Description
A quick, budget-friendly, and family-approved ground beef taco recipe with perfectly balanced spices. Ready in 20 minutes using pantry staples, customizable for all preferences, and sure to become a weeknight favorite.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound lean ground beef (85/15 or 90/10)
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons tomato paste
½ cup water
8 corn or flour tortillas
Lettuce (finely chopped)
Shredded Mexican cheese blend or cheddar
Chopped tomatoes
Chopped red onions
Instructions
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon, and cook until browned and no pink remains (4-5 minutes).
Stir in chili powder, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well to coat the beef.
Add tomato paste and water, stirring until combined. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until the mixture thickens.
Warm tortillas in a dry skillet or microwave. Assemble tacos with beef mixture, lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and red onions.
Notes
Use lean ground beef to reduce fat content without compromising flavor.
Substitute chili powder with a mix of cumin + smoked paprika for a custom spice blend.
Add toppings like avocado, salsa, or hot sauce for extra zest.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freeze cooked beef mixture (without toppings) for up to 3 months, reheating as needed.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 15
- Category: Main dish
- Method: Stovetop Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 taco
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 50mg