Seasoned meat is served in crunchy taco shells and loaded with toppings in this Ground Beef Tacos recipe. Ready in just 25 minutes, these tacos are great for a quick and easy weeknight dinner.
I’ve published many different taco-inspired recipes, from taco salad and taco dip to taco pasta. But I realized I never shared my recipe for actual ground beef tacos! So that’s what I have for you today – a quick, easy, and super flavorful ground beef taco recipe. This is definitely one that will be a repeat on the dinner table!
Why This Is The Best Ground Beef Tacos Recipe
- Flavorful beef. The ground beef is seasoned with a handful of different spices to achieve the perfect blend of typical taco flavor. It simmers in the homemade taco seasoning for a few minutes to ensure each bite is packed with flavor.
- Crispy shells. Instead of using store-bought shells, I fried tortillas to make homemade crunchy taco shells for these ground beef tacos. Feel free to use what you prefer but I definitely recommend trying the homemade shells!
- Customizable. I’ve included our go-to toppings for these tacos below but feel free to customize them however you’d like! You can also customize the meat by swapping the beef for ground turkey or even making it a bit spicier.
Recipe Ingredients
These tacos are made with ground beef, a handful of seasonings, and tortillas. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the exact measurements.
- Ground beef – I like to use lean ground beef to avoid excess grease.
- Seasonings – Chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, salt, and pepper season the beef.
- Cornstarch – Helps thicken the sauce.
- Water
- Tortillas – Use taco-sized corn or flour tortillas.
- Vegetable oil – For frying the tortillas.
How To Make Ground Beef Tacos
These tacos make a great weeknight dinner because they’re so quick and easy to make. The printable instructions are in the recipe card below.
- Cook the beef. Cook the ground beef over medium heat for 5-7 minutes until browned and fully cooked. Drain off excess grease.
- Season & simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the spices and cornstarch then stir to evenly coat the beef. Add the water. Simmer for 3-5 minutes, until the liquid thickens. Remove from heat.
- Fry the tortillas. Add an inch of oil to a skillet and heat to 350F. Carefully place the tortilla in the oil, using tongs to hold it into a taco shape. Fry until golden and crispy, about 30-60 seconds. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels. Repeat with the remaining tortillas.
- Assemble. Fill each taco shell with the ground beef taco meat. Add your favorite toppings. Serve and enjoy!
Tips & Variations
Here are a few helpful tips for making these ground beef tacos, as well as some variations.
- Drain excess grease. Before adding the water and seasoning, remove any excess grease from the pan to prevent the taco meat from being too greasy.
- Keep the oil hot. The key to taco shells that are crispy but not too greasy is to make the oil is at 350F before adding the tortilla. That way, they crisp up quickly without being too infused with the grease.
- Try another protein. Use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef if preferred.
- Skip frying the tortillas. Soft corn or flour tortillas work just as well if you prefer a non-crispy taco shell.
- Add some heat. If you want a spicier kick, add crushed red pepper flakes or a touch of cayenne pepper to the ground beef.
Topping Ideas
The toppings are half the fun of tacos! I love to offer a spread of a handful of different toppings and let everyone build their own ground beef tacos.
Our favorite toppings are shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, salsa, shredded cheese (like Monterey Jack, cheddar or a Mexican blend), guacamole, avocado crema, and sour cream.
Other options include diced onions, pickled onions, sliced jalapeños, black beans, hot sauce, avocado slices, and salsa verde. I also like to garnish with cilantro and serve lime wedges on the side.
How To Store & Reheat Leftovers
The taco shells should be enjoyed fresh but the seasoned meat makes great leftovers!
- Fridge. Store leftover seasoned ground beef in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat. Reheat the beef in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of water to bring back its sauciness, or use the microwave.
Ground Beef Tacos
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 2/3 cup water
- 8 taco size flour tortillas or corn tortillas
- Vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up into small pieces, until browned and fully cooked, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess grease if necessary.
- Lower the heat to medium-low and sprinkle the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, salt, black pepper, and cornstarch evenly over the cooked beef.
- Stir until the seasonings and cornstarch are evenly coating the ground beef.
- Pour in the water and stir. Simmer the mixture for about 3-5 or until thickened. Turn off the heat and set aside.
- Heat about 1 inch of oil in a deep skillet to 350°F (175°C). Take a flour or corn tortilla and carefully place one into the oil. Hold the tortilla in a folded taco shape using tongs, frying it until crispy and golden, about 30-60. Drain on paper towels and repeat with the remaining tortillas.
- Assemble the tacos by filling each shell with the seasoned ground beef. Top with lettuce, pico de gallo, shredded Monterey Jack cheese, guacamole, and sour cream.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
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