With just the right amount of spice, my Taco Meat Recipeis ready in 20 minutes! No need to wait for Taco Tuesday! With this recipe, anytime is Taco Time!
The right Taco Meat Recipe is the cornerstone of a great taco. The true origin of tacos(tortillas stuffed with spiced meat and other fixings) is unknown. Some say they originated in the silver mines of 18th-century Mexico. They’ve come a long way since then. In 2017 over 4.5 billion were consumed in the U.S. alone! They’re a regular supper at my house, and the star of the show is my Taco Meat Recipe!
When people tell me they don’t know how to cook taco meat with taco seasoning that doesn’t come prepackaged, I’m excited to share this recipe.
I’m telling you- this recipe is so easy you’ll never use the packages again! Don’t be tempted to make thiswithout tomato sauce. That little bit of sauce has a big impact on the depth of flavor! Saucy and spiced to perfection, this recipe will be a hit with any taco lover!
Try more yummy taco-inspired recipes your family will love! Turkey taco meat is great for when you’re looking for a lower-fat version. My taco pasta salad is a salad that eats like a meal! Try it when the weather warms up.
Taco Rice is a simple one-skillet stovetop meal perfect for those super busy weeknight meals. If you’re looking for cool weather, a comforting dinner try my taco soup.
What I Love Most About This Recipe
- It’s bursting with taco flavor
- It’s moist but not soupy
- It’s easy to double and freeze the extra
- It can be used for more than just tacos
Taco Meat Ingredients
There’s no need for packaged Taco Meat seasoning to make amazing tacos. Homemade is so much better!
- Vegetable Oil:
- Onion:
- Chili Powder:
- Garlic:
- Cumin:
- Coriander:
- Oregano:
- Cayenne Powder:
- Salt:
- Ground Beef:
- Tomato Sauce:
- Apple Cider Vinegar:
- Brown Sugar:
- Water:
Tips
- More than just tacos- Taco Meat can be used for far more than just tacos! It’s perfect over chips as nachos or as the filling for beef enchiladas or burritos!
- Blooming the Spices- We start with the aromatics and the spices to magnify their flavor and spread them evenly throughout the dish. Trust your nose to know when they’re done! As soon as they smell scrumptious, add in the meat!
Storing + Freezing + Make-Ahead
- How Long Can You Keep This In The Fridge? This will last in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Can You Freeze This? This recipe freezes beautifully. To freeze, just make it as directed and allow it to cool completely. Put in a freezer bag, label it, and pop it in the freezer! Consider freezing individual portions for a quick snack!
- Make-Ahead: This easy recipe can absolutely be made ahead of time. It will hold well for several days in the fridge. My Taco Recipe is of those dishes that time only improves the flavors!
- Food Safety: If you’d like more info on food safety check out this link.
What Is The Best Meat To Use For Taco Meat?
I like to use 80/20 ground beef. I find that the fat-to-lean meat ratio creates the best flavor when combined with all the delicious spices in this recipe.
Serving Recommendations
I like to serve this with my Southwest salad,charro beans, Mexican street corn casserole and/or Mexican rice. Finish things off with my easy-peasy margarita cake or pineapple delight for an epic south-of-the-border-inspired meal.
How Do You Make Taco Meat Recipe?
1. Sauté onions until they’re soft.
2. Add chili powder, garlic, cumin, coriander, oregano, cayenne, and salt. Cook until fragrant.
3. Add ground beef and break up the meat. Cook until there is no longer any pink left.
4. Add tomato sauce.
5. Add vinegar.
6. Add brown sugar.
7. Simmer the mixture until slightly thickened. Adjust seasoning as needed.
****See Full Instructions Below
Now that you know how to cook Taco Meat, there’s no need to wait for Taco Night at the local Mexican joint. Any night can be Taco Night 🙂
More Taco-Inspired Dishes
- Bisquick Taco Bake
- Bisquick Impossible Taco Pie
- Taco Lasagna
- Taco Pasta
- Achiote Roasted Pork Tacos
- Taco Joes
- Taco Spaghetti
- Taco Casserole
- Spaghetti Tacos
- Taco Mac and Cheese
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Taco Meat Recipe
With just the right amount of spice, my Taco Meat Recipeis ready in 20 minutes! No need to wait for Taco Tuesday! With this recipe, anytime is Taco Time!
Prep Time7 minutes mins
Cook Time23 minutes mins
Total Time30 minutes mins
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Kathleen
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 cup onion, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- salt
- 1 pound ground beef, 80/20
- 1/2 cup canned tomato sauce
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar, packed
- 3 tablespoons water
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
In a skillet, heat vegetable oil (1 tablespoon) until it begins to shimmer. Stir in onions (1 cup) and saute until they're soft about 5 minutes.
Add chili powder (2tablespoons), garlic (3 cloves), cumin (1teaspoon), coriander (1teaspoon), oregano (1/2teaspoon), cayenne (1/8teaspoon), and 1 teaspoon salt. Continue to cook until the mixture becomes fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Add ground beef (1pound),break up the meat, and continue to cook until there is no longer any pink left, about 5 minutes.
Add the tomato sauce (1/2cup), vinegar (2teaspoons), brown sugar (1teaspoon), and water (3tablespoons). Simmer mixture until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Adjust seasoning as needed.
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Bisquick Impossible Taco Pie
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Turkey Tacos Recipe
Walking Tacos
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Notes
- More than just tacos- Taco Meat can be used for far more than just tacos! It’s perfect over chips as nachos or as the filling for beef enchiladas or burritos!
- Blooming the Spices- We start with the aromatics and the spices to magnify their flavor and spread them evenly throughout the dish. Trust your nose to know when they’re done! As soon as they smell scrumptious, add in the meat!
Nutrition
Serving: 1/4 of the recipe | Calories: 365kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 413mg | Potassium: 585mg | Fiber: 2.5g | Sugar: 4.3g | Vitamin A: 1345IU | Vitamin C: 7.8mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 3.8mg
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? I'D LOVE TO SEE!Tag @GonnaWantSeconds or #gonnawantseconds on Instagram!
© Gonna Want Seconds. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media/website/blog is strictly prohibited.
Source: Adapted From America’s Test Kitchen
Reader Interactions
Comments
Dena says
Love it
Reply
Kathleen says
Thanks, Dena!
Reply
Waleedahmed Alfarsi says
Can’t wait to try it!!!!☺️😊
Reply
Ronda says
I notice the recipe calls for 90/10 ground beef but in the comments, you said you liked using 80/20. Which works best?
Reply
Kathleen says
Hi Ronda. I use 80/20 🙂
Reply
Marsha M-SOCAL says
In the text you say you use 80/20 ground beef, but in the printed ingredients part of the recipe it says 90/10 ground beef. Which one do you use?
Reply
Kathleen says
Hey Marsha. I use 80/20!!
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Cristina says
This was a very tasty taco sauce! We all loved it and I’m so glad because I always despised the after taste when you use the packets. The sugar takes the acid away from the tomato sauce and the vinegar rounds the spices out nicely.
Reply
Kathleen says
Thanks, Cristina! So happy to hear you liked it! ❤️
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Heather says
Awesome recipe!!! I will definitely be making regularly. Thank you!!!
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Kathleen says
Hi Heather! Thank you so much! ❤️ Enjoy cooking!
Reply
Amoreen Baksh says
It doesn’t say the measurement for the chicken broth. How much am I suppose to use?
Reply
Kathleen says
Hi Amoreen. I’ve updated the recipe. I found that omitting the chicken broth allowed me to get the same delicious taste without having to simmer it for an extended time to get it to the proper consistency. Sorry for the confusion! We are making new collage photos to reflect the recipe update this weekend <3
Reply
Sara says
Haha I had the same question because the broth is still listed in the instructions under the recipe but not listed in the ingredients. I just kinda slowly added in 1/2 c of beef broth while it was simmering.
Robin says
Everyone loved the tacos……thank you for the recipe!
Reply
Kathleen says
You’re welcome Robin! ❤️
Reply
Candace E Starkey says
thank you for the great recipes! You must be a great cook!
Reply
Kathleen says
Hi, Candace! Thank you so much! <3 🙂
Reply
Aj says
Can’t wait to try these tacos
Reply
Kathleen says
Yay! Thanks, Aj! Let us know how it turns out 🙂
Reply
Lindsey says
I’ve been looking for a good taco meat recipe, thanks for sharing!!!
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