Easy Ground Beef Taco Recipe

It's everyone's favorite night of the week: Taco Night! If you're looking for a lightning quick meal the whole family will love, look no further than this easy Ground Beef Tacos Recipe. We've got all the classics here: crunchy taco shells, seasoned ground beef, cheese, sour cream, and veggies!

Prefer to make taco meat in the slow cooker? Try this Crock Pot Taco Meat recipe.

American Style Crunchy Tacos

Like many Americans, I didn't grow up with "authentic" tacos. It wasn't until I was a teenager that I experienced Chipotle, let alone the wonders of a taco truck.

As an adult, I've fallen in love with birria, al pastor, and barbacoa tacos, but the tacos of my youth will always hold a special place in my heart.

The tacos I grew up with were simple, quick, and made with a staple we always had on hand: ground beef. 

They had a crunchy, hard shell, and were piled high with cheese, sour cream, lettuce, and, eventually (when I discovered I no longer hated them) tomatoes.

I love this recipe because:

• It’s ready in less than 30 minutes. Talk about a quick dinner!
• You can customize it to your specific taste. If you hate tomatoes like I used to, you can omit them. If you’re lactose intolerant, leave out the cheese and sour cream, no problem. Or make them fancy with some cilantro and fresh squeezed lime juice.
• If you have any leftover taco meat, you can use it up in these Taco Lettuce Wraps.

Key Ingredients for Easy Ground Beef Tacos

• Crunchy taco shells - I like my tacos to have a little crunch, but you could also use soft flour or corn tortillas for this recipe.
• Ground beef- Ground turkey works as well, but we're partial to ground beef, for obvious reasons.
• Taco seasoning - Like I said, you can use either store bought or Easy Homemade Taco Seasoning for this recipe. But in my opinion, it’s totally worth the time and effort to make it from scratch. If you have extra seasoning left over, you can use it for One Pot Taco Spaghetti.
• Tomato sauce- Just say no to dry taco meat. Instead of adding water to the meat and seasoning mixture, tomato sauce adds both moisture and flavor for a saucier taco base.

How to Make Our Ground Beef Tacos

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
2. Add the onion and saute until just beginning to soften, about 5 minutes.
3. Stir in the beef, using a spatula or wooden spoon to break it up. Allow to cook undisturbed for several minutes, or until the bottom is browned. Flip and continue to cook until no pink remains. Drain off any excess fat.
4. Stir in the tomato sauce and water and sprinkle with taco seasoning. Let simmer for about 2-3 minutes. Taste and add salt and pepper to taste if needed.
5. Scoop taco meat into shells.
6. Add your toppings of choice.

Toppings for Tacos:

American style:

• Chopped tomatoes
• Shredded lettuce
• Sour cream
• Shredded Mexican blend or cheddar cheese

Street style:

• Diced yellow onion
• Cilantro
• Lime juice

More toppings and sides for tacos:

• Salsa
• Avocado or guacamole
• Sliced radishes
• Pico de gallo
• Black bean and corn salsa
• Air fryer tortilla chips

Tips + Storing and Freezing:

• If you're short on time, omit the onion.
• Add veggies like chopped peppers or zucchini to the onions to up the nutrition.
• Increase the heat by adding more red pepper flakes or a few teaspoons of chipotles in adobo sauce.
• The taco meat will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days.
• Taco meat can also be frozen. Allow to cool completely, then spoon into a plastic storage bag and seal. The meat will keep up to four months. Defrost in the fridge overnight, then reheat in a skillet until warmed through.

FAQs

Which ground beef is best for tacos?

We prefer to use beef with 80%-90% lean ground beef. Remember, fat is flavor, so a higher fat content will generally lead to juicier, more flavorful tacos. I don't recommend going leaner than 90%.

Do you drain meat before adding taco seasoning?

I usually don't drain the meat before adding taco seasoning, unless the grease is very excessive. If you've got more than a few tablespoons of grease, drain some off, but remember we're going for juicy tacos, so we want to keep a decent amount of fat in the pan.

How do you keep ground beef moist for tacos?

First, use 80/20 beef. Next, don't drain off all the grease. Then, add tomato sauce! It coats the beef and adds a little flavor as well, giving it a saucier texture than plain ground beef taco meat.

How much ground beef do you need per person for tacos?

One pound of ground beef should feed 3-4 people (depending on if those people are small children or teenage boys). To be generous, plan on 1 lb. of taco meat for 3 people.

More Taco Recipes

We’re big fans of tacos around here. There’s nothing like a classic Walking Taco Casserole or Ground Beef Taco Salad, but if you want to switch it up a bit, try this Creamy Taco Soup or One Pot Taco Spaghetti.

And if you need a good party appetizer, you gotta make this Layered Taco Dip.