One of the easiest recipes with the most delicious results is this yummy ground beef taco recipe. You will never go back to a box of seasoning and water again, trust me!
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❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- Homemade beef tacos are ready in less than 30 minutes and no preservatives are added.
- The beef tacos is made in a skillet and can make nachos, tacos, and quesadillas.
Ingredients
- homemade taco seasonings
- or use the following spices: chili powder
- ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- garlic powder
- smoked paprika
- salt
- ground black pepper
- ground white pepper
- cayenne pepper
- olive oil
- white onion
- garlic
- ground beef
- fire-roasted tomatoes with green chiles
- Mexican blended cheese
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Equipment
Instructions
This is an overview of the recipe. The full instructions are below in the recipe card.
Taco Seasoning:
In a medium-sized bowl, stir and combine chili powder, ground cumin, ground coriander, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, ground black pepper, ground white pepper, and cayenne pepper. Transfer to an airtight container. Set aside.
Beef Taco Meat
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil. Add diced onion and garlic. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Stir to combine and sauté, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens and develops some color, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- To the skillet, add beef, cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat. Carefully drain and discard excess fat from skillet.
- Add taco seasoning, fire-roasted tomatoes, and green chilis to the skillet. Stir to combine. Saute, stir frequently until tomatoes are heated through and the beef mixture is thoroughly coated in the taco seasoning, approximately 2-3 minutes. Taste and if needed, add additional taco seasoning.
- Remove the skillet from heat and top with shredded cheese. Cover the pan with a lid for 1-2 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
- Serve immediately and garnish as desired.
Storage
Leftover beef can be kept in a covered airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freezer Instructions:
The beef taco meat freezes very well and is great for meal planning. Make a large batch and freeze the meat in one-pound freezer-safe bags. Make the bags as flat as possible for easy freezer storage.
Expert Tips
Expert Tip: Use lean meat and be sure to drain off and discard excess grease for flavorful results.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best ground beef for tacos is best to use somewhere between 80 to 85 perfect fat ratio.
Fat adds flavor but for optimum flavor, drain off excess grease before adding the taco seasoning.
As you make the beef tacos, they cook quickly but if you find they are dry, add a bit of water or stock to ensure the meat is moist.
Place paper towels in a colander over a large pot and place the ground beef in the paper towel lined colander. The grease will drain through into the large bowl and then discard the grease.
Variations
- Make these a one skillet meal by adding in black beans, corn, and tortilla strips. If you are gluten-free, use gluten-free tortilla strips or chips.
- Use ground turkey or chicken, both would be delicious.
- Use roasted tomatillo salsa for a nice salsa verde.
- Depending on the season, leftover corn on the cob would be delicious added to the taco meat.
Serving Suggestions
Serve with Pico de Gallo, a fresh tomato salsa.
Homemade Guacamole is a delicious topping.
Instant Pot Queso is a great cheesy dip that can be served alongside beef tacos.
Similar recipes
Mexican Shredded Beef is a big hit with everyone.
Shredded Beef Tacos are delicious and another fun taco recipe.
Instant Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup is quick and delicious.
Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup is another winner of a soup recipe.
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Eileen xo
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Skillet Beef Tacos
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases
Equipment Needed:
- As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Ingredients
Taco Seasoning
- 2 Tablespoons chili powder
- 1 Tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground white pepper
- ¼ - ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper adjust depending on your spice level
Beef Taco Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium white onion, peeled and diced
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
- salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef
- 2 Tablespoons taco seasoning, above recipe
- 10 ounce can, fire-roasted tomatoes with green chiles, drained
- 4 ounces shredded Mexican blended cheese
Serving Suggestions
- Taco shells or lettuce wraps
- shredded lettuce
- chopped tomatoes
- salsa
- shredded cheese
Instructions
Taco Seasoning
- In a medium-sized bowl, stir and combine chili powder, ground cumin, ground coriander, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, ground black pepper, ground white pepper, and cayenne pepper. Transfer to an airtight container. Set aside.
Beef Taco Meat
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil. Add diced onion and garlic. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Stir to combine and sauté, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens and develops some color, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- To the skillet, add beef, cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat. Carefully drain and discard excess fat from skillet.
- Add taco seasoning, fire-roasted tomatoes, and green chilis to the skillet. Stir to combine. Saute, stir frequently until tomatoes are heated through and the beef mixture is thoroughly coated in the taco seasoning, approximately 2-3 minutes. Taste and if needed, add additional taco seasoning.
- Remove the skillet from heat and top with shredded cheese. Cover the pan with a lid for 1-2 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
- Serve immediately and garnish as desired.
