Spice up your weeknight dinner with these delicious and simple ground beef tacos. Ready in just 30 minutes, these tacos are a family favorite and perfect for a busy night. Top with your choice of fixings, and serve with refried beans or cilantro lime rice.
Set up a taco bar and let your friends and family customize their tacos. For a complete fiesta, serve these with Mexican shrimp cocktails and chicken enchilada soup.
Whether you like crispy taco shells, soft flour tortillas, or corn tortillas, dinner does not get much easier or more delicious. These tacos can be dressed and on the table in less than twenty minutes, making them the ideal weeknight meal.
How To Make Ground Beef Tacos
This is a summary version; for the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please refer to the recipe card below.
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet. About halfway through the browning process, add a little chopped onion.
- Add the spices, salt, pepper, and a little bit of beef or chicken broth, and let it simmer for a few minutes.
- Scoop the beef mixture into your shells and top with lettuce, sun-ripened tomatoes, shredded cheese, jalapeno rings,
Preparation Tips
See the complete list of ingredients on the recipe card below.
- Carefully blacken the edges of the corn tortillas right over an open flame on a gas stove using tongs.
- The shells should not be stuffed until ready to eat, as they may become soggy and cold.
- Drizzle your tacos with ranch, chipotle ranch, or fire-roasted salsa for extra flavor.
Set Up A Taco Bar
The possibilities are endless, but here are a few of my favorites. Ideally, set up a taco bar and let your family and friends choose their toppings.
- chopped iceberg lettuce
- chopped tomatoes
- cheddar cheese
- pickled jalapenos
- thinly sliced red onion
- chopped or torn cilantro
- guacamole
- sour cream
- salsa
- thinly sliced jalapenos
- black olives
More Taco Recipes
Ground Beef Tacos
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- ½ medium onion chopped
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon oregano
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 pinches ground cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons beef or chicken broth see notes
- 8 taco shells either crunchy or soft
- Chopped lettuce
- Chopped tomatoes
- Shredded cheese cheddar, cheddar Jack, Monterey Jack
- Pickled Jalapenos
Instructions
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef breaking it up as it cooks. About halfway through the browning process, add the onion. Cook until the beef is brown and the onion is soft. Drain any excess grease.
- Turn the heat to low. Add the chili powder, cumin, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, oregano, red pepper flakes, ground cayenne pepper, and beef broth. Simmer for 4-5 minutes.
- Divide the beef mixture evenly between the taco shells. Top with desired toppings. Serve promptly.
Notes
Nutrition
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https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Joann Wyant
Love me some tacos 🌮. I like to take either the taco shell (hard) or tortilla chips and crush them up a bit and make like a salad, so good. Thanks for sharing this recipe. Definitely going to make some of the taco seasoning.
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Joann! Enjoy!
Sonia
Thanks for sharing such a fantastic recipe! Mixing chilli powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, pepper, oregano, red pepper flakes, and cayenne pepper sounds excellent. Plus, storing it in an airtight container for up to six months seems like a convenient way to have it readily available. It tastes fantastic in tacos, soups, fajitas, Taco Pasta Salad, and even as a dry rub for chicken, beef, or pork. It’s always good to know that you’re using fresh, homemade ingredients rather than packaged seasoning. Thanks for the tip!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Sonia! The pleasure is all mine!
Catherine Shane Cabuhat
I love these beef tacos! I will save this recipe, thanks for sharing!
Fransic verso
These tacos look so yummy. I did tacos before but wasn’t as good looking as this. Maybe I will try it again. Thank you for sharing!
Barbie Ritzman
I am excited about this amazing taco recipe, as tacos are one of my favorite foods. So yummy, thanks
Ivana Mearns
Delicious. A true flavor bomb, so many very tasty spices, together with beef, all I can say is this taco recipe is the best!
Dana
This ground beef taco recipe was great! It was quick and delicious and it was a hit with the kids!
Bryan Carey
Ground beef is my most common meat choice when I make or order tacos. What really makes a taco standout in the crowd is the spices and seasoning, of which your recipe includes many.
Julie
Hi Beth! I’m a big fan of tacos, and I always love trying new recipes. This one is definitely going to be added to my rotation. I love that it’s so easy to make, and that it can be customized to suit everyone’s taste. I’m also a big fan of the fact that the author includes tips for making the best ground beef tacos. These are definitely going to come in handy the next time I make tacos!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Julie! So glad that you like the tips in the recipe!
Stephanie
Great ground beef taco recipe! Everyone loved them. This is my new go-to recipe. I now know how to char the edges of the corn tortillas on the gas stovetop.