This easy Taco Meat recipe is the secret to the absolute BEST tacos you'll ever make at home! With a homemade blend of taco seasonings and tomato sauce, this recipe delivers the most flavorful taco meat in just 20 minutes.
If you're in the mood for a classic, family-friendly meal that never fails to please, then our ground beef taco recipe is just what you need. With the perfect balance of savory taco meat, creamy sour cream, and taco shells, it’s a simple yet utterly satisfying meal.
If you're a fan of this recipe, you'll also love my sloppy joes, a hearty and flavorful dish that's a hit with the whole family. Or, for a creamy, comforting meal, try my beef stroganoff recipe, which is as simple as it is delicious.
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Why This Is The Best Taco Meat Recipe
- Quick and Easy: This recipe is a cinch to prepare. With a few simple steps, you'll have a delicious meal ready in 20 minutes!
- Tasty: The homemade seasoning blend gives the taco meat a rich, savory flavor that's utterly delicious.
- Family Favorite: This taco meat is a surefire family favorite. It's a meal that everyone in the family will love and request again and again
- One-Pot recipe: This recipe is a one-pot wonder, meaning less cleanup for you. It's the perfect recipe for those busy weeknights when you want a delicious meal without the hassle.
Key Ingredients
Here's an overview of some key ingredients for this recipe. For the full list of ingredients and measurements, please scroll to the recipe card below.
- Ground Beef: The star of the dish, ground beef provides a hearty, protein-packed base for our tacos.
- Tomato Sauce: This adds a tangy sweetness and helps bind all the flavors together.
- Homemade Seasoning Blend: With spices like chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, oregano, and black pepper, you’ll end up with the most delicious taco seasoning blend for classic flavors.
- Corn Tortillas or Taco Shells: These serve as the vessel for our flavorful beef filling. Choose according to your preference for soft or crunchy tacos.
- Sour Cream: A dollop of sour cream on top adds a creamy, tangy contrast to the spicy beef. Feel free to substitute with your favorite toppings.
How to Make Taco Meat
Making this incredible taco meat recipe at home is super easy and will give you great results every single time. Here's how to make it step by step:
- Heat your skillet: Choose a large skillet and place it over medium heat. Add your lean ground beef. With a wooden spoon, break up the beef as it cooks. Continue to cook until the beef is thoroughly brown and no longer pink, about 10 minutes.
- Add the sauce and spices: Pour in your tomato sauce and add all your spices, including salt and pepper. Don't forget to include your homemade taco seasoning for that authentic flavor.
- Mix it all together: Stir everything together, ensuring that the ground beef is well coated with the sauce and spices.
- Time to simmer: Let your taco meat recipe simmer for about 5 minutes, allowing all the flavors to blend nicely.
- Serve the meat: Once done, serve your best taco meat recipe over taco shells and top with your favorite ingredients.
Prepare homemade tacos (optional): If you choose to make your own taco shells using corn tortillas, you can do that. Heat oil in a skillet and fry the tortilla on each side for about 30 seconds. Then, remove the tortilla and place it on a kitchen towel to absorb excess oil. Gently fold it to form a taco shell.
For a full list of ingredients and instructions, see the recipe card below.
Tips For Making the Best Taco Meat
- Choose lean ground beef: For a healthier homemade taco, opt for lean ground beef. It has less fat but still packs a lot of flavor, making it perfect for your taco meat recipe.
- Make your own homemade taco seasoning: Instead of using store-bought seasoning, make your own homemade taco seasoning. It's easy to do and you can control the amount of salt and spices to suit your family's tastes.
- Don't rush the cooking: Let the ground beef simmer with the tomato sauce and spices for at least 5 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld together, resulting in tastier taco meat.
- Customize your toppings: The best thing about homemade tacos is that you can customize them to your liking. Add cheese, lettuce, salsa, guacamole, or any other toppings you love.
Serving Suggestions
- For a hearty lunch, serve this homemade taco meat over a bed of lettuce, topped with cheese, salsa, and a dollop of Guacamole to make a delicious taco salad. The flavors of the homemade seasoning blend perfectly with the fresh ingredients.
- Want a twist on the traditional taco? Try using this ground beef taco meat recipe to stuff burritos. Add some refried beans, rice, and cheese, then roll it up in a tortilla. It's a filling and flavorful dish that's sure to please.
- For a fun and casual dinner, use this taco meat to top a batch of nachos. Sprinkle with cheese and bake until melted, then top with salsa, guacamole, and sour cream. The crunch of the tortilla chips pairs wonderfully with the savory taco meat.
- Leftover taco meat can be used to make enchiladas. Simply fill tortillas with the meat, roll them up, and place in a baking dish. Top with enchilada sauce and cheese, then bake until bubbly. It's a great way to use up leftovers and enjoy a different dish.
Recipe Variation Ideas
- Chicken: If you're looking for a leaner option, try substituting ground beef with ground turkey or chicken. This variation will give your homemade tacos a lighter, yet equally delicious, flavor
- Extra Spicy: For those who love a bit of heat, this variation is perfect. Add an extra teaspoon of chili powder or a dash of hot sauce to the ground beef taco meat recipe.
- Batch Cooking: If you're a busy bee, this variation is for you. Make a large batch of this homemade taco seasoning and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. This way, you'll always have some ready to use for your next taco night or for other dishes like burritos and enchiladas.
Frequently Asked Questions
For this recipe, lean ground beef is recommended. It's healthier and less greasy, but still delivers a great flavor. However, you can also use ground turkey or ground chicken if you prefer chicken tacos.
Absolutely! Making your own seasoning is easy and allows you to control the flavor. Just mix chili powder, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, cumin, and black pepper. Check out the recipe card below for more details.
This versatile taco meat recipe can be used in a variety of dishes. Try it in burritos, enchiladas, nachos, or a taco salad. It's also great with refried beans and rice.
How to Store Leftovers
- Fridge: If you have leftover taco meat, it can be stored in the refrigerator. Simply place it in an airtight container, and it will keep for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: After cooking your batch of ground beef taco meat recipe, allow it to cool completely. Then, place it in an airtight container and store it in the freezer. This homemade taco meat can be frozen for up to 3 months.
- Thaw: When you're ready to enjoy your homemade tacos again, simply move the frozen taco meat from the freezer to the refrigerator. Allow it to thaw overnight.
- Reheat Instructions: To reheat, place it in a pan over medium heat. Stir it occasionally until it is heated through. For the best flavor, serve your reheated taco meat immediately.
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Recipe
The Easiest Taco Meat Recipe
Ingredients
- 17.6 oz ground beef
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup tomato sauce
- 1 pack corn tortillas or taco shells
- Parsley
- Sour cream or toppings of choice
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the ground beef. Cook the meat while breaking it with a wooden spoon. Cook until the beef is brown and no longer pink.
- Add the tomato sauce and all the spices, including salt and pepper.
- Stir everything together
- Let it simmer for 5 minutes
- Serve with over taco shells with desired toppings.
- You can make your own taco shells using corn tortillas.
- To make them yourself, heat ½ cup oil in a skillet. Carefully dip the tortilla in the oil; when it sizzles, it is hot enough. Fry the tortilla on each side for about 30 seconds.
- Transfer the tortilla to a kitchen towel to absorb the oil, then gently fold it to create a taco shell.
Notes
Nutrition
Iryna Bychkiv is the founder and writer of the culinary website Lavender & Macarons, where she shares clean, European-inspired recipes that are delicious, easy to prepare, and made with wholesome ingredients. Iryna loves creating meals that are simple yet healthy and unique, including vegan and vegetarian recipes.
Iryna is also a freelance writer for MSN and Associated Press Wire.
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