Description
Enjoy these delicious beef tacos filled with seasoned ground beef and fresh toppings, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a fun gathering. Choose between hard or soft taco shells and customize with your favorite toppings for a tasty meal!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 packet taco seasoning (or homemade seasoning: 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste)
- 2/3 cup water
- 8 taco shells (hard or soft, your choice)
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or Mexican blend)
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
- 1 jalapeño, sliced (optional)
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Once hot, add the finely chopped onion and sauté for about 3-4 minutes until translucent.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add the ground beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook for 5-7 minutes until browned and no longer pink, stirring occasionally.
- Drain any excess fat from the skillet.
- Sprinkle the taco seasoning over the beef. If using homemade seasoning, add the chili powder, cumin, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine.
- Pour in the water and stir. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low. Cook for 5-10 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) if using hard taco shells. Skip this step for soft tortillas.
- Arrange hard taco shells on a baking sheet and bake for 5-7 minutes until crispy and golden.
- For soft tortillas, warm them in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 30 seconds on each side, or wrap in foil and heat in the oven.
- Place a generous spoonful of the beef mixture into each taco shell.
- Add a handful of shredded lettuce on top of the beef.
- Sprinkle diced tomatoes over the lettuce.
- Add a generous amount of shredded cheese on top of the tomatoes.
- Add a dollop of sour cream on top of the cheese.
- Sprinkle fresh cilantro and add jalapeño slices if desired.
- Arrange the assembled tacos on a large platter for serving or serve individually on plates.
- Consider serving with additional toppings like salsa, guacamole, or hot sauce.
Notes
- Feel free to customize the toppings based on your preferences.
- Leftover beef filling can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes