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Home » Recipes » 30 Minute Meals

by Traci · Published: 05/10/2022 · Updated: 05/10/2022 · This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Best Taco Meat Recipe

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5 from 5 votes
20 minutes

Make the best taco meat for mouthwatering beef tacos and other recipes with this EASY step by step recipe. It's perfectly juicy, family-friendly, and even customizable for spicy food lovers!

wooden spoon stirs cooked taco meat in skillet

Cooking taco meat from scratch has never been easier with this simple, 20-minute recipe. Nothing complicated here. In fact, it's as easy as the popular taco kits we made when I was a kid, only it's homemade and so much better! Just sauté onions with ground beef, then add taco seasoning, tomato sauce and water, then simmer a few minutes. Boom – taco heaven!

This taco meat is so versatile, it goes way beyond beef tacos. Enjoy it with nachos, totchos, enchiladas, quesadillas, taco salad – the sky’s the limit – as Tex Mex recipes typically go!

Table of Contents hide
1) What you’ll need
2) How to cook taco meat on the stove
3) How to season taco meat
4) FAQ
5) Taco meat serving ideas
6) Best Homemade Taco Meat

What you’ll need

  • olive oil - or other cooking oil
  • onion - use white, yellow, or red onions
  • ground beef - I recommend 80/20 ground beef for this recipe because it stays juicy while cooking and I simply drain the excess fat.
  • taco seasoning - Use a store bought packet or this super easy taco seasoning substitute.
  • water - This keeps it low sodium but feel free to use beef broth or chicken broth instead.
  • tomato sauce - or canned crushed tomatoes
  • salt and pepper
taco meat ingredients measured out and ready to be cooked

How to cook taco meat on the stove

Heat OIL in a skillet. Add ONIONS and saute until translucent. Add BEEF and saute until browned. Drain excess grease, if necessary.

diced onions are being sauteed in a skillet
ground beef is being browned in a skillet
browned ground beef and diced onions in skillet

Add TACO SEASONING, WATER, TOMATO SAUCE, SALT, and PEPPER. Stir to combine. Continue cooking to bring everything just to a boil, then reduce heat to medium low to simmer about 5 minutes, or until the sauce reduces and thickens slightly.

browned ground beef in skillet with tomato sauce and taco seasoning added to it
wooden spoon stirs taco meat in skillet

How to season taco meat

This recipe uses store-bought or homemade taco seasoning, but if you don't have either, simply combine 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon chili powder, and ½ teaspoon garlic powder and use it the same way. To make spicy taco meat, add very small amounts of chipotle powder or cayenne pepper, to taste.

FAQ

How much seasoning per pound of taco meat?

Use a (1-ounce) packet or 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning for 1 pound of ground beef. For bolder taco flavor, double the seasoning and increase the liquid amount by a few tablespoons.

How much taco meat per person?

½ cup taco meat (4 ounces) per person will make two tacos filled with ¼ cup (2 ounces) each. You can adjust up or down accordingly.

Can you freeze taco meat?

Yes! Allow cooked taco meat to cool completely and package into airtight freezer-safe containers. Freeze up to 3 months, or longer if vacuum sealed. To thaw, transfer to the refrigerator for an overnight stay, then heat and serve.

wooden spoon stirs cooked taco meat in skillet

Taco meat serving ideas

Scoop this juicy taco meat into your favorite Mexican foods and watch it get devoured!

  • ground beef tacos
  • nachos
  • taco salad, taco bowls, or taco pizza
  • quesadillas, burritos, or enchiladas

Serve any of these entrees with refried black beans, 5 minute restaurant style salsa, and cilantro lime brown rice.

wooden spoon stirs cooked taco meat in skillet

Best Homemade Taco Meat

How to make taco meat step by step. It's perfectly juicy and family-loved. Enjoy it naturally mild or add a spicy kick for bolder flavor.
5 from 5 votes
Print Pin
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 8 2 ounce portions
Author: Traci The Kitchen Girl

INGREDIENTS
 

  • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • 1 small Onion, diced
  • 1 pound Ground Beef
  • 2 tablespoons Taco Seasoning, or 1 taco seasoning packet
  • ¼ cup Water
  • ⅔ cup Tomato Sauce
  • ½ teaspoon Sea Salt
  • ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper

Instructions
 

  • Heat OIL in a skillet. Add ONIONS and saute until translucent.
  • Add BEEF and saute until browned. Drain excess grease, if necessary.
  • Add TACO SEASONING, WATER, TOMATO SAUCE, SALT, and PEPPER.
  • Stir until well-combined.
  • Adjust the heat to medium-low and simmer about 5 minutes, or until the juices reduce to your liking.
  • Serve warm as taco meat or use as a filling for your favorite Mexican food.
  • To store, allow taco meat to cool down and refrigerate in an airtight container up to 5 days, or freeze up to 90 day, or longer if vacuum sealed.
  • Use taco meat for nachos, taco bowls, and 7 layer dip!
Tried this recipe? I'd love your review!Visit the comments below and tell me how it went.

Equipment

  • chef's knife
  • cutting board
  • 11 inch skillet or dutch oven
  • stirring utensil
  • airtight storage container(s)

NUTRITION

Serving: 2ounces | Calories: 103kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 331mg | Potassium: 270mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 148IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition data provided as courtesy estimates using unbranded ingredients from a nutrition database. Please consult preferred resource for precise data.

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Comments

  1. Jeff says

    May 10, 2022 at 7:22 am

    5 stars
    So good and it really does remind me of the old el paso taco seasoning kit too. It's way better though, especially with your homemade taco seasoning. Another winner!

    Reply

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