Beef Taco Flavorful Classic (Printable)
Seasoned ground beef paired with fresh vegetables and tangy toppings in warm tortillas.
# What You'll Need:
→ Beef Filling
01 - 1 lb ground beef
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tablespoon chili powder
05 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
06 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
07 - ½ teaspoon dried oregano
08 - ½ teaspoon salt
09 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
10 - ½ cup tomato sauce
11 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
→ Tacos & Toppings
12 - 8 small corn or flour tortillas
13 - 1 cup shredded lettuce
14 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
15 - 2 medium tomatoes, diced
16 - ¼ cup sour cream
17 - ¼ cup salsa
18 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
19 - Fresh cilantro leaves for garnish
20 - 1 lime, cut into wedges
# Directions:
01 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat and sauté chopped onion until translucent, about 2–3 minutes.
02 - Incorporate minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Add ground beef, breaking it up with a spatula, and cook until browned, approximately 5–6 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
04 - Sprinkle chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper over the beef mixture and stir well to combine.
05 - Pour in tomato sauce, stir thoroughly, then reduce heat and simmer for 3–4 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat.
06 - Heat tortillas in a dry skillet or microwave until pliable and warm.
07 - Spoon beef filling onto each tortilla. Top with shredded lettuce, cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes, red onion slices, sour cream, salsa, and garnish with cilantro leaves.
08 - Present tacos with lime wedges on the side for squeezing.
# Cooking Tips:
01 -
- Ready in 30 minutes but tastes like you've been cooking all afternoon.
- Every component is customizable, so picky eaters and adventurous ones sit down together without fuss.
- The spice blend hits that perfect sweet spot—warm and complex without being overwhelming.
02 -
- Don't skip draining the beef properly—too much fat makes the filling greasy, but a little bit keeps it tender and flavorful.
- Toast your spices for a few seconds in the hot pan before adding the beef; it wakes them up and changes everything.
03 -
- Buy a lime just for these tacos; that squeeze of fresh acid is non-negotiable and transforms the entire experience.
- If your tortillas are falling apart, they're not warm enough—give them another pass in the skillet to make them truly pliable.