This is the best ground beef taco recipe using soft corn tortillas and a homemade taco seasoning, all prepared in less than 30 minutes. Made authentic with classic toppings, this is the perfect weeknight meal, or entertaining recipe for friends and family.
In just a few minutes you can have the best beef taco recipe on the table, with classic toppings in soft corn or flour tortillas. At my house we make a double batch of the taco meat so we can have leftovers another day!
Ground beef tacos is one of my easy dinners I keep on rotation every month. If you're ready to meal plan, grab my downloadable meal planning starter kit here, and take the pressure off dinnertime.
As a taco fan you'll love my other taco recipes:
- Spicy Steak Tacos
- Corn and Chorizo Tacos
- Slow Cooker Veggie Loaded Carnitas Tacos
- Green Chile Beef Tacos
- Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa
- Blackened Salmon Tacos
Get 20% off with code TARA20 when you order meat from Butcher Box. Click here for the Butcher Box link and get your choices delivered right to your door.
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What you'll love about this ground beef tacos recipe
This American-style beef tacos recipe has loads of flavor from simple pantry ingredients. Here are more reasons you'll add it to your meal plan.
- Perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe can be whipped up in less than an hour, making it ideal for a quick dinner after work or when time is tight.
- With only a handful of required ingredients, including easy-to-find pantry staples for the homemade taco seasoning, this recipe is straightforward and budget-friendly.
- Whether cooking for picky eaters or those with dietary restrictions, the recipe allows for easy modifications. Cooks can adjust the spice level, swap out toppings, or even substitute ground beef with another protein like turkey or a vegetarian option.
- The recipe scales up and doubles or triples effortlessly, making it great for feeding a crowd.
Ingredients
I made my Ground Beef Taco Meat for these tacos. You can go to that article for details, or follow along in the recipe card below. Here are the ingredients or toppings you'll need to assemble these beef tacos.
- Ground Beef Taco Meat: With an easy homemade taco seasoning, this recipe comes together in minutes.
- Soft or Crispy Taco Shells: Choose based on personal preference or dietary needs. Corn or flour tortillas for soft tacos or store-bought crispy taco shells; 6-inch flour tortillas is a great size if using.
- Sour Cream: Adds a creamy, tangy contrast to the spicy taco meat.
- Diced, Seeded Tomatoes: Provide a fresh, juicy element that balances the richness of the meat. Use ripe tomatoes for the best flavor and texture.
- Chopped Onions or Scallions: Soak raw onions in cold water for about 10 minutes to mellow their intensity if desired.
- Pickled Red Onions: Bring a bright, vinegary crunch that adds both flavor and color to your tacos. The quick recipe is below.
- Chopped Cilantro: Adds a burst of herbal freshness, essential for authentic Mexican cuisine. If cilantro isn’t your thing, you can leave it out or replace it with flat-leaf parsley for a different herbal note.
- Shredded Lettuce: Use iceberg or romaine lettuce for the best crunch. You can even use a coleslaw mixture.
- Grated Cheese: Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheeses works well for both flavor and meltability.
Top Tip
*To make pickled red onions slice ½ a red onion thinly root to tip and place in a bowl with 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon sugar, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, and ¼ teaspoon ground cumin. Let sit 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
How to make the best ground beef tacos recipe
- Prepare your taco toppings. Place in bowls, or chop, pickle and slice before making the taco meat, because it comes together so fast.
- Make the tacos: In a large, non-stick skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil. Add ground beef, the chopped onion and chopped jalapeno if using, with the kosher salt. Using a wooden spatula or ground meat chopping tool, break beef into small pieces as the mixture cooks. Cook until onions are soft and translucent and beef is cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add the tomato sauce, cumin, chili powder, oregano, garlic powder, and cornstarch and stir to combine evenly with the meat and onions.
- Let mixture simmer in the tomato sauce until sauce is glossy, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and assemble tacos.
- Add about 3 tablespoons taco meat to each shell or tortilla. Add toppings or let guests make their own.
- Cooled taco meat mixture can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, or frozen up to 3 months.
- To make pickled red onions slice ½ a red onion thinly root to tip and place in a bowl with 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon sugar, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, and ¼ teaspoon ground cumin. Let sit 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Pro tips for authentic beef tacos
- Choice of protein: I love 80/20 (80% lean 20% fat) ground beef. You can absolutely use 90/10 as well. Or use a ground turkey, ground chicken, or a ground meat-free protein option for this recipe.
- Experiment with spices: Authentic beef tacos rely on a blend of cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and oregano.
- Try adding a pinch of cinnamon or bit of unsweetened cocoa powder to the spice mix.
- Or add chipotle chili powder in place of regular chili powder for a smokier kick.
- Herbs and fresh toppings: Fresh cilantro is the classic herb topping for authentic tacos, adding a bright note.
- If cilantro isn’t your thing, try sliced green onions or a sprinkle of fresh oregano for a different freshness.
- Don’t forget other toppings like diced white onions, sliced radishes, and wedges of lime for squeezing over the top.
- You can warm your tortillas: To heat corn tortillas, fry in a skillet with a little oil on both sides until tortillas are just softened and warmed. For flour tortillas, wrap in a clean towel or paper towels and heat in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Toppings for tacos
Toppings for tacos make them fun and unique because everyone can choose what they like and add lots of different things. You can add crunchy radishes, guacamole, or fresh salsa to make ground beef tacos perfect.
Try these taco toppings recipes:
- Tableside Guacamole
- Authentic Pico de Gallo
- Cilantro Salsa
- Mango Salsa
- Grape Guacamole
- Grapefruit Guacamole
FAQs
I use a ground chuck which generally has about 80% lean meat and 20% fat for a juicy option. You can also use 90% lean meat and 10% fat ground beef in this recipe without it being too dry.
For a storage tip, I recommend storing any leftover taco meat in a container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Toppings can be stored separately in small containers or bags, and tortillas can be wrapped and stored at room temperature or in the fridge.
Any type of tortilla works for these tacos. Use corn tortillas, soft flour tortillas, or even crunchy taco shells. Depending on the size of your tortilla, you can adjust how much meat you add to each taco.
No matter which type you choose, make sure to warm the tortillas before assembling the tacos to enhance their flavor and flexibility, preventing them from tearing when you add your fillings.
Use at 80/20 ground chuck as it has a higher fat content. The nice thing about this recipe is the tomato sauce helps the taco meat stay super delicious and slightly saucy.
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More easy Mexican-inspired recipes
- Mexican Meatballs
- Mexican Tomatillo and Shredded Beef Soup
- Southwest Frittata with Black Beans
- Beautiful 7-Layer Dip
- Cilantro Lime Rice
📖 Recipe
Best Ground Beef Tacos Recipe
Ingredients
Toppings
- Sour Cream
- Diced, Seeded Tomatoes
- Chopped Onions or Scallions
- Pickled Red Onions*
- Chopped Cilantro
- Shredded Lettuce
- Grated Cheese
Tacos
- 1 tablespoon avocado or canola oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped (¾ cup)
- 1 jalapeno (OPTIONAL) (seeded, and chopped finely)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 cup (1 8-ounce can) tomato sauce
- 8 soft or crispy taco shells
Instructions
- Prepare your taco toppings. Place in bowls, or chop, pickle and slice before making the taco meat, because it comes together so fast.
- Make the tacos: In a large, non-stick skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil. Add ground beef, the chopped onion and chopped jalapeno if using, with the kosher salt. Using a wooden spatula or ground meat chopping tool, break beef into small pieces as the mixture cooks. Cook until onions are soft and translucent and beef is cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add the tomato sauce, cumin, chili powder, oregano, garlic powder, and cornstarch and stir to combine evenly with the meat and onions.
- Let mixture simmer in the tomato sauce until sauce is glossy, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and assemble tacos.
- Add about 3 tablespoons taco meat to each shell or tortilla. Add toppings or let guests make their own.
- Cooled taco meat mixture can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, or frozen up to 3 months.
- *To make pickled red onions slice ½ a red onion thinly root to tip and place in a bowl with 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon sugar, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, and ¼ teaspoon ground cumin. Let sit 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Notes
Nutrition
Main Dish Recipes
Tara Teaspoon
I’ve been in food publishing for over 25 years, creating recipes & food-styling for magazines, books, television, food brands, & advertising. With two cookbooks under my belt and thousands of my recipes at your fingertips, I hope you'll be inspired to spend more time in the kitchen!
Tara says
I hope you all enjoy this favorite recipe!
Julie says
I absolutely could eat tacos every day! I've added this to my meal prep schedule and thanks for the bonus recipe for pickled onions!!