Whip up these easy ground beef tacos for a quick, satisfying meal that's packed with bold spices and delicious toppings. Perfect for busy weeknights or taco nights, this recipe will have your family coming back for seconds!
If you love these easy ground beef tacos, you’re in for a treat with these Smashed Kefta Tacos—a mashup of Middle Eastern and Mexican goodness. For another tasty take on ground beef, try my Korean BBQ Beef Bowl (aka melt-in-your-mouth Bulgogi) or go for something totally different with a Turkish Borek.
Staying in the realm of quick and delicious meals, my spinach and chicken stew is a winner. Pair it with my Lebanese Rice and Broken Vermicelli or grab a piece of soft dinner buns to soak up all that sauce. And when you’re craving something sweet, check out two of my top dessert hits: apple cake, more apples than dough or my famous flourless yogurt cake. Or, if you're feeling extra daring, try the lemon cake that only needs one egg—because why not?
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💭 Tips and Tricks
- Toast the Tortillas: Warm them in a skillet or over an open flame for a slightly charred, smoky finish.
- Season As You Cook: Add taco seasoning in stages to build layers of flavour into the beef.
- Don't Skimp on Toppings: Lay out a variety of fresh, creamy, and crunchy toppings for a balanced taco.
- Keep It Saucy: Add a splash of water or stock while cooking to keep the filling juicy and avoid dry beef.
- Drain Excess Fat: For a lighter filling, drain the fat after browning the beef, but keep a bit for richness.
- Make It in Advance: The taco filling tastes even better the next day as the spices meld together.
- Cheese First: Layer cheese directly on the tortilla before the beef so it melts slightly and holds the taco together.
💗 Why you’ll love this recipe
- Quick & easy: Done in under 30 minutes with minimal effort. Another go-to recipe would be my crispy cornflake cauliflower wings.
- Customizable: Toppings galore! Tailor it to your taste.
- Budget-friendly: Uses affordable ingredients already in your kitchen.
- Family-approved: Perfect for picky eaters and taco lovers alike.
🥘 Ingredients
*See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
- Ground Beef: I usually go with lean ground beef to keep things a little lighter, but if you want your tacos to be richer, regular ground beef does the trick.
- Tortillas: I prefer tortillas over wraps because they’re sturdier and perfect for holding juicy beef without falling apart.
👩🍳 How to make Ground Beef Tacos
These quick and simple process shots show how to make easy tacos in no time! From sautéing onions and cooking the beef to assembling the perfect taco, follow these easy steps for a delicious dinner in minutes.
Step 1: Sauté the base: Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat. Cook onions until soft and translucent.
Step 2: Cook the meat: Add minced beef, breaking it into small pieces with a wooden spoon. Stir in garlic and seasonings.
Step 3: Pour in water and simmer until the beef is fully cooked and browned.
Step 4: Prepare the sauce: In a small bowl, mix the cornflour with water. Pour into the pan, then add the tomato sauce and soy sauce, stirring until the sauce thickens and coats the beef.
Step 5: Garnish: Use chopped green onions to finish the dish.
Step 6: Assemble tacos: Heat tortillas in a pan or taco shells in the oven. Add beef, cheese, and your favourite toppings. Fold and lightly toast each side.
Tacos Add-Ons
- Cheese: mozzarella, cheddar, or queso fresco
- Guacamole
- Sour cream
- Pico de gallo
- Pickled jalapeños or red cabbage
- Fresh cilantro
- Olives
- Lime wedges
- Shredded lettuce
- Radishes
- Baked potato wedges
- Tomato salad
- Chimichurri sauce
- High-protein mayo (no oil)
♻️ Substitutions
- Onions: Use any available type; yellow and red are great options.
- Tomato Paste: Swap with ketchup or blended fresh tomatoes (about 2 ripe ones).
- Taco Seasoning: Make your blend with 1 teaspoon each of garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, plus 2 tablespoon each of cumin and paprika.
- Cornstarch: Omit or replace with the same amount of all-purpose flour, though it may slightly alter texture.
- Meat: Opt for ground turkey or chicken for a lighter dish, or pork for richness. Or for a vegetarisn option, replace beef with 500 grams of cooked black beans or lentils.
Storage
To store leftover beef filling, place it in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. For longer storage, freeze the meat filling for up to 3 months. When ready to use, simply thaw and reheat as needed for a quick meal.
❓ Ground Beef Tacos FAQs
It's recommended to use ground beef with an 80/20 fat ratio, like ground chuck, as it provides good flavour and moisture. Leaner beef options can be used, but they may result in a drier filling
Yes, store-bought taco seasoning can be used, but making your seasoning blend allows for more control over the spice levels and ingredients. Make your blend with 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, onion powder, and oregano, plus 2 tablespoons of cumin and paprika.
To avoid excess grease, drain the fat after cooking the ground meat. You can also use leaner ground beef or cook it and then blot it with a paper towel to remove extra fat.
Yes, cooked taco meat can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just ensure it’s completely cooled before freezing, and thaw it in the fridge when you’re ready to reheat
For crispy tacos, you can toast the tortillas in a skillet or bake them in the oven before adding the filling.
More Beef Recipes You May Love
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Ground Beef Tacos - Easy 10 Minute Recipe!
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 8-10 tortillas 10-12 taco shells ( See Note 1)
Beef:
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 onions diced (2 medium)
- 500 g minced beef 1 lb
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- ½ cup water 120 ml
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes or cayenne adjust to your taste
- 1 teaspoon taco seasoning se notes how to make your own
Sauce:
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoon light soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon corn starch
Toppings:
- Oven-baked potatoes
- Sriracha mayo
- Green onions
- Tomato salad
- Mozzarella grated
Instructions
Sauté the base
- Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Once the oil is warm, add diced onions and stir occasionally. Cook until the onions become soft and translucent—this should take about 1 minute. If you prefer a slight caramelized touch, let them cook for an extra minute or two.2 tablespoon olive oil, 2 onions
Cook the beef
- Add the ground beef to the pan with the onions. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to break the meat into smaller crumbles, ensuring it cooks evenly. Stir occasionally as the beef browns. Add minced garlic and seasonings (salt, pepper, paprika, chili flakes). Pour in half a cup of water, which helps distribute the spices and keeps the meat juicy. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the beef is fully cooked and the water has mostly evaporated. Around 10 minutess.500 g minced beef, 4 garlic cloves, ½ cup water, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon ground pepper, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon chili flakes or cayenne
Prepare the sauce
- In a small mixing bowl, combine the tomato paste, light and dark soy sauces, and cornflour. Add about four tablespoons of water and whisk until the mixture is smooth with no lumps. Pour this mixture over the cooked beef and stir well. Cook on low heat for about 3 minutes until the sauce thickens and evenly coats the beef. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of water; if too thin, simmer for a minute longer.2 tablespoon tomato paste, 2 tablespoon light soy sauce, 2 tablespoon corn starch
Assemble tacos
- Heat tortillas in a dry skillet over medium heat or directly over a low flame for a slight char. Once warm, place the tortilla on a flat surface. Add a sprinkle of shredded mozzarella or your preferred cheese on one half. Spoon the cooked beef mixture on top of the cheese for a melty, rich filling.
- Fold the tortilla in half and place it back into the skillet. Lightly toast each side until the tortilla is crispy and the cheese has melted. Repeat with the remaining tortillas, adjusting quantities to suit the number of servings.
Add toppings
- Once your tacos are toasted, it’s time to add the fun extras! Top the beef with fresh green onions, diced tomatoes, or a dollop of sriracha mayo. You can also try shredded lettuce, guacamole, salsa, or sour cream to make each taco unique. Serve immediately for the best experience.
- With these steps, your easy ground beef tacos will be packed with a great balance of textures and ready to share!
Notes
- Tortillas or Taco Shells – First, I make sure to warm up the tortillas or taco shells. For taco shells, I like to bake them until they’re crispy (since they can be a bit chewy right out of the package). Tortillas just need a quick 20-second zap in the microwave. I love filling the tortillas with grated mozzarella and the beef filling, then cooking them in a pan so they get a little crispy. But hey, do what feels right for you!
- Meat – I usually go with lean ground beef for these tacos, but if you prefer something a bit fattier, just be sure to drain any excess fat before adding your seasoning. You could also use chicken, turkey, pork, or lamb if that’s more your style.
- Cheese – I typically use mozzarella, but feel free to swap it out with cheddar or any cheese you like. Make it your own!
- Nutrition – Just a heads-up, the nutrition details I’ve shared are for the beef filling and tortillas only. Toppings aren’t included in this calculation, so if you go wild with those, keep that in mind!
- Make your own taco seasoning from: 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 2 tablespoons cumin, 2 tablespoons paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon ground pepper, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper.
Claudia says
This worked exactly as written, thanks!
Swathi says
Ground beef tacos is delicious goes well with homemade tortillas. It's the perfect dinner idea.
Nicole Kendrick says
This worked exactly as written, thanks!
Leslie says
These ground beef tacos are so good. The beef is seasoned to perfection and I love how easy they are to make. Great recipe!
Sabine says
This ground beef taco recipe was filled with flavor. So good and so tasty. Loved it!
Liz says
Best taco recipe ever!!! I think adding the soy sauce is key---it gave a nice boost of flavor!
Amy says
This worked exactly as written, thanks!
Liz says
These tacos were fabulous!!! The soy sauce added such delicious umami!!!!
Marie-Pierre says
The kids devoured them! I barely had time to grab one for myself! It's a lovely family recipe that we'll use again and again.
Sonja says
This was so easy to make and everyone loved it. I added some fresh lettuce and tomatoes for some freshness and it was great.
Nora says
Thank you for sharing this recipe! The crowd loved them!
Nisha says
The tacos turned out so good and the instructions were easy to follow and make , love that it is a one pan recipe!
Nicole Kendrick says
These are so good! I love that sauce with the soy sauce in it. It's a nice change from regular taco sauce.
Liz says
This taco recipe was outstanding! I think your mix of spices is key---so yummy!