Homemade Tacos are the perfect busy weeknight dinner. These Easy Ground Beef Tacos are better than take-out and ready in minutes.
Mexican Tacos
Traditional Mexican beef tacos are made with marinated sliced or shredded beef on soft corn tortillas. Those are great! But, that’s not what most Americans think of when we think of classic tacos.
Best Ground Beef Taco Recipe
Most of us grew up eating ground beef tacos in a crispy corn shell or a soft flour tortilla, with lots of toppings. That’s the traditional taco we’re making in this recipe. But, we’re not using a pre-packaged taco seasoning mix. This recipe uses a flavorful homemade taco seasoning.
What Kind of Ground Beef For Tacos?
Lean ground beef is the best beef to use for making tacos because you don’t need to drain off any fat after cooking it. There is just enough fat in the beef to make it super flavorful, but not so much to make it greasy. Skipping the step to drain the fat makes this a quick and easy taco recipe.
Of course, if you have ground beef with more fat, you can still use it in this recipe. Just cook the beef and drain off the fat before you add the taco seasonings.
How To Make Tacos
*Note: The full printable recipe card is at the bottom of this post.
- Break apart lean ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add chili powder, cumin, salt, oregano, garlic powder, and pepper.
- Cook until the beef is browned.
- Add tomato sauce and water to the meat.
- Cook until some liquid has evaporated, but the meat is still saucy.
- Spoon 2 tablespoons of the taco meat into hard taco shells or small soft tortillas.
- Top the tacos with your favorite traditional taco toppings.
Taco Toppings
- Shredded cheese
- Shredded lettuce
- Chopped tomatoes
- Diced onion
- Sliced avocado
- Sour cream
- Guacamole
How Much Taco Meat Do You Need Per Person?
If you use the traditional size hard taco shell, or small 6-inch flour tortillas, 2 tablespoons of taco meat per taco is the perfect amount. This recipe, using 1 pound of lean ground beef, will make 12 tacos. I tend to serve 3 tacos per person. So I use 1 pound of taco meat for 4 people.
Watch the step by step recipe video for The Best Homemade Tacos Recipe below.
The Best Homemade Tacos Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb. 90% to 93% lean ground beef
- 1 Tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 12 taco shells - either hard shells or small 6-inch soft flour tortillas will work
- Optional Taco Toppings: shredded cheese shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, diced red onion, taco sauce, sour cream, guacamole, etc.
Instructions
- Add the beef to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Break the meat apart with a wooden spoon. Add the chili powder, cumin, salt, oregano, garlic powder, and pepper to the meat. Stir well. Cook until the meat is cooked through, about 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add the tomato sauce and water. Stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 7-8 minutes, until some of the liquid evaporates but the meat mixture is still a little saucy. Remove from the heat.
- Warm the taco shells according to their package directions.
- Fill the taco shells with 2 heaping tablespoons of taco meat. Top with desired taco toppings: shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, diced red onion, taco sauce, sour cream, guacamole, etc.
Nutrition
Try These Great Ground Beef Recipes
Renea says
Looks very delicious and so colorful
Noelle says
This was perfect last night for taco tuesday!! I loved the flavors, delicious!
Jenna @ CookingInTheSouth says
My mouth is watering! Looks absolutely delicious!
Suzy says
One of my favorite weeknight meals to make! The whole family loved it!
Lisa says
It is the one Friday night dish my son loves. This recipe is very easy. I was using spaghetti sauce. I think next time I ‘ll try fresh chopped onions, bell peppers and garlic ; trying to add more fiber.
Jerry says
Drain the meat somewhere along the way (before adding seasonings, I’d think).
Chad says
Think she covered that In the intro. If your using really lean meat, no need to drain ,if using fatty meat, drain. Please read
Shellee says
Yes
Natalia says
The taco meat turned out delicious. I just reduced salt a bit.
Colleen says
Just wandering can I add can of black beans to this recipe. Will this recipe enough to serve 6 adults and two kids
Betty says
I followed your recipe and we really enjoyed them tonight. The flavor was very good.
I added 1/2 can of reffried beans Thank you
Jadine says
This recipe is amazing. I will deffo make this again
Bev Deucher says
Family loved these. Easy and way less sodium (I reduced salt) than prepacked store seasoning.
Esi says
I cooked this yesterday for my family and they absolutely LOVEDDD it !!! I was even able to make prawn tacos, as well as beef tacos using the same recipe, it was absolutely DELICIOUS, it tasted so good ! If only I could attach some pictures, because they came out so great ! Thank you so much for this recipe, I will definitely try it out again !!! x
Mikey Z says
Awesome recipe, thanks
Mariel says
I loved this recipe! It was so easy and simple.
Carlee says
It is terrific! The only way I will ever make taco meat again for all of time. All ingredients easily on hand, low sodium, great tasting, no heartburn!
dmfitz00 says
This was so good! Thanks.
Icecream says
It was great, amazing, and super healthy! I love it!
Justine says
This recipe is absolutely amazing and I love it. I did add less cumin and salt, but everything else was amazing!
Eva Sadat says
This was so simple to make and super tasty. Everyone loved it including my picky kid and husband. Definitely a keeper!
Vicki Hartye says
So delecious, and so very easy to make.This is a keeper.My husband said one of the best !!!
Thanks Vicki Hartye
Lucy says
What’s the tomato sauce? Is it ketchup, passata or paste?
Kate says
You can just buy a can that specifically says “tomato sauce” from the grocery store near the canned tomatoes.
Rachel says
Made it tonight, it was delicious! My husband loves the prepackaged taco seasoning but he said this was better! So happy to make one of our favorites a bit healthier and it was easy too!
Nikki says
Good but wish I omitted the salt – too salty for my taste.
Ty says
Great flavor and easy prep! Added diced fire roasted green chilis to the pan for the last 5 minutes or so of simmering.
Mohit Atri says
Wow, it’s mesmerizing me. You did a great jog, thanks for the recipe.
Randi Barritt says
Great taco recipe. I ad a bit more tomato sauce but probably not needed. Just my taste.