Main Dishes
Ground Beef Tacos
Description
Nothing like classic, old-school Ground Beef Tacos. Seasoned ground beef, all the toppings, hard or soft shells, and lots of nostalgia in every meaty bite!
Ingredients
- 1 large white or yellow onion ¼-inch diced (about 1 ½ cups)
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced (about 4 teaspoons)
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional; add more if you like a lot of spice
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 large beefsteak or similar tomato finely chopped (about 1 cup)
- ¼ cup water
- For Serving:
- Hard or soft taco shells warmed
- Shredded cheese
- Avocado or guacamole
- Plain greek yogurt or sour cream
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced tomatoes or salsa
Directions
- Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the oil. Once the oil is hot and shimmering, add the onion. Cook for 6-8 minutes, until the onion is translucent and softened.
- Add the garlic and cook just until fragrant, about 1 minute, stirring frequently to avoid burning. Add the chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, cayenne (if using), salt, and pepper. Stir well to coat the onions with the spices.
- Add the tomato paste and stir until super fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Increase the heat to medium high. Add the beef, breaking it into small pieces with a sturdy spoon or spatula. Cook, stirring frequently, until the beef is browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Stir in the tomato and let cook 1 minute.
- Stir in the water. Reduce the heat to low. Let simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. This allows the flavors to deepen.
- To serve, pile the ground beef into taco shells or tortillas and add your favorite toppings.
