Beef Tacos Mexican Style (Print Version)

Seasoned ground beef in your choice of tortillas with fresh toppings

# What You Need:

→ Beef Filling

01 - 1 lb ground beef
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
05 - 2 tsp chili powder
06 - 1 tsp ground cumin
07 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
08 - ½ tsp dried oregano
09 - ½ tsp salt
10 - ¼ tsp black pepper
11 - ⅓ cup water
12 - 1 tbsp olive oil

→ Taco Assembly

13 - 8 small taco shells (soft flour or crunchy corn tortillas)
14 - 1 cup iceberg lettuce, shredded
15 - 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
16 - 1 cup salsa
17 - 1 medium tomato, diced
18 - ½ cup sour cream
19 - Fresh cilantro, chopped
20 - Lime wedges

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook 2–3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
02 - Add ground beef to skillet. Cook while breaking up with spatula until browned and cooked through, about 5–7 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
03 - Stir in tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly to combine spices evenly with meat.
04 - Pour in water and simmer 2–3 minutes until mixture thickens slightly. Remove from heat.
05 - Warm taco shells according to package directions until pliable and lightly toasted.
06 - Fill each shell with generous spoonful of beef mixture. Top with shredded lettuce, cheddar cheese, salsa, diced tomato, sour cream, cilantro, and squeeze of lime. Serve immediately.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The beef filling comes together in under 20 minutes but tastes like it simmered all day
  • Everyone can customize their own tacos which makes dinner fun and stress free
  • These reheat beautifully for lunch the next day if you somehow have leftovers
02 -
  • Draining the beef after browning prevents soggy tacos but do not go overboard or you lose flavor
  • The beef mixture needs at least 2 minutes of simmering time for the spices to properly bloom
  • Warm tortillas are not optional cold shells make everything taste sad and cafeteria-like
03 -
  • Double the beef filling and freeze half for an even faster dinner next week
  • Mix a tablespoon of taco seasoning into the sour cream for an extra flavor boost
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