Ground Beef Tacos Recipe

Overhead view of five ground beef tacos on a platter with a bowl of pico de gallo and lime wedges.

These Ground Beef Tacos are a simple yet delicious meal. They feature seasoned beef, customizable toppings, and the option for homemade crispy taco shells. Perfect for Taco Tuesday or an easy dinner!

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mexican

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Total Time 20

Servings servings (8 tacos)

Calories 524kcal

Author John Kanell

Equipment

Large skillet

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef (450g)
¾ cup tomato sauce (180mL)
2½ teaspoons chili powder
1½ teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon onion powder
8 corn or flour tortillas (see Notes for crispy shells)

Toppings of Choice

Pico de gallo
Shredded Mexican cheese blend
Shredded lettuce
Chopped cilantro
Sour cream

Instructions

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef. Cook, stirring to break beef into small crumbles, until browned, about 8 minutes. Drain off any excess fat from the skillet, if necessary.
Add the tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, salt, oregano, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Bring to a simmer over medium. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook, stirring often, until the sauce is thickened and the beef is well coated, about 2 minutes.
To assemble, spoon about ⅓ cup of the seasoned ground beef onto each warm tortilla. Serve with desired toppings.

Notes

Don’t overcrowd the skillet. When browning the ground beef, use a large enough skillet to ensure it isn’t overcrowded. This will help the meat brown and not steam, developing richer, more flavorful taco meat. If necessary, cook in batches to achieve a nice sear and prevent steaming, which can cause the meat to become gray and soggy.
Warm the tortillas. For the best ground beef tacos, warm the tortillas before assembling the fillings on a hot skillet, in the oven, or by microwaving them wrapped in a damp paper towel for 15 to 30 seconds. This step makes the tortillas more pliable and delicious.
Make extra for leftovers. Double the recipe and store any leftover taco meat for quick meals throughout the week. It’s perfect for taco salads, burrito bowls, or nachos!

Nutrition