Description
A simple and flavorful ground beef taco meat recipe that comes together in 20 minutes. Perfect for tacos, burritos, or as a filling for various Mexican-inspired dishes, this seasoned beef mix is cooked on the stovetop with aromatic spices and tomato sauce for a rich, savory taste.
Ingredients
Beef Mixture
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ sweet onion, diced
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ¾ cup tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Sauté Onion: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced sweet onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Brown Beef: Add the lean ground beef to the skillet with the onions. Cook the beef thoroughly, breaking it apart with a wooden spatula as it browns evenly, roughly 5 to 7 minutes. Drain most of the excess fat, leaving about one tablespoon in the pan for flavor.
- Season and Simmer: Stir in the tomato sauce along with chili powder, salt, cumin, dried oregano, and garlic powder. Mix well to combine all the spices with the beef. Let the mixture simmer on medium-low heat until the sauce becomes glossy and fully heated through, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Serve: Remove from heat and serve your flavorful ground beef taco meat warm with hard shell tacos, soft flour tortillas, or alongside rice and beans for a complete meal.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef (at least 90% lean) to reduce fat content.
- Adjust chili powder amounts based on preferred spice level.
- For a gluten-free meal, ensure that taco shells or tortillas used are gluten-free.
- Leftover taco meat can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- You can add diced jalapeños or fresh cilantro for extra flavor.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
