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Classic Ground Beef Tacos

A close-up of a delicious ground beef taco filled with seasoned ground beef, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and shredded cheese.
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Make classic American-style hard-shell ground beef tacos with homemade seasoning for your next Taco Tuesday. This recipe delivers a crowd-pleasing meal with a familiar, savory flavor.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 packet taco seasoning (or homemade: 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano, salt and pepper to taste)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 8–10 hard taco shells
  • Shredded lettuce
  • Diced tomatoes
  • Shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

  1. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off excess grease.
  2. Stir in the taco seasoning and water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened. For crispier beef, cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until the beef is slightly browned and crispy.
  3. Warm the taco shells according to package directions. Baking them for a few minutes can help prevent sogginess.
  4. Assemble your tacos: Fill each warm shell with the seasoned ground beef.
  5. Top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and shredded cheddar cheese.
  6. Serve immediately. Consider setting up a toppings bar for a fun, interactive meal.

Notes

  • To prevent soggy taco shells, serve the beef and toppings separately, allowing everyone to build their own tacos just before eating.
  • Baking the filled tacos for 3-5 minutes at 350°F (175°C) can also help crisp up the shells.
  • This recipe is a great base for meal planning.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://kitchenslang.com/ground-beef-tacos-classic-hard-shell/