193
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 193kcal | 10% |
| Carbohydrates | 13g | 4% |
| Protein | 19g | 38% |
| Fat | 7g | 11% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 47mg | 16% |
| Sodium | 448mg | 19% |
| Potassium | 397mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 161IU | 3% |
| Vitamin C | 5mg | 6% |
| Calcium | 32mg | 3% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.