Ground Beef Tacos are the perfect dish for easy weeknight dinners. Not only is this quick taco recipe delicious, but it also makes use of spices you probably already have!
Why Make This Ground Beef Taco Meat Recipe?
Quick and easy: this meal can be ready on the table in under 30 minutes, making this a perfect family weeknight meal.
Homemade seasoning blend: skip the packets and make your own seasoning! This allows you to control the salt and heat to suit your family’s needs.
Family Friendly & Perfect for Gatherings: cook up the meat and serve this buffet style so guests/kids can get the toppings they want!
Quick Beef Tacos
Traditional Mexican tacos are one of my all-time favorite foods and the thing I search out the minute I land in Mexico! When I’m home, though, we make ground beef tacos instead of my usual fillings of carnitas or salsa-roast chicken.
Budget-friendly tacos are a great option for meals. One pound of ground beef is sufficient for a family of four or five.
How much Ground Beef should I Use for Tacos per Person?
Given that each taco shell can hold a maximum of 2 ounces of filling (equal to 4 tablespoons or ¼ of a cup), a single pound can yield up to 8 tacos. You could stretch a pound of taco meat even further by adding diced onion, cilantro, tomato, rice, beans, or other fillings.
Notes on Some Ingredients:
Ground Beef: The best meat to use for taco meat is simple ground beef, 70-80% lean. We can drain the grease before serving and the fat will contribute to the flavor of the meat.
Tomato Sauce: grab any kind of canned, pureed tomato sauce. Alternatively, you could substitute a thick salsa if you prefer more heat.
Oil: this is used for frying up the tortillas. Use either canola or vegetable oil.
Tortillas: white corn tortillas fry up perfectly to make a crisp taco shell. If you would rather, you could use flour tortillas and avoid frying them. I would advise using 6-inch-long tortillas.
How to Make Tacos?
Tacos with ground beef are incredibly easy to make, especially if you prepare the taco seasoning ahead of time. Making tacos really is as simple as 1, 2, 3.!
Brown Beef: Over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef with the optional addition of diced onion and garlic. I like to use lean (but not extra lean) beef (85/15) to get a bit of flavor from the fat. Before incorporating seasonings, remove any fat.
Add Seasoning: Thicken the mixture by simmering it with tomato paste, water, and taco seasonings. The sauce can coat each piece of meat because the water rehydrates the spices.
Heat Taco Shells: Soft shells can be cooked in either the oven or the microwave, while hard shells should be baked (to make them crisp and warm).
A delicious taco salad can be made by placing this over a bed of lettuce.
What is the Best Ground Beef for Tacos?
You can also use 80% lean ground beef, but you’ll have a lot more fat to drain off at the end of the cooking process.
Taco filling should begin as soon as your meat is cooked. Although I usually use hard shells, soft flour tortillas also work well.
Tips for Making Ground Beef Tacos
- The taco meat should not become dry when the sauce is added. Once the beef is done, you want to simmer it with the liquid, seasoning, and liquid just long enough for the sauce to start thickening. It should not dry out, so keep an eye on it.
- Before layering the ground beef on top of the tortillas, reheat them. They can be heated for one to two minutes on each side in the microwave, the oven, or a skillet. This makes the tortillas soft, pliable, and much less likely to break.
- To make the mixture more savory, add onions. Before adding the ground beef, you should cook the onions until they are tender. Although it is entirely optional, it gives the taco meat a richer flavor. Another quick and easy update is to add onion powder.
FAQs
What is the Best Ground Beef for Tacos?
For the best flavor and consistency in tacos, I like to use 90% lean ground beef. It might be too dry if it’s any leaner. If you choose to use a less lean variety, remember to drain the fat after cooking the ground beef and before adding the seasoning.
How Can Make the Tacos Low Carb?
The actual ground beef taco meat is low-carb, so you can use low-carb tortillas or skip the tortillas altogether and serve it as a taco salad or in a taco bowl.
How Much Taco Meat Do You Need Per Person?
You can use about 2 to 3 tablespoons of taco meat per taco when using a conventional 6-inch tortilla or conventional-size hard taco shell. That means that one pound of beef could serve between 8 and 12 people, depending on how heavily you stuff the ground beef tacos with additional ingredients.
How Do You Make the Best Tacos?
Building The Perfect Taco
The shell. The shell must be chosen as the first step in creating the ideal taco. Soft or hard.
Protein. beef, pork, chicken, or shrimp. …
Cheese.
A good taco cheese addition may be essential.
Do you like sour cream? Add your desired toppings. ..
Include vegetables in your meal. Add the vegetables and salsas last.
Conclusion
Beef taco is easy to attempt and you can find happiness in cooking a meal! Hope these tips will help you as much as possible.
