Making Ground Beef Tacos at home is super simple! Just about 20 minutes, 1 lb of ground beef, a handful of simple seasonings and you have really delicious Homemade Ground Beef Tacos! Load them up with your favorite taco toppings – salsa, guacamole cheese, sour cream, and cilantro.
Next time, if you want to change it up from traditional ground beef tacos, check out these recipes for Barbacoa, Instant Pot Chicken Tacos, or Fish Stick Tacos.
Why This Recipe Works
- Sometimes you need an easy weeknight dinner that everyone will eat, that is why we love these tacos (and this recipe for Sloppy Joes).
- You probably have most of the seasonings right in your spice cabinet, no need to buy a pre-mixed packet!
- This taco recipe has just the right amount of salt. I find that the packaged taco seasoning can be a touch salty.
- Everything is ready in under 30 minutes!
Ingredients
Here are the things that you need to make Homemade Ground Beef Tacos. You can find most of the supplies in your spice cabinet!
What Ground Beef to Buy
I recommend going with a 85/15 ground beef to make tacos.
It will have enough fat content to make it flavorful, but not so much that your tacos are greasy.
For beef tacos, just like chili, it is ok to buy a frozen or vacuum sealed ground beef. This is not the time that you need the very best quality, like in a hamburger.
Make it Spicy
If you like your tacos a little spicier you can add one or all three of these things:
- Add one chopped up jalapeno and sauté before adding the beef to the skillet. The more seeds and white pith that you add, the hotter it will be!
- Add a dash or two of cayenne pepper to the seasoning mix.
- Go heavier on the red pepper flakes.
How To Make Ground Beef Tacos
Start with a large skillet, non stick or stainless steel will both work.
Over medium heat add the oil, once it is hot add the ground beef. Cook through while crumbling.
If there is excess grease in the pan go ahead and drain that before moving on.
Pro Tip – Drain about 90% of the grease. The additional 10% will add nice flavor to your tacos without making them greasy.
Add the tomato paste and stir so that it coats the ground beef.
Now measure in all the spices – chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper.
Stir the ground beef so it is coated with all the spices.
Finally pour in the water and simmer for a couple minutes until it combines with the spices and tomato paste and coats the ground beef.
Remove from the heat and serve.
Serving
Serve this ground beef taco meat in hard or soft shell taco or warmed corn tortillas.
Top with all your favorite taco toppings, like pico de gallo, cheese, sour cream, diced white onions, jalapenos, guacamole, avocado, etc…
Make Ahead
If you want to make this ahead for easier meal prep during the week Simply place in an airtight container for up to 5 days or a freezer safe baggie for up to 3 months.
To reheat from frozen place in the fridge overnight to thaw, then follow fridge reheating instructions.
To reheat from the fridge place in a skillet with a couple tablespoons of water and heat through. Taste for additional seasoning like salt, cumin, or chili powder.
Recipe Tips
- Use a ground meat chopper to make quick work of crumbling your ground beef. (see photo below)
- Make sure your spices are fresh… ground spices/powders last about 1-2 years, while dried herbs can last about 4 years.
- Use SMOKED paprika for a really delicious flavor. Sweet paprika and paprika will not give you the same flavor.
- Drain about 90% of the grease from the beef before adding your tomato paste and spices. Leaving too much will make your tacos greasy.
- For a spicier taco add more red pepper flakes and some cayenne pepper.
Perfect Side Dishes for Tacos
Complete your Beef Taco dinner with any of these side dishes:
Recipe FAQ’s
I recommend using an 85/15 ground beef for tacos. It is fatty enough to have great flavor, but not too fatty to leave you with greasy tacos.
Yes! If your ground beef has rendered more than a tablespoon of fat in the browning process then I highly recommend you drain that grease before adding the taco seasonings.
Start by laying down a nice helping of warm seasoned ground beef, then top with shredded cheese, sour cream, pico de gallo or salsa, guacamole or avocados, and shredded lettuce. For a little spice you can also add diced jalapeno.
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Easy Ground Beef Taco Recipe + Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef - I recommend buying 85/15
- 1 ½ tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon each: chili powder & cumin
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon each: onion powder & garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- pinch of red pepper flakes
- ⅓ cup water
Serving
- soft or hard taco shells, or warmed corn tortillas
- Toppings: cheese, sour cream, lettuce, cilantro, - homemade salsa , pico de gallo, or guacamole
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat add the olive oil. Once it is hot add the ground beef. Crumble while it browns and cooks through.Pro Tip – If you are using a non stick skillet you may not need the additional olive oil.1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 lb ground beef
- Drain excess grease. Pro Tip: drain about 90% of the grease. Leaving some behind will add to the flavor of the tacos
- Stir the tomato paste into the ground beef until it coats all the crumbles.1 ½ tablespoon tomato paste
- Add the seasonings – chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Stir to coat the ground beef.1 teaspoon each: chili powder & cumin, ½ teaspoon each: onion powder & garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika, ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, pinch of red pepper flakes
- Pour in the water and simmer for about 2 minutes.⅓ cup water
- Remove from the heat and serve.
- Serve the seasoned ground beef in soft or hard taco shells topped with all your favorite taco toppings.Excellent served with a margarita, 15 minute refried beans, and Mexican Rice or Cilantro Lime Rice.
Recipe Tips and Notes:
- Use a ground meat chopper to make quick work of crumbling your ground beef. (see photo above the recipe)
- Make sure your spices are fresh… ground spices/powders last about 1-2 years, while dried herbs can last about 4 years.
- Use SMOKED paprika for a really delicious flavor. Sweet paprika and paprika will not give you the same flavor.
- Drain about 90% of the grease from the beef before adding your tomato paste and spices. Leaving too much will make your tacos greasy.
- For a spicier taco add and sauté a jalapeno, sprinkle in more red pepper flakes and/or some cayenne pepper.
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