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Taco meat recipe in the pan ready to be served.
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Taco Meat Recipe

This is my must-have Taco Meat Recipe! It’s quick, easy, and packed with flavor, making it the perfect base for all your favorite Mexican-inspired dishes—tacos, burritos, nachos, quesadillas, crunchwraps, you name it!
Prep Time15 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American, Healthy
Keyword: Taco Meat Recipe
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Chelsea Lords
Cost: $8.12

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound lean ground beef 93/7
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1/4 cup water up to 1/2 cup, as needed
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon beef bouillon powder optional
  • 1 cup diced yellow onion optional
  • 1 to 2 teaspoon(s) minced garlic optional
US - Metric

Instructions

  • In a large pan, heat the olive oil over high heat. If using, add optional diced onion and minced garlic, cooking for about 3 minutes or until they start to turn golden. If not using onion and garlic, simply heat the oil in the pan (high heat).
  • Add ground beef to the pan. Let it sear 1 minute without disturbing, then start breaking it apart with a wooden spoon. Once the beef starts changing color from red to pink, add all the seasonings (including beef bouillon powder). Drain off any grease.
  • Stir in the tomato paste and gradually add water, just enough to deglaze the pan and moisten the meat. Continue cooking until the water mostly evaporates, leaving the beef mixture juicy but not watery. Taste the mixture and adjust the seasonings as needed.
  • Use taco meat as a filling for tacos, burritos, or any other dish of your choice!

Notes

My Favorite Ways to Use Taco Meat:
  1. Tacos: Fill shells with meat and your favorite toppings.
  2. Burritos: Roll meat with rice, beans, and toppings.
  3. Nachos: Top chips with meat, cheese, and salsa.
  4. Quesadillas: Sandwich meat and cheese in tortillas.
  5. Crunchwraps: Fold meat, cheese, and toppings in tortillas.
  6. Enchiladas: Roll meat in tortillas with sauce and cheese.
  7. Taco Salad: Top lettuce with meat, veggies, and dressing.
  8. Stuffed Peppers: Fill peppers with meat and bake.
  9. Loaded Taco Fries: Pile meat on fries with cheese and salsa.
  10. Taco Pizza: Use meat as pizza topping with cheese.
Storage: Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for 4–5 days. To reheat, microwave in 30-second intervals or heat in a pan until warm.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 200kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 302mg | Potassium: 515mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 715IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 3mg