My favorite easy recipe for ground beef tacos that doesn't use taco seasoning packets. Don't be intimidated by the long ingredients list -- it's just the seasonings for the tacos
Making tacos is one of my specialities.
I have posted 10 of versions of tacos on the blog (crawfish, tofu, lentil, black bean & kale, Philly cheese steak, fish, shrimp & avocado, slow cooker beef carnitas, slow cooker chicken, slow cooker chicken ranch), but I've never posted a recipe for regular ground beef tacos. Whaaaa?
I took it as a sign when ground sirloin was on sale the other day that I needed to post them asap.
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These tacos are one of my favorite know-by-heart recipes, so it was actually a little challenging to get the recipe just right. I ended up making three batches to make sure it was perfect.
OK, so maybe I just really like these, and I needed an excuse to make tacos 3 times in one week.
I've discussed my hatred for those taco seasoning packets (or any seasoning packet, for that matter) and how it's just as easy to make delicious tacos without those high in sodium, MSG, preservative, weird ingredient-containing packets.
It took me less than 90 seconds to measure out and toss all the spices into the skillet. 90 seconds vs. 10 seconds to have ingredients I want to put in my body vs. junk that does my body no good -- I'll take the 90 second option please and thank you.
[Quick note: These are kinda spicy because I like spicy. Feel free to cut back or omit the cayenne pepper if you're not a spicy fan.]
I'm pretty sure I talk about those evil seasoning packets every chance I get, so thank you for allowing me to jump on my soap box for a minute. I'll hop off now...
The best part is that I was able to use the taco leftovers to make other things! I think my favorite part about ground beef tacos is that you can do a lot with their leftovers. I like to toss in a can of beans, then make salads, stuffed bell peppers, and more.
I usually double the recipe, so I'll be guaranteed leftovers (which also happen to freeze well).
One pound of meat + onions & bell peppers is going to make about 4 cups. The average serving is about 1 cup. So you might want to make more if you are interested in having leftovers to use for some delicious meals I'll be posting later 😉
K, so that about covers it. There's not too much to say because there's not too much to do to produce fantabulous taco-licious results.
Tacos
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion about 1 ¼ cup, diced
- 1 bell pepper about 1 ¼ cup, diced
- 4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- ⅔ cup water
- tortillas for serving
- optional toppings: cheese lettuce, tomatoes, avocado
Instructions
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef, onions, and bell peppers over medium-high heat. Drain and add back to the skillet.
- Stir in chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, oregano, salt, sugar, cayenne pepper, and ground coriander. Stir well to coat ground beef & veggies.
- Sprinkle cornstarch on the mixture and add water. Bring to a simmer, and reduce heat. Simmer until the liquid has thickened, about 15 minutes. Serve in tortillas with your choice of toppings, and enjoy!
Notes
*The coriander and sugar are optional. Both make the tacos taste more like the tacos that use taco seasoning packets.
What to use to make this recipe:
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