These Ground Beef Tacos are made with perfectly seasoned meat in a crunchy corn shell and topped with all the fixings. This taco beef recipe is one of most delicious healthy quick meals.
For more healthy taco recipes, check out these scrumptious and healthy ground turkey tacos and chicken street tacos. And this one pan ground chicken taco recipe is super popular among busy readers as well.
Table of contents
20 Minute Homemade Hamburger Tacos
Hi, I am Dina and I run the blog SimplyHomeCooked.com. Probably just like you, I absolutely love tacos because they’re simple, versatile, and delicious. Whether it’s easy shrimp tacos or healthy fish tacos, we love them all! And I am sure these ground beef tacos are next in the lineup. Homemade tacos seasoned with an easy mixture of spices that bring lots of flavor and a touch of heat. The hardest part of this ground beef taco recipe is just chopping up the toppings!
When I feel like something easier, I go with these skillet enchiladas or taco skillet. But when I want some crunchy corn tortillas filled with seasoned meat and my favorite fixings, like crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, melting cheese, and sour cream, then this hamburger taco recipe is my go-to.
You’re going to love the mix of flavors and spices these tacos have. And when you run out of taco shells, don’t worry, this taco salad has you covered. Either way, your family is going to love Taco Tuesdays.
Ingredients for This Ground Beef Taco Recipe
Beef taco ingredients couldn’t have been more simple!
- Beef: Use ground beef (90 % lean).
- Flavor additions: Use fresh garlic and minced onion to add more flavor to the beef.
- Taco seasoning: Chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, pepper, cayenne.
- Taco shells: I use crunchy corn tacos, but you can use soft flour tortillas or healthier corn tortillas as well.
- Toppings: Sour cream (yogurt), lettuce, tomatoes, shredded cheddar, cilantro, lime juice.
How to Make Beef Tacos
- Saute the onions first: Add the olive oil to a large skillet and bring the heat to medium. Then add in the diced onion and stir until it becomes translucent, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add the beef and garlic: Now bring the heat up to medium-high and add in the ground beef and minced garlic.
- Add the seasonings: Stir the beef until it’s mostly done. Then add in the spices: chili powder, cumin, paprika, dried oregano, onion powder, salt, pepper, and a pinch of cayenne.
- Finish cooking the beef: Let the ground beef finish cooking with its seasonings, about 2-3 minutes. Taste and add more salt, if you prefer.
- Assemble the tacos: Fill your tacos with the cooked taco beef and top with shredded iceberg lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded cheddar, sour cream, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice, or any other favorites. Serve and enjoy!
Tips and Serving Suggestions for Ground Beef Tacos
- Use ground chicken or turkey for a healthier alternative. Either works well in place of the beef.
- You can buy taco seasoning in the store, but homemade is always better – make your own or try this homemade taco seasoning. It will be low sodium and preservative free.
- Serve these ground beef tacos in soft flour or corn tortillas for a change of pace.
- Go low carb by serving these ground beef tacos on a bed of lettuce instead of the shell.
Try some of these amazing toppings to level up your flavors on Taco Tuesdays:
- Salsa or pico de gallo.
- Greek yogurt (for a healthier sour cream substitute).
- This yummy mash-up salsa guacamole.
- Diced avocado, onion, jalapenos. Also this creamy healthy coleslaw or my mom’s no mayo vinegar coleslaw will go well with this ground beef taco recipe.
How to Make Ahead and Store Leftovers
If you’re preparing to serve these later, just place the seasoned ground beef in a slow cooker on low to keep it warm for when you’re ready to eat. The taco shells can be warmed for a few minutes in the oven before filling them, then add the toppings stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
If you’re meal prepping this for another day, then chop the garlic and onion and place them in lidded containers. You can also combine the seasonings in a small jar and then just cook up the meat and serve these beef tacos even on busy weeknights.
You can refrigerate leftovers for 3-4 days, placing the cooked beef in an airtight container and storing the toppings separately. To reheat, place the meat in a skillet for a few minutes over medium heat, just enough to warm through. Then assemble your tacos and enjoy!
More Mexican Recipes
- Carne asada tacos
- Baked tacos
- Chicken burrito skillet
- Instant Pot chicken tacos
- Chipotle chicken bowl recipe
- Bang bang shrimp tacos
Still have a taste for beef, but not feeling like Mexican? How about this savory and healthy beef and broccoli!
Ground Beef Tacos
Ingredients
For the Beef
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 cup yellow onion finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 lb lean ground beef 90% lean
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- Pinch of cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Add a tablespoon of olive oil to a large skillet and bring the heat to medium. Then add in the diced onion and stir until it becomes translucent. This should take about 3-5 minutes.
- Then bring the heat to medium-high and add in the ground beef and minced garlic.
- Stir the beef until it’s about 90 percent done. Then add in the following spices: chili powder, cumin, paprika, dried oregano, onion powder, salt, pepper, and a pinch of cayenne.
- Let the ground beef finish off cooking in the spices for an additional 2-3 minutes. Then taste and add more salt if necessary. The saltiness is all personal preference.
- Now fill your tacos with the cooked taco beef and add toppings like shredded iceberg lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded cheddar, sour cream, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice. Serve these tacos immediately for the best flavor.
Notes
- Store: You can refrigerate leftovers for 3-4 days, placing the cooked beef in an airtight container and storing the toppings separately.
- Reheat: Place the meat in a skillet for a few minutes over medium heat, just enough to warm through. Then assemble your tacos and enjoy!
- Use ground chicken or turkey for a healthier alternative. Either works well in place of the beef.
- You can buy taco seasoning in the store, but homemade is always better – make your own or try this homemade taco seasoning. It will be low sodium and preservative free.
- Serve these ground beef tacos in soft flour or corn tortillas for a change of pace.
- Go low carb by serving these ground beef tacos on a bed of lettuce instead of the shell.
Delicious, but gotta say, I fried my own corn tortillas – U just haven’t lived until you make ur own at home for ur homemade tacos. Disappointingly, many fast food, and even NOT FAST restaurants are using the dried preforms. If u ever have the time, just give them a quick fry, paper towels between each to soak up any clinging oil. Wonderful!
But the seasonings and veggies were absolutely delicious in these tacos, especially using beef for a change!! Flavors were really yummy!!! ty!!!!
Hi Debbie. I agree with you about the fact that many good restaurants use pre-made corn tortillas. Long time ago I bought a corn tortilla press, tried them once and failed. It is on my list to try them again this winter. I bet they’re delicious, you have inspired me! So glad you loved the feeling in these tacos!
Tacos never disappoint, loved this easy recipe.
So glad you enjoyed them!