Go Back
Tacos with ground Beef

Tacos with Ground Beef

Classic ground beef tacos with a saucy, well-seasoned filling and all your favorite toppings, ready in under 30 minutes.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ground Beef Taco Filling
  • 1 tbsp olive oil (optional)
  • 1 small onion, finely diced
  • 3 3 cloves garlic, grated or minced
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup tomato sauce (or crushed tomatoes)
  • 1/3 cup broth (or water)
  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • cayenne or red pepper flakes, optional
  • 1 to 2 tsp lime juice, optional
For Serving
  • tortillas or taco shells
  • lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, salsa, sour cream, avocado, cilantro, lime

Method
 

  1. Sauté aromatics. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil if using. Cook onion 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
  2. Brown the beef. Add ground beef and cook 5 to 6 minutes, breaking it up, until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
  3. Build flavor. Stir in tomato paste and cook 1 minute. Add chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, pepper, and optional cayenne. Stir 30 seconds to bloom the spices.
  4. Simmer. Add tomato sauce and broth. Simmer 3 to 5 minutes until saucy and thickened. Taste and adjust salt/spice. Stir in lime juice if using.
  5. Warm tortillas. Warm tortillas in a dry skillet or microwave wrapped in a damp towel.
  6. Assemble. Fill tortillas with beef and add toppings. Serve right away.

Notes

  • If using very lean beef, add the olive oil so the spices bloom properly and the filling stays juicy.
  • For meal prep, store filling up to 4 days in the fridge. Reheat with a splash of water or broth.