Mar 14, 2019, Updated Sep 04, 2024 Forget a storebought taco seasoning mix. Even though ‘Merican-style ground beef tacos aren’t really authentic Mexican food (like this incredible Chili Con Carne), we’re going to pretend they are to make the best-tasting homemade version. These crazy-delicious beef tacos take advantage of the full flavour of fresh ingredients.
Ultimate Authentic Mexican Beef Tacos
Authentic Mexican tacos often feature soft homemade corn tortillas, a variety of meats (like carne asada, carnitas, tacos al pastor, or barbacoa), and are garnished with fresh cilantro, diced onions, and a squeeze of lime juice. In traditional Mexican cuisine, ground beef tacos are not as common as tacos made with other types of meat preparations. Ground beef tacos with toppings like shredded lettuce, cheese, and sour cream are more commonly found in Tex-Mex or Americanized Mexican food. My ground beef taco recipe is seasoned assertively with lots of fresh onion and garlic, cooked so that it totally disappears into the beef (psst. you must also try my chicken taco seasoning for ground chicken tacos, they’re delicious, too).
My Secrets for Amazing Ground Beef Tacos From Scratch
My secret to bringing authentic Mexican flavor to a more American-style taco is relying on lots of fresh ingredients. That onion will look like a lot. You’ll scratch your had and look dubiously at me from across the internet. Trust. Just trust. Your kids will not know that there are two cups of onion in there. PINKY SWEAR. When cooked until truly soft, onions lose most of their water, caramelize to a sweet-savoury complex deliciousness, and then once the beef is mixed in, poof, they’re gone. Just part of the seasoning. The delicious, delicious seasoning. Similarly, a whole tablespoon of minced garlic is called for. Don’t skimp. Trust. This is all going to come together into the most scrumptious homemade beef tacos.
Here’s What You Need for Ultimate Beef Tacos
Ground Beef Taco Meat Ingredients
Canola oil: Or avocado oil/other high-heat cooking oil. Yellow onion: Adds sweetness and depth to the taco filling. Minced garlic: LOTS of it. Paprika: Adds a smoky undertone. Cumin: Brings an earthy, warm spice that’s classic in tacos. Dried oregano: Offers a hint of herbiness. Ground cayenne: Kicks up the heat. Ground black pepper: Adds a bit of spice and depth. Ground beef: You can use regular or lean ground beef. If using regular, you’ll probably want to drain away excess grease. Granulated sugar: Balances the acidity and makes all the flavors come together
To Serve
Taco shells: my kids just love fried taco shells, but you could use corn tortillas or flour tortillas if you prefer. Shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, shredded lettuce, black beans, pico de gallo, etc.
Variations and Substitutions Customizing your tacos is part of the fun. Here are a few ideas:
Ground turkey or chicken: Lighter alternatives to beef that still taste great. Olive oil: A good swap for canola oil if you prefer its flavor. Lettuce wraps: For a low-carb option, use these instead of taco shells. Need more flavor? Feel free to add chili powder, cayenne, garlic powder and/or onion powder to taste. Want it saucier? Add a splash of water or beef broth.
Look at the cooked beef. Do you SEE any onion? You were right to trust me on the quantities. Grab These Tools You’ll need just a few basic tools to bring these tacos to life:
Large skillet: For cooking the onion and beef mixture on the stovetop. Spatula or spoon: Essential for stirring and breaking up the beef. Measuring spoons: For accurately measuring your spices and seasonings.
How to Make Ultimate Beef Tacos: An Easy Guide
Whipping up a batch of Ultimate Beef Tacos is simpler than you might think. With a few steps and the right ingredients, you’re on your way to a taco night that everyone will love. Getting Started First off, gather all your ingredients and tools. Having everything on hand makes the process smoother. Then, heat your skillet over medium-high heat and get ready to cook. Cooking the Onions Add the canola oil to the skillet, followed by the chopped onion and a teaspoon of salt. Cook them until they’re golden and soft. This is where your tacos start to get their flavor. Adding Spices and Garlic Once the onions are ready, stir in the garlic, paprika, cumin, oregano, cayenne, and black pepper. Cook it all until it smells amazing, about a minute. These spices are key to that authentic taco taste. Browning the Beef Now, add your ground beef to the skillet. Sprinkle the remaining salt and the sugar over it. Break the beef into small chunks as it cooks. Once it’s browned and delicious, you’re almost done. Assembling the Tacos Grab your taco shells and fill them with the beef mixture. Top them with shredded lettuce, cheese, and a dollop of sour cream. Now, you’re ready to dive in. Follow these simple steps, and your Ultimate Beef Tacos will be a hit. Enjoy the process and the delicious results!
About Homemade Taco Seasoning
We’ve established that most of the seasoning comes from real onion and garlic, but the spices are important too. We use paprika, cumin, cayenne, and oregano, plus ample salt and pepper. These are the same spices you’d find in the grocery-store packet, but they just taste better when combined with fresh ingredients. A pinch of sugar is another key addition that balances out the spice in way that’ll have you reaching for spoonful after spoonful to “test” over the stove until you have inhaled so much you have to make a new batch. Plus, it makes it taste more like the comfort food you had as a kid (there’s actually more sugar – as maltodextrin – in the familiar yellow taco seasoning packet than spice!). Note that this makes a totally family-friendly spice level, but if your crew is particularly heat sensitive, you can scale back to 1/4 tsp cayenne and work your way up from there. It is easy to add more, not easy to take it away.
Authentic Mexican Ground Beef Tacos: Make Ahead and Storage
Planning ahead or saving leftovers is easy with these tips. Here’s how to keep your Ultimate Beef Tacos tasting great.
Prep the filling: Cook the beef mixture in advance. (How long does ground beef last in the fridge?). Freezing the beef: Freeze the cooked beef in airtight containers. It’ll last for up to 3 months in the freezer. Reheat gently: Warm the beef over low heat on the stove or in the microwave. Add a splash of water to keep it moist. Storing toppings: Keep shredded lettuce, cheese, and other fresh toppings in separate containers in the refrigerator. Use them within a few days for the best taste.
With these steps, you can enjoy Ultimate Beef Tacos any night of the week, without starting from scratch.
Make Amazing Traditional Ground Beef Tacos
To ensure the ground beef taco filling is seasoned fully from the inside out, I always add the salt in two stages. Salting the onion from the start helps to draw out the moisture and makes it cook down faster. Also, seasoning this important ingredient from the get-go helps build the flavour and seasoning, making the whole finished dish taste better. Even though the onion is pretty much imperceptible, it is a major player in the filling. In addition, we make the spices taste incredible by treating them to a quick toasting in the hot skillet before we add the beef. As soon as they hit the hot pan, the kitchen fills with the nutty, roasty smell of the cumin and cayenne. It’s like toasting nuts. Totally takes the flavour to new heights. (Both, by the way, tricks from Indian cooking! My husband is Indian, if you’re new here. In which case, welcome!) I prepare the toppings while the beef is cooking. I like to put all of the components in bowls on the table and let everyone build their own tacos. We stick to shredded iceberg lettuce (so under-rated as a vegetable), grated cheese and sour cream to keep it simple on a weeknight. If you’re more ambitious, you could go nuts with lots of delicious additions, from chopped red onion and tomato to easy guacamole, roasted corn salsa, cabbage slaw and/or lime crema, etc. PS. My two boys asked me to make these again tomorrow night for dinner. And I’m gonna.
How to Serve This Ultimate Beef Taco Recipe
Serving these tacos turns any meal into a festive gathering. Here’s how to make it a full-on feast.
Taco Toppings
Dress up your tacos with a variety of toppings. Let everyone customize their own for a fun, interactive meal.
Shredded cheese: A must-have for that melty goodness. Taco salsa Something creamy: Try my creamy baja sauce or cilantro lime crema to add a cool, tangy contrast. Simple sour cream or Mexican crema work, too! Shredded lettuce: For crunch and freshness. Diced tomatoes and/or white onion Sliced avocados or guacamole: You’ll love this authentic guacamole recipe. My Avocado Crema is another favorite. Pickled jalapeños: For those who like it extra spicy. Pickled onion Chopped cilantro: A sprinkle adds freshness and a pop of color.
Side Dishes for Beef Tacos
Round out your meal with sides that complement the flavors of your tacos.
Instant Pot Mexican Rice: Rich and tomatoy, it’s the perfect base for any Mexican meal. Black beans: They add protein and fiber. Mexican street corn (Elote) Salad: In this Mexican Roasted Corn off the Cob, I tossed grilled corn with creamy, spicy sauce. It’s irresistible. Margaritas or limeade: For the perfect drink to wash down those spicy flavors.
Leftover taco meat? Here’s how to repurpose it.
Taco salad: Combine with greens and dressing. Taco pizza: Top pizza dough with meat and cheese. Quesadillas: Sandwich meat into cheese tortillas. Nachos: Take your game day nachos to the next level! Layer chips with meat, cheese, and bake. Burrito bowls: Create bowls with meat, rice, and toppings. Walking Taco Casserole: Tacos in casserole form. Yes please.
Need more inspiration? Here are my 35+ best Leftover Taco Meat Recipes.
More Fan Favorite Mexican Recipes
If you love Mexican food as much as I do, you MUST try these super-popular recipes:
Chili Con Carne, White Chicken Chile or Green Chile Baja Fish Tacos with crisp battered fish, topped with the best cabbage slaw for fish tacos. Crispy Baked Chicken Tacos or Fried Tacos Chicken Street Tacos with a drizzle of Cilantro Lime Crema Spicy Fish Tacos with taco salsa Crockpot Chicken Tacos
