Beef Taco Meat

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I never used to like ground beef tacos when I got them at fast food restaurants. Made from scratch it can be easy and delicious.

I usually serve this on flour tortillas with whatever things I have around. Sauteed onions and peppers are great with this, so are refried beans and rice. I like to make a large batch then put the leftovers on hot dogs the next day.

Hot dog with taco meat
Completed Tacos
Print Recipe

Beef taco meat

Seasoned ground beef for tacos
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time15 mins
Total Time20 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: Beef, mexican, taco
Servings: 4
Author: Tom

Equipment

  • pan

Ingredients

  • 1½ lb Ground Beef 85% lean is preferred
  • 1 tbsp Oil high heat cooking
  • 2 tsp Chili Powder
  • 1 tsp Cumin
  • 1 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 tsp Onion Powder
  • 1 tsp Oregano
  • ½ tsp Salt
  • 1 dash MSG powder optional
  • ½ tsp Black Pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat pan on stovetop
  • Add the oil and allow it to heat up and coat the pan
  • Add the ground beef, try to spread it out as much as possible
    Frying the beef
  • Turn up the heat and allow the beef to cook without disturbing it
  • When it is nice and brown on the bottom, turn it over
  • Brown some more
  • Lower the heat and stir up the beef, break it into pieces
  • Add all of the seasoning and a few tablespoons of water
    Seasoned beef in pan
  • Stir some more and allow to cook for just a few more minutes on low
  • Serve
    Completed Tacos

Notes

Why buy premixed taco seasoning? The ingredients are probably things you already have in the pantry.
The trick with browning the beef is to get it to actually brown. If you stir it too much at the beginning, it releases water and steams. Cooking it for awhile on high heat allows the Maillard reaction to nicely brown the beef.
If you want to fancy it up, you can use fresh onions and garlic instead of powder.
Serve on any kind of tacos. This is also great on top of a hot dog or hamburger.