This delicious beef taco recipe is a quick and easy meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights or casual gatherings. With flavorful, seasoned beef, crispy taco shells, and fresh toppings, you can whip up this crowd-pleaser using everyday ingredients. The best part? You can customize it with your favorite fixings, making every bite a deliciously satisfying experience!
Recipe Ingredients
Beef:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 yellow onion, diced
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
Fixins:
- 20 fajita-sized flour tortillas
- 18 hard taco shells
- 1 pound Cheddar-Jack cheese, grated
- 15 Roma tomatoes, diced
- 1 head green leaf lettuce, shredded
How To Make Beef Tacos Recipe
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 325°F / 160°C.
- Cook the Beef: In a skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tbsp / 15 ml olive oil and 1/2 diced yellow onion. Cook until softened. Add 2 lbs / 900 g ground beef and cook until browned. Drain fat, then add 1/2 tsp / 2.5 g each of chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, black pepper, and 1/4 tsp / 1.25 g crushed red pepper. Stir in 1/2 cup / 120 ml hot water, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Warm the Tortillas: Wrap 20 flour tortillas in foil and warm in the oven for 20-25 minutes. Before serving, crisp 18 hard taco shells according to package instructions.
- Assemble the Tacos: Serve the warm tortillas and taco shells with the beef. Add 1 lb / 450 g grated Cheddar-Jack cheese, 15 diced Roma tomatoes, and 1 shredded head of green leaf lettuce as desired.
Recipe Tips:
- Drain the Fat: After browning the beef, always drain excess fat to avoid greasy tacos and ensure the seasoning sticks to the meat perfectly.
- Warm the Tortillas Properly: Wrap flour tortillas in foil and heat them in the oven to keep them soft and pliable without drying out.
- Crisp the Taco Shells Right Before Serving: This keeps the hard shells crunchy and prevents them from becoming soggy when filled.
- Grate Your Own Cheese: Pre-grated cheese often has anti-caking agents, which can affect the melt and flavor. Freshly grated cheese melts smoother and tastes better.
- Use Hot Water in the Beef Mixture: Adding hot water when seasoning the beef helps distribute the spices evenly and creates a saucier, more flavorful filling.
How To Store & Reheat Leftovers?
- Refrigerate: First, let the leftover beef tacos cool to room temperature. Store the beef filling separately in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: The beef filling can be frozen. After cooling, place it in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: Place the beef filling in a microwave-safe bowl and cover it with a damp paper towel. Heat on medium for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through. Warm tortillas separately for 20-30 seconds.
Nutrition Facts
- Calories:847
- Total Fat:48 g
- Saturated Fat:19 g
- Carbohydrates:68 g
- Dietary Fiber:5 g
- Sugar:6 g
- Protein:37 g
- Cholesterol:111 mg
- Sodium:1162 mg
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Beef Tacos Recipe
Description
This delicious beef taco recipe is a quick and easy meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights or casual gatherings. With flavorful, seasoned beef, crispy taco shells, and fresh toppings, you can whip up this crowd-pleaser using everyday ingredients. The best part? You can customize it with your favorite fixings, making every bite a deliciously satisfying experience!
Ingredients
Beef:
Fixins:
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 325°F / 160°C.
- Cook the Beef: In a skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tbsp / 15 ml olive oil and 1/2 diced yellow onion. Cook until softened. Add 2 lbs / 900 g ground beef and cook until browned. Drain fat, then add 1/2 tsp / 2.5 g each of chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, black pepper, and 1/4 tsp / 1.25 g crushed red pepper. Stir in 1/2 cup / 120 ml hot water, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Warm the Tortillas: Wrap 20 flour tortillas in foil and warm in the oven for 20-25 minutes. Before serving, crisp 18 hard taco shells according to package instructions.
- Assemble the Tacos: Serve the warm tortillas and taco shells with the beef. Add 1 lb / 450 g grated Cheddar-Jack cheese, 15 diced Roma tomatoes, and 1 shredded head of green leaf lettuce as desired.
Notes
- Drain the Fat: After browning the beef, always drain excess fat to avoid greasy tacos and ensure the seasoning sticks to the meat perfectly.
- Warm the Tortillas Properly: Wrap flour tortillas in foil and heat them in the oven to keep them soft and pliable without drying out.
- Crisp the Taco Shells Right Before Serving: This keeps the hard shells crunchy and prevents them from becoming soggy when filled.
- Grate Your Own Cheese: Pre-grated cheese often has anti-caking agents, which can affect the melt and flavor. Freshly grated cheese melts smoother and tastes better.
- Use Hot Water in the Beef Mixture: Adding hot water when seasoning the beef helps distribute the spices evenly and creates a saucier, more flavorful filling.
Beef Tacos Recipe