Beef Tacos

Our favorite Beef Tacos! Imagine crunchy shells filled with savory, perfectly seasoned beef, oozing with gooey Cheddar. Top it off with your favorite additions for a fun, kid-approved, customizable dish!

Pair these incredible tacos with this cool and crisp cucumber salad, cilantro lime rice, or roasted sweet potatoes.

The Best Ground Beef Tacos

Recently, I bought taco shells to test these Beef Tacos and make these Fish Tacos, but my kids ate them all plain! I hid the next batch until I made these tacos. Initially disappointed, my kids were won over at first bite.

These tacos are deliciously amazing, with perfect textures and easy to make – a truly great meal!

Ingredients

• Taco Shells: The base of the taco, choose crispy or soft based on preference.
• Olive Oil: Used for cooking the onion and garlic, adds flavor and prevents sticking.
• Yellow Onion & Garlic: These aromatics add depth and a savory touch to the beef filling.
• Ground Beef: The main protein, it’s hearty and absorbs the seasonings well.
• Tomato Sauce: Adds moisture and a tangy flavor to the beef mixture.
• Seasonings: A blend that gives the beef its characteristic taco flavor, with a balance of heat, smokiness, and earthiness.

How To Make Beef Tacos

1. Prep: Dice onion, mince garlic, mix seasonings, and arrange taco shells in a baking pan. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Cook Beef: Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil. Add ground beef, cook until browned, then mix in all seasonings and tomato sauce. Cook until thickened.
3. Assemble: Fill taco shells with beef, top with cheese, and bake for 6-8 minutes until cheese melts.
4. Serve: Offer various toppings like lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, and sour cream for customizing your tacos.

Beef Taco Topping Ideas

• Cheese (Monterey jack, extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, or pepper jack) We like a blend of Monterey jack and extra-sharp Cheddar best!
• Chopped tomatoes, salsa, or pico de gallo
• Black beans or pinto beans
• Freshly chopped cilantro
• Fresh lime juice we like serving these tacos with lime wedges
• Avocado or guacamole
• Cooked white rice 
• Taco sauce or hot sauce
• Crispy tortilla strips
• Creamy cilantro sauce (like the sauce in this honey lime chicken recipe)
• Sour cream (fat-free or low-fat works great!)
• Crema Mexicana by Cacique® is another one of our favorites (not sponsored)

More Delicious Taco Recipes

• Healthy Tacos black bean and corn
• Chicken Tacos Mexican street corn-inspired
• Jamaican Jerk Tacos with a creamy cilantro sauce
• Shrimp Tacos reader favorite
• Vegetarian Tacos with roasted sweet potatoes and black beans

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Beef Tacos

5 from 3 votes

- Review this recipe

Our favorite Beef Tacos! Imagine crunchy shells filled with savory, perfectly seasoned beef, oozing with gooey Cheddar. Top it off with your favorite additions for a fun, kid-approved, customizable dish!

SAVE TO RECIPE BOX

Print Recipe

Beef Tacos

5 from 3 votes

- Review this recipe

SAVE TO RECIPE BOX

Print Recipe

Our favorite Beef Tacos! Imagine crunchy shells filled with savory, perfectly seasoned beef, oozing with gooey Cheddar. Top it off with your favorite additions for a fun, kid-approved, customizable dish!

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American, Mexican

Keyword beef tacos

Prep Time 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time 8 minutes minutes

Total Time 33 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Chelsea Lords

Calories 259kcal

Author Chelsea Lords

Cost $7.80

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 package (with 12 total) crispy taco shells (or soft flour or corn tortillas instead!)
• ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ▢ 1/2 cup finely diced yellow onion
• ▢ 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• ▢ 1 pound lean ground beef or ground chuck
• ▢ 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• ▢ 1 tablespoon chili powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon EACH paprika and cumin
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (optional, omit if sensitive to spice)
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon EACH oregano, roasted garlic powder, salt, and pepper
• ▢ Toppings: freshly grated cheese (I like using equal parts of both Monterey jack and extra-sharp Cheddar), shredded iceberg lettuce, sour cream (fat- free or low-fat works great), salsa/chopped cherry tomatoes/pico de gallo, avocado or guac, chopped cilantro, taco sauce, chopped onions, lime wedges

US - Metric

USMetric

Instructions

• PREP: Prepare everything for cooking the beef filling, because the process goes quickly! Dice the onion, mince the garlic, and stir together all of the seasonings. Place taco shells in a 9x13-inch baking pan (all 12 should fit) and set aside. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• BEEF: Heat oil in a large skillet (cast iron if possible) over high heat. Add onion and cook for 2-3 minutes or until light golden. Add in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
• BEEF CONT.: Add ground beef and cook for 2-4 minutes, breaking it up into small pieces as you go, until meat is no longer pink. Avoid stirring/breaking beef up too much-- allow it to brown too. If there is a lot of extra grease (from higher-fat beef), drain off. Add in all the seasonings: chili powder, paprika, cumin, cayenne pepper, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir for another 1-2 minutes or until beef is completely cooked through. Add in the tomato sauce and stir until thickened, another 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to slightly cool.
• STUFF SHELLS: Divide the beef evenly between the 12 shells. Add cheese on top of each ( I add about 2-3 tablespoons of a Monterey jack and extra-sharp Cheddar blend per taco ). Bake for 6-8 minutes or until cheese is melty.
• SERVE: While tacos are cooking, set out the toppings in individual bowls or on a large platter. Our favorites: chopped cherry tomatoes, iceberg lettuce, sliced avocado, chopped cilantro, lime wedges, and a scoop of sour cream. Other ideas: guacamole, taco sauce, salsa, pico de gallo, chopped onions, etc. Serve tacos hot out of the oven and let everyone add whatever toppings they like best. Enjoy with a squeeze of fresh lime!

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 259kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 511mg | Potassium: 556mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 793IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 4mg

We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed.

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