Beef Tacos Classic Mexican (Printable)

Ground beef in tortillas with lettuce, cheese, salsa, and optional toppings. Quick and flavorful Mexican-inspired meal.

# What You Need:

→ Beef Filling

01 - 1 lb ground beef
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
05 - 2 tsp chili powder
06 - 1 tsp ground cumin
07 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
08 - ½ tsp dried oregano
09 - ½ tsp salt
10 - ¼ tsp black pepper
11 - ⅓ cup water
12 - 1 tbsp olive oil

→ For the Tacos

13 - 8 small taco shells (soft flour or crunchy corn tortillas)
14 - 1 cup iceberg lettuce, shredded
15 - 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
16 - 1 cup salsa (store-bought or homemade)
17 - 1 medium tomato, diced (optional)
18 - ½ cup sour cream (optional)
19 - Fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
20 - Lime wedges (optional)

# How-To:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Add ground beef to the skillet. Break it up with a spatula and cook until browned and fully cooked, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
04 - Mix in tomato paste, chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper until evenly combined.
05 - Pour in water and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly. Remove from heat.
06 - Heat taco shells according to package instructions until soft or crisp as preferred.
07 - Fill each taco shell with a generous amount of beef filling. Top with shredded lettuce, cheddar cheese, salsa, and optional tomato, sour cream, cilantro, and lime wedges.
08 - Serve immediately to enjoy best flavor and texture.

# Expert Hacks:

01 -
  • The spice blend hits that perfect sweet spot between smoky and savory, making even simple ground beef taste like something special.
  • Everything comes together in under thirty minutes, which means you can go from craving to eating without the stress.
  • These tacos are the ultimate crowd-pleaser because everyone gets to customize their own, turning dinner into a choose-your-own-adventure.
02 -
  • Don't skip draining the excess fat from the beef—a little richness is good, but too much makes the tacos soggy and heavy.
  • Add your water gradually if your mixture seems too thick; everyone's stove and skillet are slightly different, so trust what you see rather than what the recipe says.
03 -
  • Let your spices sit in the warm oil for a full minute after you add them—this blooms their flavors and makes the entire filling taste more rounded and developed.
  • If you're cooking for a crowd, keep the beef filling warm in a low oven while people assemble their tacos at their own pace, rather than rushing to eat before it cools.
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