Quick & Easy Ground Beef Taco Recipe: Homemade Tex-Mex Magic in 25 Minutes
Ground Beef Taco Recipe: Flavorful Tex-Mex Dinner
This ground beef taco recipe features a quick, homemade taco seasoning mix made from spice-shelf staples for a perfect weeknight taco filling any night of the week.
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Description
A classic Tex-Mex favorite, this ground beef taco recipe elevates simple ingredients—ground beef, dried minced onion, chili powder, and more—into a savory taco filling your whole family will love. Fast, frugal, and full of bold flavors.
Why You’ll Love This Weeknight Taco Filling
- Ready in under 30 minutes: Perfect for busy weeknights.
- Pantry-friendly spices: No special trips to the store.
- Customizable heat level: Add more chili or red pepper flakes to suit your taste.
Ingredients for Ground Beef Taco Recipe
- 1 lb (450 g) lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons dried minced onion
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- ⅔ cup water
- 8 small taco shells or tortillas
How to Make the Best Ground Beef Tacos
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until no longer pink, about 5–6 minutes.
- Drain excess fat, then return the beef to the pan.
- Sprinkle in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, dried minced onion, black pepper, salt, and optional red pepper flakes. Stir until the spices evenly coat the meat.
- Pour in water, stir, and bring to a gentle simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 4–5 minutes, until the sauce has thickened and clings to the beef.
- Remove from heat. Spoon the seasoned meat into taco shells or tortillas and top with shredded lettuce, diced tomato, cheese, sour cream, or your favorite garnishes.
Nutritional Information (per serving)
- Calories: 107 kcal
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 36 mg
- Sodium: 328 mg
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Sugar: 0 g
- Protein: 10 g
Tip: For a smoky twist, swap smoked paprika with ancho chili powder. Adjust salt to taste.
Enjoy this ground beef taco recipe at your next Taco Tuesday or casual dinner night!
Recipe credit: AllRecipes – Ground Beef with Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix
Ground Beef with Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix
Ingredients
Method
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until no longer pink, about 5–6 minutes.
- Drain excess fat, then return the beef to the pan.
- Sprinkle in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, dried minced onion, black pepper, salt, and optional red pepper flakes. Stir until the spices evenly coat the meat.
- Pour in water, stir, and bring to a gentle simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 4–5 minutes, until the sauce has thickened and clings to the beef.
- Remove from heat. Spoon the seasoned meat into taco shells or tortillas and top with shredded lettuce, diced tomato, cheese, sour cream, or your favorite garnishes.
