Beef Tacos Classic Mexican (Printable Version)

Mexican-style tacos filled with seasoned beef and topped with fresh lettuce, cheese, and zesty salsa in soft or crunchy shells.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beef Filling

01 - 1 lb ground beef
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
05 - 2 tsp chili powder
06 - 1 tsp ground cumin
07 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
08 - ½ tsp dried oregano
09 - ½ tsp salt
10 - ¼ tsp black pepper
11 - ⅓ cup water
12 - 1 tbsp olive oil

→ Tacos

13 - 8 small taco shells (soft flour or crunchy corn tortillas)
14 - 1 cup iceberg lettuce, shredded
15 - 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
16 - 1 cup salsa (store-bought or homemade)
17 - 1 medium tomato, diced (optional)
18 - ½ cup sour cream (optional)
19 - Fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
20 - Lime wedges (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the finely chopped onion and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until softened.
02 - Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Add ground beef, breaking it up with a spatula. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes until browned and fully cooked. Drain excess fat if necessary.
04 - Stir in tomato paste, chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly.
05 - Pour in water and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly. Remove from heat.
06 - Heat taco shells according to package instructions until warm and pliable.
07 - Fill each taco shell with a generous portion of beef mixture. Top with shredded lettuce, cheddar cheese, salsa, and optional tomato, sour cream, chopped cilantro, and a squeeze of lime.
08 - Serve immediately while tacos are warm and fresh.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Ready in 30 minutes flat, no shortcuts required.
  • The seasoning blend tastes like you've been simmering it for hours when it's really just minutes.
  • Customizable enough that picky eaters and spice lovers can both be happy at the same table.
02 -
  • Don't skip draining excess fat from the beef if there's a pool of it; this isn't about being healthy, it's about balance and texture.
  • Warm your tortillas right before you eat, not 10 minutes before, or they'll toughen up and lose their charm.
03 -
  • Brown your onions and garlic fully before adding beef so they develop flavor instead of steaming in the meat juice.
  • Taste the beef filling before serving and adjust salt or spices if needed; it takes 10 seconds and makes all the difference.
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