How to Make Tacos with Ground Beef

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Ground beef tacos are a tasty recipe that makes a great meal for the whole family. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner!

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Ingredients for Easy Ground Beef Tacos
Step by Step Instructions
Topping Ideas for the Best Ground Beef Tacos
Save Money by Making Your Own Taco Seasoning
Recipe Tip
More Taco Recipes
FAQ
Storing Tacos with Ground Beef
More Mexican Food Recipes
How to Make Tacos with Ground Beef
How to Make Tacos with Ground Beef Recipe

This is the best ground beef taco recipe because it is easy to make and it tastes great! It is a no-frills recipe for the classic ground beef tacos we all love. You can top these tacos with all your favorite taco toppings, but if you are keeping it simple you can stick with iceberg lettuce, diced tomatoes, and cheddar cheese.

Ground beef is a staple for many easy, budget-friendly meals. It is simple to cook on the stove and make several affordable meals. For more easy dinner ideas prepared with ground beef, check out our post on Easy Ground Beef Recipes. There are several variations to choose from!

Ingredients for Easy Ground Beef Tacos

Keep this ground beef taco recipe to the minimum with these simple pantry staple ingredients! This ground beef mixture has all the flavor with the tender beef that tastes so good in the hard-shell tacos. It is the best combination for a taco Tuesday meal!

Ground Beef – The main component of this ground beef tacos recipe, as you might imagine, is ground beef. I like to use lean ground beef. You can also use ground turkey or a plant-based meat substitute like Impossible Beef or Beyond Beef.
Taco Seasoning – I usually opt for homemade taco seasoning, but you can absolutely use store-bought taco seasoning packets. Our Homemade Taco Seasoning recipe is made with chili powder, cumin, cornstarch, kosher salt, black pepper, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and dried oregano, and you can also add crushed red pepper flakes for more spice.
Water – The water mixes with the cornstarch in the taco seasoning to create a delicious sauce to coat the ground beef. You can also use beef broth or chicken broth for extra flavor.
Taco Shells – You can use crunchy corn tortillas or shells or you can use soft flour tortillas. You can also use green leaf lettuce as a low-carb tortilla shell!

Step by Step Instructions

Making tacos with ground beef is an easy process and can be done in a few simple steps! Simply cook the ground beef, add the special seasoning, and assemble the tacos just the way you like them. We like to start with beef, cheese, and then toppings that you love!

Make seasoning – Mix taco seasoning ingredients together. This makes about ½ cup of seasoning. You will only use 3 tablespoons of the mix and you can save the rest for later. It has a shelf life of about a year.
Brown beef – In a large skillet, brown the ground beef using a wooden spoon. Drain off excess grease.
Cook – Add 3 tablespoons of taco seasoning and 2/3 cup water. Stir to combine and simmer for 5 minutes.
Assemble – Add ground beef to taco shells. Top with your favorite taco toppings and serve.

Topping Ideas for the Best Ground Beef Tacos

Once you have your shells and your meat, it is time to get creative with toppings! The variations and toppings can vary per person. It is always fun to see what everyone likes on their tacos! Let us know what your favorite taco toppings are in the comments below.

Lettuce – Top with all the greens using shredded lettuce or cabbage mixture.
Cheese – Choose your favorite shredded cheese sprinkled over top. Cheddar, Monterey jack, or Mexican blend are a few of our favorites.
Veggies – Diced onion, diced bell peppers, or fresh corn add a variety of freshness and color.
Tomato – Dice fresh tomatoes for a refreshing bite and adds color to the ground beef too!
Avocado – Slice your avocado or smash it! Cut into chunks or make it into guacamole.
Sour Cream – Cool it down with a dollop of sour cream on top.
Beans – Black beans, pinto, or refried beans are a great add-in for protein.
Garnish – Chop cilantro and add it to the top of the tacos.
Spicy – Jalapeños, hot salsa, pico de gallo, or sriracha sauce are always a great way to spice up your taco.

Save Money by Making Your Own Taco Seasoning

I know it might not seem like the taco seasoning packets you buy in stores are very expensive, but with the number of tacos our family consumes, it really adds up. I can make an entire batch of this homemade taco seasoning for pennies on the dollar when compared with the store packets.

Not only is this mix less expensive than buying a packet of taco seasoning at the grocery store, but it also tastes better too. Plus, since you are the one making it, you know exactly what the ingredients in it are.

Recipe Tip

To drain excess grease from the pan, place a colander in the sink and pour the meat into the colander. Do not rinse the meat. If you rinse the meat, then it will lose some of its flavor. After draining, pour the meat back into the pan.

More Taco Recipes

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Grilled Chicken Tacos with Bacon – Grilled Chicken Tacos with Bacon are a delicious fusion of two of our favorite Summer dishes. The bacon crunch in each bite also takes chicken tacos to a new level!
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Chipotle’s Crispy Chicken Tacos – Chipotle tacos are perhaps one of the most craveable foods on this planet! Whether you have been to Chipotle or not, now you can enjoy Chipotle’s Crispy Tacos whenever you want.

Beef

Walking Tacos – Walking Tacos, Tacos in a Bag, Locos, Walking Tacos, Tacos in a Bag, Locos Tacos – whatever you call them, they’re the best meal for camping, reunions, and block parties. Also, walking tacos are cheap and tasty, with the easiest clean-up ever—no plates required!
Birria Tacos – Birria tacos (also known as quesabirria tacos) are a traditional Mexican dish that are all the rage right now. After just one bite of these savory tacos you will see why!
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Halibut Tacos – Halibut Tacos, with flaky halibut fish on a corn tortilla topped with crunchy cabbage, cilantro dressing, and also a squirt of lime, make a healthy and flavorful dish!
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Easy Fish Tacos – These Easy Fish Tacos are fantastic! Make these for a great weeknight meal when you don’t have a whole lot of time to prepare dinner. The entire family will love them.

Other

Breakfast Tacos – These tex-mex style breakfast tacos are filled with sausage, bacon and eggs and perfect for breakfast, brunch, or even dinner!
Sweet Potato Tacos – These Sweet Potato Tacos taste so yummy and they couldn’t be easier to make. You will love the black bean filling and the fresh, flavorful toppings.
Kalua Pork Tacos – These Kalua Pork Tacos with Fresh Mango Salsa are loaded with juicy smokey flavored shredded pork and topped with fresh mango and avocado.
Black Bean Tacos – These crispy Black Bean Tacos are an easy weeknight dinner that your whole family will love. They taste amazing dipped in salsa or guacamole.

“I love this recipe! My family can’t get enough of it because it tastes great! Highly recommended!”
-Journa

FAQ

Do I add water to ground beef for tacos?

For this recipe, we added a little bit of water. This helps balance out the sodium and flavors from the beef.

What ground beef is best for tacos?

Lean ground beef (93% lean) is best for tacos because the meat won’t be too greasy.

Can you freeze taco meat?

Yes! After cooking, place the meat into an airtight container or freezer bag. Store in the freezer for up to 6 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before using.

Can I use this taco meat for taco salads?

Yes! This beef tastes great in a taco salad! Skip the hard shell taco and add lettuce as your base with all the toppings on top and mix together.

Storing Tacos with Ground Beef

It is best to store the beef separately from the hard-shell tacos. Place the leftover beef in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for four to five days long. When ready to reheat, place in the microwave or on the stove top at medium heat until it is warmed through.

More Mexican Food Recipes

These Mexican recipes are the best way to enjoy a good savory dish at home! Skip the restaurant and make your own complete meal. These dishes are quick and easy to make with all the Mexican flavors!