Easy Ground Beef Tacos (2024)

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Yumna Jawad
Updated

5 from 2157 votes

These Ground Beef Tacos are filled with juicy flavorful taco meat made with my homemade taco seasoning - it's an easy weeknight recipe for the whole family!

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Ground Beef Tacos is one of our favorite weeknight family meals, especially on Taco Tuesdays! I have a quick homemade taco seasoning that I love to use for this recipe so I can cook the taco meat in 10 minutes. Give it a try and it’ll be your new go-to for taco night too!

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Homemade taco seasoning

Making taco seasoning from scratch is super easy and can be cheaper than buying the prepared taco seasoning. Here are the spices I include in my recipe. Feel free to also add paprika, coriander, onion powder and crushed red pepper to give it some heat.

  • Chili powder
  • Cumin
  • Garlic powder
  • Mexican oregano
  • Salt and pepper

I provide suggested amounts in the recipe card below because usually there’s more of the chili powder and cumin compared to the other spices. However, feel free to adjust the quantities, or use your favorite prepared taco seasoning.

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How do you make ground beef taco meat

  1. Place the ground beef in a skillet with olive oil.
  2. Brown the beef with olive oiland then drain any fat.
  3. Add the spices along with the tomato paste and water (or tomato sauce)
  4. Bring the mixture to a simmer and then cook for a few more minutes until the sauce thickens.
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And the end result is flavorful juicy homemade tacos that’s ready to be served in less than 15 minutes.

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Toppings for Tacos

I like to keep it simple with usually a few different toppings when I’m making these just for the family on weeknights. However, I love having DIY taco bars with friends and family and I usually include the following toppings for tacos:

  • Shredded lettuce or cabbage
  • Tomatoes
  • Shredded cheddar cheese or Mexican blend
  • Red onions
  • Guacamole (store bought or homemade) or avocado
  • Olives
  • Jalapeños
  • Sour Cream
  • Salsa or my Bean Tomato Salsa

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Tips for making ground beef tacos

  1. Be careful not to dry out the taco meat when you add the sauce. Once the beef is cooked, you want to cook it with the seasoning and liquid on medium low and just until the sauce starts to thicken. Keep an eye on it so it doesn’t dry out.
  2. Heat up the tortillas before adding the ground beef on top. You can heat them up in the microwave, oven or on a skillet for 1-2 minutes per side. This makes the tortillas soft, pliable and much less likely to break.
  3. Add onions to the mixture to make it more savory. You’ll want to cook the onions until they soften before adding the ground beef. It gives the taco meat a deeper flavor, but it’s totally optional. Adding onion powder is a quick easy update as well.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best ground beef for tacos?

I prefer to use 90% lean ground beef for tacos for the best flavor and consistency. If it’s any more lean, it may be too dry. If you use a less lean kind, make sure to drain off the fat after cooking the ground beef, before adding the seasoning.

How can make the tacos low carb?

The actual ground beef taco meat is low carb, so you can use low-carb tortillas or skip the tortillas all together as serve it as a taco salad or in a taco bowl.

How much taco meat do you need per person?

Using a traditional 6-inch tortilla or traditional size hard taco shell, you can use about 2-3 tablespoons of taco meat per taco. That means that depending on how much you load up the ground beef tacos with other ingredients, one pound of beef could serve between 8 and 12 people.

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For more Tex Mex recipes:

  • Mexican Street Tacos
  • Baked Chicken Tacos
  • Tempeh Tacos
  • Beef Taco Burritos
  • Shrimp Fajita Bowls
  • Chicken Burrito Bowl
  • Walnut Tacos

This is one of those family friendly recipes that is always in our rotation. They kids love, and I love how easy it is to prepare. I’ll often double or triple the recipe when I’m having people over, or to have leftovers for adding to a taco salad lunch bowl.

If you’vetried this healthy-ish feel good Ground Beef Tacosrecipe or any other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then don’t forget torate the recipeand leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me onInstagram so I can repost on my stories!

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PrintReview

Ground Beef Tacos

These Ground Beef Tacos are filled with juicy flavorful taco meat made with my homemade taco seasoning – it's an easy weeknight recipe for the whole family!

5 from 2157 votes

Author Yumna Jawad

Servings 8 servings

Course Main Course

Calories 142

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Video

Ingredients

For serving the tacos

  • 8 Corn or flour tortillas
  • Lettuce finely chopped
  • Shredded Mexican cheese blend or cheddar cheese
  • Tomatoes chopped
  • Chopped red onions

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in skillet over medium high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any fat.

  • Add the chili powder, cumin, dried oregano, garlic powder, salt, pepper, tomato paste and water. Stir to combine and continue cooking over medium-low heat until the sauce has thickened, about 3-5 minutes

  • Serve warm over tortillas with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and red onions, or your other desired toppings.

Notes

Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container. They will last up to 4 days and can be reheated on the stovetop. To reheat, add a splash of water so the taco meat doesn’t dry out.

Freezing Instructions: Allow the taco meat to cool down completely, then place in freezer-safe storage containers or ziplock bags for up to 3 months.

Substitutes: For best results, follow the recipe as is. However here are some common substitutes that would work well in this recipe.

  • Instead of tomato paste and water, you can simply use tomato sauce.
  • Instead of chili powder, you can use paprika.

Nutrition

Calories: 142kcal, Carbohydrates: 13g, Protein: 14g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 35mg, Sodium: 236mg, Potassium: 304mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 216IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 36mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.

Cuisine Mexican

Course: Main Course

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Comments

  1. I made this recipe for the first time for family taco night. The results are in; this is the most flavorful and delicious taco meat I have ever made. And it was so easy! Now I just need to figure out what to do with the extra tomato paste….maybe I should make more tacos! 🙂

    Reply

    1. Love this, thanks for sharing!

      Reply

  2. Thanks for the great recipe, I always use it when I need some quick Tacos!

    Reply

    1. Of course! So glad you enjoyed this one.

      Reply

  3. Making these tonight for the second time. I use ground sirloin (96% lean) for tastier meat and less mess, cleanup, etc. Super delicious! The combination of seasonings is the best I’ve had. Making your own taco seasoning is easy and probably healthier without the anti-caking ingredients.

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Diana!

      Reply

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Easy Ground Beef Tacos (2024)

FAQs

Is 1 lb of ground beef enough for tacos? ›

Using a traditional 6-inch tortilla or traditional size hard taco shell, you can use about 2-3 tablespoons of taco meat per taco. That means that depending on how much you load up the ground beef tacos with other ingredients, one pound of beef could serve between 8 and 12 people.

How much ground beef for 2 people tacos? ›

As a general rule, you should plan for about 1/4 to 1/2 pound of meat per person when making tacos. So for a family of four, you'll need around 1 to 2 pounds of ground beef. Of course, this can vary depending on your personal preferences and appetite, so adjust accordingly.

How to get fine ground beef for tacos? ›

Frying is a popular option, but boiling ground beef is easy, quick, and it creates leaner, finer meat! Cooking ground beef with this method creates the perfect crumbled ground meat for tacos, chili, spaghetti sauce, and more.

What is the best ground beef ratio for tacos? ›

What ground beef lean-to-fat ratio is best for tacos? For tastier tacos, use a ratio between 80/20 and 90/10. A higher percentage of fat produces more moist and flavorful meat.

How much ground beef for tacos for 4 people? ›

Generally speaking, four ounces of taco meat per person should be enough to make plenty of tacos for everyone in your group. That's approximately one-half to three-quarters of a pound of raw ground beef, depending on the size of the portion.

How much does 5 lbs of ground beef feed for tacos? ›

I figure 2 tacos per person, 2oz ground beef raw weight per shell, which comes out to a quarter pound per person, so you'd need 5lbs of ground beef to feed 20 people, more if you want to allow for seconds. Note this will vary a bit by fat content.

How many tacos will 1lb of meat make? ›

How much ground beef per taco? Each taco shell or small soft taco-size tortilla fits about 2 ounces or 1/4 cup of meat. If you add diced onions, you could stretch a pound of ground beef to make about a dozen tacos. With just the meat and spices, you can make about 8 tacos from a pound of meat.

How much ground beef for 3 people tacos? ›

The most important thing when planning and prepping is to purchase enough ingredients. For instance, plan for about 3-4 ounces of ground beef taco meat per person, which means a pound of ground beef can feed roughly four people.

How many tacos will 3 pounds of ground beef make? ›

The calculator determines how much taco meat per person using specific measurements. It is based on a formula that uses the average serving of protein on the typical taco is an 1/8th of a pound of meat, which is about 2 ounces of beef before it is cooked. So, a pound of ground beef should nicely fill 8 tacos.

How do Mexican restaurants make their beef so fine? ›

Add just enough water to cover the meat, bring to a boil, then reduce and simmer for about an hour. Every 15 minutes or so break up the meat with a large spoon or a potato masher so that it isn't lumpy. Be sure always to keep just enough water to cover the meat.

What to add to taco meat to taste better? ›

I make my own homemade taco seasoning with dried spices I always have in my pantry: garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, cumin, and chili powder. Of course I add pink salt and freshly ground black pepper, and if the toddler isn't eating with us, I add red pepper flakes, too!

Do you drain the grease when making tacos? ›

Cook and stir ground beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 7 to 10 minutes. Drain and discard any excess grease. Pour water and seasoning mix over beef; stir to combine.

What should I put in my tacos? ›

It's always a good idea to include something meaty, like ground beef, slow-cooked shredded chicken, or spicy shrimp. Saucy black beans or canned refried beans are also hearty options. Sautéed or grilled peppers and onions are a great vegetable-forward filling to include.

When to add the taco seasoning? ›

To season ground meat tacos, first sauté the meat until it loses its pinkish color. Then sprinkle with taco seasoning and stir to combine. Add one cup of vegetable, chicken or beef stock per pound of meat and stir to combine.

What type of onion for tacos? ›

White Onions

If you love Mexican food, this is your go-to onion. With a bite that doesn't linger for too long, they add an onion-y brightness without overpowering other flavors. White onions are delicious when used raw—especially in salsa, salads, or sprinkled on tacos as a garnish.

How many tacos can 1lb of ground beef make? ›

Each taco shell or small soft taco-size tortilla fits about 2 ounces or 1/4 cup of meat. If you add diced onions, you could stretch a pound of ground beef to make about a dozen tacos. With just the meat and spices, you can make about 8 tacos from a pound of meat.

How much will 1 pound of taco meat feed? ›

The most important thing when planning and prepping is to purchase enough ingredients. For instance, plan for about 3-4 ounces of ground beef taco meat per person, which means a pound of ground beef can feed roughly four people.

How many tacos does 1 pound of taco meat make? ›

It is based on a formula that uses the average serving of protein on the typical taco is an 1/8th of a pound of meat, which is about 2 ounces of beef before it is cooked. So, a pound of ground beef should nicely fill 8 tacos.

Is 1lb of ground beef enough for 2 people? ›

Use calculator to help determine how much meat to buy.

The starting rule of thumb is: Boneless Meat: 1/2 lb. per person for adults and 1/4 lb. per person for children.

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