Ground Beef Tacos

This easy Ground Beef Tacos recipe makes delicious, saucy tacos that are full of flavor in 15 minutes or less. A couple of surprise ingredients can really elevate your standard beef taco recipe beyond just that packet of seasoning.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Mexican

Prep Time 3

Cook Time 12

Total Time 15

Servings servings (1 cup each)

Calories 329kcal

Author Meggan Hill

Equipment

Large skillet

Ingredients

For the taco seasoning (see note 1):

1 tablespoon chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
3/4 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
salt
1 teaspoon cornstarch

For the tacos:

1 teaspoon olive oil
1 medium onion peeled and finely chopped
3 cloves garlic minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 pound ground beef (see note 2)
1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon brown sugar packed (see note 3)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Toppings for serving:

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

To make the taco seasoning:

In a small bowl, whisk together chili powder, cumin, paprika, coriander, cayenne pepper, and salt to taste (I like 1/2 teaspoon), Whisk in cornstarch if desired. (Or, substitute one packet store-bought taco seasoning).

To make the tacos:

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil until shimmering. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in taco seasoning, garlic, and oregano until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Add ground beef and cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up clumps with a wooden spoon, until almost cooked through, about 2 minutes. Feel free to drain excess grease at this point if desired.
Stir in tomato sauce, vinegar, and brown sugar. Bring to a simmer and cook until thickened, about 4 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

To serve:

Serve the meat hot with tortillas and all your favorite toppings like lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and sour cream.

Notes

Taco seasoning: Ingredients for homemade taco seasoning are right in the recipe card in the amount you need. Or, substitute one packet of store-bought taco seasoning.
Ground beef: If you choose a lean ground beef such as 90/10, you may not need to drain any fat. Fat is flavor!
Brown sugar: Leave this out if it sounds weird to you.
Yield: This recipe makes about 4 c. (1 quart) of delicious Beef Taco meat. That's enough for 4 servings, 1 c. of meat each, enough to make 3 or 4 tacos per person.
Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Slow cooker: Sauté the onions in a skillet on the stove. Add the taco seasoning, garlic, and dried oregano. Add the ground beef and cook until almost done. Transfer the beef to the slow cooker and add the sauce, brown sugar, cider vinegar, and tomato sauce. Cover and cook on HIGH for 2-3 hours or on LOW for 6-7 hours.

Nutrition