Ground Beef Tacos | Soft Shell Tacos
These easy ground beef tacos are everything a great taco night should be. Juicy, flavorful ground beef seasoned with a homemade taco meat seasoning, tucked into warm soft shell tacos and loaded with all your favorite toppings. Whether you’re piling on shredded cheese, a dollop of sour cream, creamy avocado, or a handful of shredded lettuce, every bite is packed with comfort food goodness. Best of all, these ground beef tacos come together in under 20 minutes, making them perfect for busy weeknights, family dinners, or casual get-togethers.
If you’ve ever wondered how to make tacos like Taco Bell at home, this recipe is a great place to start. The secret is a simple homemade taco seasoning blend made from pantry staples like chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, and oregano. Learning how to make taco seasoning yourself not only gives you better flavor, but also lets you control the salt and spice levels. Combined with savory ground beef in tacos and warm tortillas, it creates the kind of meal that disappears fast and earns a permanent spot in your dinner rotation.
Why you’ll love this ground beef taco recipe:
• Ready in 20 minutes: These easy ground beef tacos go from fridge to table in around 20 minutes, making them perfect for busy weeknights.
• Simple homemade seasoning: The homemade taco meat seasoning uses simple pantry spices and takes less than a minute to mix together.
• Juicy, flavorful beef: Simmering the beef with a little water helps every bite stay juicy, flavorful, and perfectly coated in seasoning.
• Perfect soft shell tacos: Soft shell tacos are easy to fill, easy to eat, and loaded with all your favorite toppings.
• Better than takeout: If you’re looking for how to make tacos like Taco Bell at home, this recipe delivers familiar flavors with simple ingredients.
• Easy family dinner: Ground beef tacos are one of the easiest comfort food dinners around because everyone can customize their own exactly how they like it.
Step 1: Brown the Ground Beef
Place a large frying pan or skillet over medium-high heat and add the ground beef. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it browns, until no pink remains and the ground beef is fully cooked.
Step 2: Make the Taco Meat Seasoning
Sprinkle over the chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Add ¼ cup water, stir well, and simmer for 5 minutes until the liquid reduces and the ground beef in tacos is juicy, flavorful, and coated in the homemade taco meat seasoning.
Step 3: Warm the Soft Shell Tacos
While the beef simmers, warm the soft shell tacos according to the package instructions. Warming the tortillas makes this soft taco recipe easier to assemble and gives the tacos the best texture.
Step 4: Assemble the Ground Beef Tacos
Fill each tortilla with the seasoned beef, then top with shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado or guacamole, and shredded lettuce. Serve immediately and enjoy these easy ground beef tacos as a quick comfort food dinner that’s better than takeout.
Ground Beef Taco FAQ:
What is the best ground beef for tacos?
For the most flavorful ground beef tacos, an 80/20 or 85/15 ground beef works best. The extra fat keeps the taco meat juicy and prevents it from drying out while it cooks.
How do you make taco seasoning from scratch?
If you’re wondering how to make taco seasoning, all you need are a few pantry staples like chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, and pepper. Homemade taco meat seasoning is quick to mix and lets you control the flavor and spice level.
Can I make the taco meat ahead of time?
Yes. The seasoned taco meat can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Reheat it in a skillet with a splash of water to bring it back to life before serving.
What toppings go best with ground beef tacos?
Classic toppings for ground beef tacos include shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado or guacamole, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, salsa, jalapeños, and chopped onions.
How do you make tacos like Taco Bell at home?
If you’re looking for how to make tacos like Taco Bell, the key is using finely crumbled seasoned beef, soft tortillas, and simple toppings like lettuce, cheese, and sour cream. Simmering the beef with water and seasoning helps create that familiar texture and flavor.
Are soft shell tacos or hard shell tacos better?
That comes down to personal preference. Soft shell tacos are easier to fill, less messy to eat, and perfect for loading up with toppings, while crunchy shells add extra texture and crunch.
Can I use this taco meat for other recipes?
Absolutely. This taco meat seasoning works well in burritos, quesadillas, taco salads, nachos, rice bowls, and stuffed peppers.
Why do you add water to taco meat?
Adding water helps the taco meat seasoning coat every piece of beef evenly. As the liquid simmers and reduces, it creates juicy, flavorful ground beef in tacos rather than dry crumbles.
Can I freeze taco meat?
Yes. Allow the cooked beef to cool completely, then store it in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. It’s a great way to get a head start on future taco nights.
What sides go well with a recipe for tacos with beef?
A recipe for tacos with beef pairs perfectly with Mexican rice, refried beans, corn salad, tortilla chips and salsa, guacamole, or a simple side salad. These sides help turn taco night into a complete comfort food meal.
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Ground Beef Tacos
Ingredients
For the Taco Meat
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon fine salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
- ¼ cup water
For Serving:
- 8 soft taco shells
- Sour cream
- Shredded cheese
- Avocado or guacamole
- Shredded lettuce
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 6 to 8 minutes, breaking it apart as it cooks until no pink remains.
- Add the chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, pepper, crushed red pepper flakes (if using), and water. Stir well and simmer for 5 minutes until the liquid reduces and the taco meat seasoning coats the beef.
- Warm the soft shell tacos according to the package instructions while the beef finishes cooking.
- Fill each tortilla with the seasoned ground beef, then top with shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado or guacamole, and shredded lettuce before serving.
Notes
Leftover taco meat can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.
The cooked taco meat can be frozen for up to 3 months.
Crunchy taco shells can be used instead of soft shell tacos if preferred.
