Beef Taco Night Flavorful (Printable version)
Seasoned ground beef paired with fresh toppings and warm tortillas, perfect for an easy, festive meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Beef Filling
01 - 1 lb ground beef
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tablespoon chili powder
05 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
06 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
07 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
08 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
11 - 1/2 cup tomato sauce
12 - 1/4 cup water
13 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
→ Tacos & Toppings
14 - 8 small corn or flour tortillas
15 - 1 cup shredded lettuce
16 - 1 cup diced tomatoes
17 - 1 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
18 - 1/2 cup sour cream
19 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
20 - 1/4 cup sliced jalapeños (optional)
21 - Lime wedges, for serving
# How to Prepare:
01 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add finely chopped onion and sauté 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 to the skillet, breaking it apart with a spoon. Cook until browned and fully cooked, about 5 to 7 minutes.
04 - Drain excess fat if present. Stir in chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, cayenne pepper if using, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute to toast spices.
05 - Pour in tomato sauce and water, stirring to combine. Let simmer for 3 to 5 minutes until sauce thickens slightly. Adjust seasoning to taste.
06 - Heat tortillas in a dry skillet or microwave until soft and pliable.
07 - Spoon beef mixture evenly onto each tortilla. Top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, cilantro, and jalapeños as desired.
08 - Serve tacos immediately accompanied by lime wedges.
# Expert advice:
01 -
- It's faster than ordering delivery, and your kitchen smells a thousand times better.
- The spice blend tastes way more complex than the five minutes it takes to cook.
- Everyone can customize their own taco, which somehow makes the meal feel special instead of just efficient.
02 -
- Don't skip draining the fat after the beef browns—too much grease makes the spices taste muddy instead of bright.
- Warm the tortillas right before serving, not ten minutes ahead, or they'll be cold and crack when you try to fold them.
03 -
- Brown the ground beef properly by letting it sit in the pan for a minute before stirring—this creates a crust that tastes infinitely better than constantly moving it around.
- Make the beef filling ahead and reheat it while you warm the tortillas, which buys you five minutes to clean up and look less frantic when people arrive.