It doesn’t have to be Taco Tuesday to make these delicious Beef Tacos!
Who doesn’t love tacos? I swear, I could make them every night for dinner and my family would never get bored or complain. Ok, maybe I’m exaggerating (I do think they might miss spaghetti…), but I can’t think of a more popular dish than the taco: the seasoned meat, the fresh veggies, the tangy cheese, the soft tortillas…I am getting hungry just thinking about them! And although I love almost any kind of taco, my favorite is this savory Beef Taco recipe with either corn or flour tortillas; if you can’t choose, serve both!
While our recipe for Beef Tacos calls for some authentic ingredients, such as cilantro, lime, and avocado, authentic Mexican tacos didn’t always use ground beef; instead, they were (and some still are) filled with sliced skirt or flank steak that is marinated (often with citrus), then grilled or seared. It’s called Carne Asada. In the early 20th century, Mexican immigrants began to fuse their native ingredients with American ones and that’s how the ground beef taco, beloved in the U.S. today, was born. Luckily we can eat both the ground beef version and the Carne Asada version: just depends on what you’re in the mood for.
One of the best things about this recipe for Beef Tacos, aside from that deliciously seasoned ground beef, is the fresh salsa you’ll make. And it couldn’t be easier–a little chopping, some gentle mixing, and you have the freshest and most flavorful taco topping. There’s just something about taking a bite of that warm taco meat covered in those bright tomatoes tossed with onion, cilantro, and lime juice that creates a fiesta in your mouth!
These flavors are really irresistible. In fact, what I often like to do when I’m serving these Beef Tacos is make a salad with whatever greens I happen to have in the fridge and toss them in this Cilantro Lime Dressing (topped with some roasted pepitas!). And it never hurts to have some chips and Queso on the side!
All About Salsa
Salsa is something that we eat with nearly every Mexican dish; it’s the absolute perfect pairing for enchiladas, tostadas, burritos, and these Beef Tacos. And salsa has been around a very long time. It seems to have first appeared in the early Aztec, Inca, and Mayan civilizations. Christopher Columbus, upon “discovering” the Americas, was introduced to tomatoes native to this side of the Atlantic. He brought them back to Europe where they grew in popularity. They then returned to America with Spanish and Portuguese explorers and where they infiltrated dishes like the salsa.
Nowadays, salsa is the go-to Mexican condiment. You can buy all kinds in the grocery store, or you can make your own. We love it because it tastes so delicious, but also because it’s very healthy. With the fresh tomatoes, onions and chilis, salsa is low in calories and the tomatoes are a good source of fiber and vitamins. The popularity of salsa has given rise to different kinds, such as black bean salsa, mango salsa, salsa verde (which uses tomatillos instead of tomatoes), corn salsa…there are so many varieties to enhance your meals and your health!
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
- 1/2 medium onion, diced
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- Juice of 1/2 lime
- 8 corn or flour tortillas
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 avocado, diced
- Extra cilantro for garnish
How to Make Beef Tacos
Step 1: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon.
Step 2: Season the beef with cumin, paprika, garlic powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Cook for another minute to blend the flavors.
Step 3: Remove from heat and set aside.
Step 4: In a small bowl, mix the cherry tomatoes, diced onion, chopped cilantro, lime juice, and a pinch of salt and pepper to create a fresh salsa.
Step 5: Warm the tortillas in the oven or on a skillet until soft and pliable.
Step 6: Assemble the tacos by placing a spoonful of the seasoned beef on each tortilla, followed by the fresh salsa, shredded cheese, and diced avocado.
Step 7: Garnish with additional cilantro if desired and serve immediately.
FAQs & Tips
How do I prep and store these tacos?
The seasoned taco meat can be prepared ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months. The fresh salsa can be prepared and stored in the fridge for up to 7 days, and in the freezer for up to 1 year (use a freezer-safe bag and make sure to press all of the extra air out to prevent ice crystals from forming).
Will these seasonings work if I want to replace the ground beef with chicken?
Absolutely. The combination of cumin, paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper are perfect for chicken tacos; you can also use tofu for a non-meat version.
How do I keep my avocados from browning if I diced them before serving?
Don’t you hate when that happens? But you can prevent the browning by tossing the avocado cubes in lime or lemon juice.
Serving Suggestions
Beans are a natural to serve with Beef Tacos, either these delicious Refried Beans or these Black Bean Cakes with Corn Salsa. And speaking of corn, Beef Tacos are great with a side of Grilled Corn Salad or Roasted Pepper Salad (or both!). If you want to make your Beef Taco dinner really special, why not whip up a Tres Leches Cake for dessert!
Leftover Beef Tacos meat is perfect for lots of other dishes, too. For instance, since it’s already made, why not use it on this Taco Bowl or on these Nachos? It’s also delicious when stuffed inside a Cheese Quesadilla or even a Grilled Cheese sandwich. And here’s something I love to do with leftover Beef Taco meat: make a Mexican pizza! Make your Pizza Crust and top it with Beef Taco meat and some shredded Mexican Blend Cheese. Then, when it comes out of the oven, add shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, diced onion, sliced black olives and jalapenos. Yum!!
Beef Tacos
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes quartered
- 1/2 medium onion diced
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped
- Juice of 1/2 lime
- 8 corn or flour tortillas
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 avocado diced
- Extra cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon.
- Season the beef with cumin, paprika, garlic powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Cook for another minute to blend the flavors.
- Remove from heat and set aside.
- In a small bowl, mix together the cherry tomatoes, diced onion, chopped cilantro, lime juice, and a pinch of salt and pepper to create a fresh salsa.
- Warm the tortillas in the oven or on a skillet until soft and pliable.
- Assemble the tacos by placing a spoonful of the seasoned beef on each tortilla, followed by the fresh salsa, shredded cheese, and diced avocado.
- Garnish with additional cilantro if desired and serve immediately.
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