Tacos make dinner easy and quick, with beef tacos ready in just 15 minutes using minimal ingredients. This versatile recipe allows for customization—use lettuce wraps for a low-carb option or add black beans for extra plant-based protein. Perfect for a weeknight meal!
Ingredients for Beef Tacos
- Ground beef: For the best taste results, use 90% lean ground beef or less. Taco meat that is leaner than 90% will likely have a too-dry texture.
- Onion and garlic: Finely chopped onion and minced garlic are added to give the taco meat an extra aromatic flavor.
- Homemade taco seasoning: This recipe calls for a homemade taco seasoning mixed together with chili powder, ground cumin, salt, paprika, pepper, dried oregano and crushed red pepper flakes
- Taco shells: Either hard shells or soft shells work with these beef tacos. You choose!
- Toppings: Grab any toppings you desire, like shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, sliced green onions and shredded cheddar cheese. Feel free to make a homemade salsa.
Directions
Step 1: Cook the beef
In a large skillet, cook the ground beef, onion and garlic over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink. Drain the excess fat.
Step 2: Mix in the seasoning
Stir in the water and seasonings. Bring the meat mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and leave it uncovered for 5 to 10 minutes to thicken up.
Step 3: Serve tacos
Spoon the beef mixture into taco shells and serve with the toppings of your choice.
Editor’s tip: Heat up the tortillas before you serve them! This actually ensures that they won’t fall apart when you take that first bite.
Recipe Variations
- Toss in black beans: To make this meal even heartier, toss in a drained can of black beans with the beef mixture. You’ll get even more servings of tacos out of this!
- Serve on lettuce wraps: Trying to keep your carb count low? Serve these tacos in large leaves of lettuce as your shells instead, like Boston bib lettuce or romaine hearts.
- Use the taco meat for anything: While this recipe makes meat specifically for beef tacos you could also use it for other Mexican-inspired recipes, like cheesy quesadillas or sprinkled on top of sheet pan baked nachos.
How to Store Beef Tacos
The best way to store ground beef tacos is to separate the meat from other toppings and to place it in an airtight container. The cooked meat will last in the fridge for three to four days.
How do you reheat beef tacos?
You can either heat up the taco meat on medium heat over the skillet or in the microwave. Feel free to sprinkle in a little more seasoning and water to thicken up the meat again.
Can you freeze beef tacos?
Yes, the meat for this beef tacos recipe can easily freeze. Seal the cooked meat in an air-tight sealed gallon-sized bag and freeze for up to three months. You can thaw the meat quickly by sticking the bag in a bowl of tap water until the meat is no longer frozen and ready to heat up.
Beef Tacos Tips
How much taco meat do you need per person?
This will all depend on the size of the tortilla, but typically around a 1/4 cup of taco meat should suffice for a single taco with an average 6-inch tortilla. Feel free to add in less meat if you plan on adding a lot of toppings.
Can you use store bought taco seasoning for these beef tacos?
Yes! If you have a store bought taco seasoning, this recipe will also work well. Use a single packet or if you have a large container of seasoning, use 3 tablespoons of the seasoning instead.
What kind of beef should I use for beef tacos?
Beef with a higher fat percentage will result in better tasting taco; we recommend using 90% or less. The texture of the taco meat might come out too dry if you use a higher lean beef with less fat.
