Mexican-inspired · Easy
Beef Tacos
A skillet of lightly spiced ground beef for warm tortillas, crunchy lettuce, and fresh toppings.
- Prep
- 15 mins
- Cook
- 15 mins
- Total
- 30 mins
- Servings
- 4
A little about this dish
A skillet of lightly spiced ground beef for warm tortillas, crunchy lettuce, and fresh toppings. Yes. Cook ground turkey to 165°F and add a teaspoon of oil if the skillet seems dry.
Simple Home Dish
Beef Tacos
- Prep
- 15 mins
- Cook
- 15 mins
- Total
- 30 mins
- Servings
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef (85–90% lean)
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/2 cup water
- 8 small corn or flour tortillas
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
Instructions
- Cook beef and onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 6–8 minutes, breaking the beef into small pieces. Carefully spoon off excess fat.
- Add garlic, chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and tomato paste. Stir for 1 minute.
- Add water and simmer for 4–5 minutes until saucy rather than watery. Check the beef reaches 160°F. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Warm tortillas in a dry skillet. Divide beef among them and add lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and a squeeze of lime.
Cooking tips
Chili powder blends vary in heat and salt. Start with the stated amount and taste the cooked filling before adding more.
Storage & reheating
Refrigerate beef and toppings separately within 2 hours. Use beef within 3–4 days and reheat to 165°F. Freeze beef filling for up to 2 months.
Variations
Replace half the beef with a drained 15 oz can of black beans. Stir in the beans with the water and heat through.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use ground turkey?
Yes. Cook ground turkey to 165°F and add a teaspoon of oil if the skillet seems dry.