Description
These ground beef tacos are a flavorful and quick weeknight favorite, seasoned with a homemade blend of spices and customizable toppings like fresh pico de gallo, sharp cheddar, and avocado. Perfect for serving with warm tortillas or crispy hard shells, they offer a nostalgic yet fresh take on classic 90s-style tacos.
Ingredients
Scale
Ground Beef and Seasoning
- 1 pound 85% to 93% lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
Pico de Gallo
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered
- ½ sweet onion, diced
- ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
- ½ lime, juiced
- Pinch of salt and pepper
Toppings and Serving
- Corn or flour tortillas, warmed
- Hard shells or tortilla chips (optional)
- Sharp white cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- Avocado, diced
- Fresh cilantro
- Quick pickled onions
Optional Vegetables
- 1 diced onion
- 1 diced bell pepper
- Few minced garlic cloves
- 1 to 2 teaspoons olive oil (for sautéing vegetables)
Instructions
- Heat the skillet: Place a skillet over medium heat. Typically, no oil is needed as the ground beef contains enough fat; however, if desired, add 1 teaspoon of olive oil.
- Brown the ground beef: Add the ground beef to the hot skillet and break it apart using a wooden spoon. Stir frequently until the beef begins to brown.
- Add seasoning: Sprinkle in the cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well to evenly distribute the spices, then cook until beef is fully browned.
- Optional saucier beef: If you prefer saucier tacos, add a tablespoon of beef or vegetable stock, or tomato sauce. Stir and dilute the seasoning accordingly.
- Prepare optional vegetables (if using): In a separate skillet or after removing beef, heat 1 to 2 teaspoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add diced onion, bell pepper, minced garlic, and a pinch of salt. Sauté for about 5 minutes until softened.
- Mix pico de gallo: In a bowl, combine quartered cherry tomatoes, diced sweet onion, chopped cilantro, lime juice, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix gently.
- Warm tortillas and assemble tacos: Warm corn or flour tortillas in the oven for a few minutes. Serve beef in the tortillas or on preferred vehicle (nachos, salads), and top with pico de gallo, shredded white cheddar, diced avocado, fresh cilantro, and quick pickled onions.
Notes
- This recipe is a perfect throwback to 90s-style ground beef tacos with a fresh homemade seasoning blend.
- You can customize the tacos by adding sautéed peppers and onions for extra texture and flavor.
- For a saucier filling, add broth or tomato sauce as desired.
- Use either corn or flour tortillas depending on your preference, and add hard shells or chips for crunch.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 2 tacos)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
