Print

Perfect Ground Beef Street Tacos for National Taco Day

ground beef street tacos - featured image
Print Recipe

These ground beef street tacos are fast, flavorful, and perfect for any night of the week. With crispy-edged seasoned beef, warm corn tortillas, and fresh toppings, they prove you don’t need a fancy cut of meat to make something worth celebrating.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ⅓ cup beef broth or water
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 12 small corn tortillas
  • ½ cup diced white onion (for topping)
  • ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
  • ¼ cup crumbled cotija cheese
  • Salsa verde or pico de gallo (for serving)
  • Lime wedges (for serving)
  • Hot sauce (optional, for serving)

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients: Dice the onion for the beef filling and set aside about half a cup of raw diced onion for the topping. Mince the garlic cloves. Chop the cilantro. Cut the lime in half. Measure out all your spices into a small bowl. Crumble the cotija cheese.
  2. Warm the tortillas: Heat a dry cast-iron skillet or comal over medium-high heat. Working in batches, warm each corn tortilla for about 30 seconds per side until pliable and slightly charred. Stack the warmed tortillas in a clean kitchen towel to keep them soft.
  3. Brown the beef: Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over high heat until shimmering. Add the ground beef and let it sit undisturbed for 2 minutes. Break the meat apart and let it cook for another 2 minutes without stirring. Repeat until deeply browned and crispy in places, about 6-8 minutes total.
  4. Cook the aromatics: Push the beef to one side of the pan. Add the diced onion to the empty side and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and stir everything together. Cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Add the seasonings: Sprinkle the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, and pepper over the beef mixture. Stir and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and stir until it coats the meat evenly. Cook for another minute.
  6. Deglaze and simmer: Pour in the beef broth (or water) and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Reduce heat to medium-low and let the mixture simmer for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated and the meat is coated in a rich, glossy sauce.
  7. Finish and serve: Remove the pan from the heat. Squeeze the juice of half a lime over the meat and stir in the chopped cilantro. Taste and adjust seasoning. Assemble tacos: take a warm tortilla, add a generous spoonful of the seasoned beef, and top with diced onion, fresh cilantro, crumbled cotija cheese, and a drizzle of salsa verde. Squeeze a lime wedge over the top and add hot sauce if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

For the best texture, use 80/20 ground beef and don’t crowd the pan. Warm tortillas properly to prevent cracking. The beef can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months. For a spicier version, add chipotle peppers in adobo or a diced jalapeño.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef street tacos, easy taco recipe, National Taco Day, homemade taco seasoning, quick weeknight dinner, Mexican street food

Find it online: https://twinkletaste.com/perfect-ground-beef-street-tacos-for-national-taco-day/