Beef Taco Night Flavor (Printer-friendly)
Seasoned ground beef with fresh toppings served in soft, warm tortillas for a festive gathering.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Beef Filling
01 - 1 lb ground beef
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tbsp chili powder
05 - 1 tsp ground cumin
06 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
07 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
08 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
09 - 1/2 tsp salt
10 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
11 - 1/2 cup tomato sauce
12 - 1/4 cup water
13 - 1 tbsp 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 Make It:
01 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Add ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon. Cook until browned and fully cooked, approximately 5-7 minutes.
04 - Drain excess fat if necessary. Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, cayenne pepper (if using), salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute to release spice flavors.
05 - Pour in tomato sauce and water, mixing well. Simmer for 3-5 minutes until sauce thickens slightly. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
06 - Heat tortillas in a dry skillet or microwave until soft and pliable.
07 - Fill each tortilla with beef mixture. Top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, cilantro, and jalapeños as desired.
08 - Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It comes together in 35 minutes flat, which means you can feed hungry people without spending your whole evening in the kitchen.
- The spice blend actually tastes like something real, not like the sad packet seasoning everyone pretends to love.
- Everyone gets to build their own, so the picky eaters and adventurous tasters all walk away happy.
02 -
- If your filling tastes flat even after adding all the spices, it probably needs more salt—taste it and adjust before you plate.
- Warming the tortillas matters way more than you'd think; cold tortillas are sad, warm ones are forgiving and actually bend without cracking.
- Don't drain all the fat from the beef if there's only a thin layer—that's where flavor lives.
03 -
- Make the beef filling up to a day ahead and reheat it gently when guests arrive—it actually tastes better after the spices have had time to settle.
- If you're cooking for a crowd, double the filling but don't double everything; the spices scale generously but tomato sauce should be adjusted carefully so nothing tastes heavy.