Ground Beef Tacos (One Pot)
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The best, quick and easy ground beef tacos recipe, homemade with simple ingredients in one pot over stovetop in 30 minutes. Loaded with Mexican taco seasoning. Also known as taco meat.
Today’s recipe is a go-to meal for weeknights or Taco Tuesday and even game day. Add them to the menu, along with these Shredded Chicken Tacos (One Pot) and these Shredded Turkey Tacos (With Thanksgiving Leftovers).
How to make ground beef tacos?
- Brown beef– Do this until it’s no longer pink and drain fat.
- Add seasoning and vegetables- This includes onions, tomato paste, taco seasoning, salt, pepper, water. Mix.
- Cook – Until beef is tender and liquid is reduced.
- Enjoy- Spoon mixture in taco shells, add toppings of your choice and dig in!
What sides to serve with best ground beef taco recipe?
Its typically served on its own as a meal. However, to make it more hearty and filling, serve it alongside a salad such as Mexican Corn Salad (One Bowl) or Tomato Avocado Salad (One Bowl). Another option would be Mexican Corn on the Cob (One Pan).
Soups make a lovely side dish. Try these: Instant Pot Mexican Soup or Instant Pot Chicken Enchilada Soup or Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup (One Pot).
Homemade ground beef taco seasoning
Homemade or store-bought seasoning can be used. To make DIY homemade taco seasoning for ground beef, mix together the following spices:
- 1 tbsp Chili powder
- 1 tsp Cumin powder
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Onion powder
- 1/2 tsp Oregano
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Black pepper
- 1/4 tsp Red chili flakes
You can adjust the quantities of individual spices, based on your preference.
Taco toppings
Sour cream– Full fat is best.
Lettuce– Roughly chopped.
Guacamole– Homemade or store-bought.
Sliced avocados– Make sure they are ripe.
Tomatoes– Finely chopped.
Onions- Finely chopped red onions are amazing!
Salsa– Such as Corn Salsa (One Bowl) or Mango Salsa (One Bowl) or Pineapple Salsa (One Bowl) or Pico De Gallo Salsa (One Bowl) or even Strawberry Salsa (One Bowl) or Salsa Verde (One Bowl) or Cranberry Salsa (One Bowl).
Jalapenos– Finely chopped fresh ones or pickled jalapenos can be used.
Cheese– Shredded Mexican cheese blend is amazing.
Rice– To make it more filling, stuff tacos with Cilantro Lime Rice (One Pot) or Pineapple Rice (One Pot).
Vegetables– Vegetable Fajitas (One Pot) are a great addition.
Cilantro– Finely chopped.
Lemon or Limes– A drizzle of fresh lemon or lime juice on top adds a nice tangy flavor.
Beans– Black beans and/or red beans. If you are using canned beans, be sure to drain and rinse them. You can also use refried beans.
Variations
Use ground chicken– It’s a healthier alternative to ground beef. The method/ instructions will remain the same.
Soft tacos vs. Hard tacos– Either can be used. I like the crunch of hard taco shells and it also holds the filling more securely than a soft corn or flour tortilla.
Use in burritos, sandwiches, enchiladas, casseroles, dips, soup- This taco meat works great in all of those recipes.
Add broth instead of water- It will add more flavor but make sure that it’s low sodium.
Tips and Techniques
What is the best ground beef for tacos? Simple ground beef that’s 70-80% lean is best. The rule of thumb is that higher the percentage of fat, the more flavor there will be in the final dish, plus, the meat won’t dry easily either.
Drain fat- This is important because it prevents the meat from becoming too greasy. If you are worried about loosing flavor, only drain half the fat.
Brown meat- This is important because it adds another layer of flavor.
Use nonstick pot or pan– Because that prevents the meat from burning and sticking to the pan.
Tomato paste substitute– Diced or canned tomatoes can be used.
How much beef do you need for tacos? How much ground beef per person for tacos? Consider an average of 2 tacos per person, when planning a party. You will use about 3-4 tbsp cooked meat per shell. Thus, 1 pound ground beef can make up to 8-10 tacos.
Make ahead instructions- Make the ground beef and prepare all the toppings a day in advance. Store them in sealed container in the fridge until you are ready to assemble tacos and enjoy them.
Adjust amount of seasoning– Use more or less, based on your preference.
Make a bigger batch- Double or triple the quantities of all the ingredients to serve a crowd.
More One Pot Mexican Recipes
One Pot Ground Beef Tacos
Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground beef
- 1/4 cup Onions, Finely chopped
- 2 tbsp Tomato paste
- 3 tbsp Taco seasoning
- Salt, To taste
- Pepper, To taste
- 2/3 cup Water
- 8 Hard taco shells
- Toppings, Lettuce, cheese, onions, tomatoes, salsa, guacamole e.t.c.
Instructions
- Brown ground beef over medium-high heat in a nonstick pot or pan until no longer pink.
- Drain fat.
- Add onions, tomato paste, taco seasoning, salt, pepper, water and mix until combined.
- Reduce heat to Low and cook uncovered until beef is tender and excess liquid is reduced and meat mixture is thickened to your desired consistency.
- Spoon mixture in taco shells and add toppings of your choice.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Read all my tips above.
- Leftover meat can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheated in the microwave. Don’t store prepared tacos in fridge because the hard shells will become soggy.Â
Nutrition
Happy cooking everyone!
