Easy Ground Beef Tacos

By
Stephanie Gallagher
Stephanie Gallagher
Stephanie Gallagher is a journalist and food writer who has authored multiple cookbooks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 02/10/23
Soft beef tacos with lettuce, tomatoes and cheese
Lauri Patterson / Getty Images
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 20 mins
Servings: 4 to 8 servings
Yield: 8 tacos

Beef tacos easily can be made with ingredients you probably already have on hand: ground beef, lettuce, cheese, salsa, and taco shells. An added plus, you really do not need to go to the expense of buying premade taco seasoning; this recipe calls for spices you likely have in your spice rack to make the homemade seasoning and sauce. And one of the biggest benefits of making your own taco seasoning is that you know exactly what is in it—there are no hard-to-pronounce chemicals or preservatives.

For an interactive dining experience at home, serve these ground beef tacos as a taco bar. Kids really enjoy making their own tacos all by themselves. You might even want to make taco night a regular weekly occurrence in your home. For example, you and your family can look forward to your very own Taco Tuesday taco bar.

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon canola oil

  • 1/2 cup finely chopped onion

  • 1 pound ground beef

  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin

  • 1 teaspoon chili powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1/2 cup water

  • 8 taco shells

  • 2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce

  • 1 to 2 tomatoes, diced

  • 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend, cheddar and Monterey Jack

  • 1 cup salsa

  • 1 cup guacamole

Steps to Make It

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F.

  2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook 3 minutes or until onion is softened.

  3. Add ground beef, breaking up with a spoon to brown on all sides.

  4. Add cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and water. Stir and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes.

  5. Place taco shells on a baking sheet in the center of a preheated oven. Heat 3 to 5 minutes until lightly toasted.

  6. Place taco shells, taco meat, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, salsa, and guacamole in separate serving dishes. Let everyone build their own tacos, starting with a little lettuce in the bottom of a taco shell. Top with the ground beef, cheese, salsa, and guacamole.

Other Mexican Recipes

There are plenty of amazing Mexican recipes to share with your family. For a kid favorite and easy-to-make meal, take a look at how to make a quesadilla. A heartier dish that is great for the summer is grilled Mexican rib-eye steaks. Spicy guacamole is a delicious dip, perfect for a snack or for a party. For dessert, try one-pot Mexican hot chocolate brownies.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
377 Calories
25g Fat
16g Carbs
25g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 377
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 25g 31%
Saturated Fat 10g 49%
Cholesterol 77mg 26%
Sodium 623mg 27%
Total Carbohydrate 16g 6%
Dietary Fiber 4g 16%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 25g
Vitamin C 16mg 78%
Calcium 240mg 18%
Iron 3mg 15%
Potassium 725mg 15%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)