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Classic Ground Beef Tacos

Four fully loaded, crispy shell beef tacos topped with lettuce, shredded cheese, and diced tomatoes.
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Make easy, flavorful ground beef tacos with a homemade seasoning blend for your next weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

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  • 1.5 lb ground beef (80/20 recommended)
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 cup water or low-sodium beef broth
  • 1/4 cup tomato sauce (optional, for richer coating)
  • Taco shells (hard or soft)
  • Shredded lettuce
  • Diced tomatoes
  • Shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
  • Salsa or sour cream for topping

Instructions

  1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 4 minutes.
  2. Add the ground beef to the skillet. Break the meat apart with a spoon and cook until browned completely.
  3. Drain off any excess grease from the skillet.
  4. Add the minced garlic to the beef and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  5. Stir in the chili powder, cumin, oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly to toast the spices.
  6. Pour in the water (or broth) and the tomato sauce, if using. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
  7. Reduce the heat to low and let the meat simmer uncovered for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated and the meat is well coated with the seasoning. This creates your savory taco meat.
  8. Warm your taco shells according to package directions.
  9. Serve the seasoned beef immediately in the shells with your desired toppings.

Notes

  • For crispy beef tacos, bake hard shells at 350°F for 5 minutes before filling.
  • You can substitute the water/broth with 1/2 cup of low-sodium beef broth for deeper flavor.
  • This recipe makes enough seasoning for about 1.5 lbs of meat, avoiding the need for a pre-made taco seasoning mix.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://kitchenslang.com/beef-tacos-savory-taco-meat-recipe/