Ground Beef Tacos

Ground beef tacos are easy to make and perfect for feeding a crowd. While we prefer authenticity around here, this recipe strays from traditional tacos to reflect the American taco nights of my childhood.

To keep groceries affordable, my family rotated a few recipes growing up – and not much else. A dish I always looked forward to my mom making was ground beef tacos. They are simple, tasty, and not at all authentic. I must have passed this joy onto my son because this is his most requested meal. He is actually the reason I decided to post it. “Mama, people need to know how to make this meal so they can feed it to their kids,” he said to me while stuffing his mouth with another taco. You got it, kid, you got it!

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS RECIPE

• Warmed Corn Tortillas: Corn tortillas are the key to a great taco. Check out my tips for How to Prepare Corn Tortillas.
• Avocado Oil: Avocado oil sautés the onion and flavors the ground beef mixture.
• Onion: Onion infuses with ground beef, garlic, tomato, and taco seasoning for maximum flavor.
• Ground Beef: I use 80/20 lean ground beef; if you choose to use beef with a higher fat content, be sure to drain the excess oil after the meat cooks. Failing to do so will result in greasy tacos and no one wants that.
• Garlic: I suggest using two cloves, but don’t let my recipe tell you how much garlic to use – go for it.
• Cilantro: Cilantro brightens the beef mixture.
• Taco Seasoning: Taco seasoning is a tasty combination of chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, salt, and cayenne powder. I use our homemade taco seasoning to flavor the tacos, but for transparency’s sake, I have to mention my mom’s tried and true store-bought spice blend, Ortega’s Taco Seasoning. This is the bran I reach for when I’m in a hurry. There’s something special about a meal from childhood, even if it’s simple.
• Toppings: Taco nights are all about making tacos your way, and because of that, everyone is happy- even the pickiest of eaters! The key is in the topping bar; we use shredded cheese, sour cream, tomatoes, shredded lettuce, lime, cilantro, guacamole, and Tapatio. Now and then, we add chopped black olives, sliced jalapeños, onions, and chunky salsa or pico de gallo.

HOW TO MAKE GROUND BEEF TACOS

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SERVING SUGGESTIONS

• Mexican Rice
• Seasoned Black Beans
• Mango Salsa
• Cilantro Lime Rice
• Simple Guacamole
• Grilled Vegetables
• Corn Salsa
• Pico De Gallo or Chunky Salsa with Cilantro and Avocado

WHAT TO DO WITH THE LEFTOVERS 

• FRIDGE – Store the leftovers in an air-tight container; ground beef will keep for 3-5 days.
• FREEZE – Allow the meat to cool completely, then add it to a freezer-safe container or bag. To prevent freezer burn, layer plastic wrap over the container before securing the lid. The ground beef will freeze for up to 2 months. When you’re ready to eat, defrost it in the fridge overnight.
• REHEAT – To serve, warm it on the stove and prepare your tortillas and toppings.  
• REPURPOSE – Don’t feel like making tacos for the second night in a row? No worries, use the leftover meat to make enchiladas, nachos, sliders, quesadillas, breakfast burritos, or Mexican pizza.

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