Homemade tacos with ground meat: step-by-step recipe
Ground beef tacos can be prepared in 20 minutes. Brown ground beef with onion, garlic, cumin, and paprika, then fill warmed corn or wheat tortillas with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and fresh sauce. It's a quick and affordable homemade version of Mexican tacos.
Here is the recipe for 4 people, the spice blend, the toppings to prepare, the choice of tortilla, and the mistakes that make the meat dry. Once you have mastered the basics, everyone can assemble their tacos at the table according to their tastes.
Ground beef taco recipe
Here are the ingredients for 8 tacos, enough to serve 4 people, then the preparation steps to follow in order, from the sautéed onion to the warmed tortillas.
Ingredients for 4 people (8 tacos)
- 500 g of 15% fat ground beef
- 8 small corn or wheat tortillas (15 to 18 cm)
- 1 onion and 2 cloves of garlic
- 1 tablespoon of oil
- 2 tablespoons of tomato paste
- For the spices: 1 teaspoon of cumin, 1 teaspoon of mild paprika, 1/2 teaspoon of oregano, 1/4 teaspoon of chili pepper, salt and pepper
Steps
- Finely chop the onion and garlic.
- Heat the oil over high heat and sauté the onion for 3 minutes.
- Add the meat and garlic, then break it up with a spatula for 6 to 7 minutes, until it is no longer pink.
- Remove the excess fat, add the spices and the tomato paste diluted in 4 tablespoons of water.
- Let it reduce for 3 minutes: the sauce should coat the meat without drowning it.
- Reheat the tortillas for 20 seconds per side in a dry pan, fill, and fold in half.
This same spiced meat base can become a homemade chili con carne: add tomatoes and red beans, then let it simmer.
How to make ground beef for tacos tender
Tender ground beef in a taco depends on a few simple adjustments.
- The fat content: 15% makes the meat tender. At 5%, it becomes dry in the tortilla.
- High heat: a very hot pan sears the meat. Cook in two batches if the pan is small, otherwise the meat will boil in its own juices.
- A splash of water with the paste: it dissolves the spices and forms a light sauce that coats every bite.
- The grain: coarsely ground meat, with a 6 to 8 mm grind, keeps more bite than very finely ground meat.
Grinding a piece of chuck or top round yourself just before cooking gives juicier meat. To choose a device suited to the quantity you are preparing, browse the meat grinder collection.
What to put in a taco: the toppings
Tacos are filled just before eating, so that the tortilla stays soft. The most common toppings:
- shredded iceberg lettuce or romaine lettuce;
- diced tomatoes and sliced red onions;
- shredded cheese (cheddar, emmental);
- guacamole, sour cream, or Greek yogurt;
- a tomato, cilantro, and lime salsa;
- corn, red beans, or jalapeños.
The salsa requires finely chopped onion, tomato, and cilantro. A bowl chopper does it in a few pulses, without turning the tomato into purée: the electric chopper collection includes these models, practical for preparing all the toppings in a few minutes.
Corn or wheat tortilla: which one to choose?
This table compares the corn tortilla, the wheat tortilla, and the crispy shell according to taste, hold, and ideal use. Our advice for deciding follows the table.
| Tortilla | Taste | Hold | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corn tortilla | Distinctive, slightly sweet | More fragile, folds in half | Traditional tacos |
| Wheat tortilla | Neutral | Flexible, holds up to generous toppings | Hearty tacos, children |
| Crispy shell | Neutral, crunchy | Stays open, easy to fill | Taco night with customizable options |
For traditional tacos, go with corn. For generous toppings or children, the wheat tortilla holds up better. For a version close to ground beef fajitas, add sautéed pepper strips to the filling.
How to make ground beef tortillas?
The same spiced meat can also be rolled in a tortilla, rather than folded in half.
Prepare the spiced meat, then warm wheat tortillas for 20 seconds per side. Fill the center with meat, lettuce, and cheese, fold the edges, then roll. For a baked version, arrange them in a dish, sprinkle with cheese, and bake for 5 minutes.
Homemade tacos ready in 20 minutes
Well-spiced 15% ground beef, warm tortillas, and fresh toppings are enough for a meal everyone at the table will enjoy. If you can, grind the meat yourself just before cooking: it stays juicier and you choose the grain. For another homemade street food idea, try our homemade ground beef kebab.
All our meat and topping grinders are gathered on Hachoir Cuisine.