Good Ol’ Beef Tacos – Family-Style Ground Beef Edition!

These tacos are pure comfort food – juicy seasoned beef tucked into crispy shells with a simple but flavor-packed homemade taco seasoning that tastes just like the store stuff (but way better for you).

Not Authentic, But Who Cares?

Let’s be honest. You won’t find ground beef tacos anywhere in Mexico. Real Mexican tacos use sliced steak, marinated beef strips with crispy edges, or slow-cooked shredded meat. But these ground beef tacos? They’re what millions of families make every week.

And they’re delicious. No apologies needed!

Why I Bake Mine

Here’s my little twist – I bake my assembled tacos. Is that normal? Maybe not. But it melts the cheese and crisps the shells at the same time.

Think about it. Would you rather have a cold slice of cheese on bread or a hot grilled sandwich with cheese pulling into those perfect stretchy strands? Exactly.

Skip the Packet Mix!

Making your own taco seasoning is ridiculously easy. Just grab:

• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Cumin
• Paprika
• Oregano
• A touch of cayenne for heat (if you want)

Just simple spices – no weird stuff like maltodextrin or silicon dioxide that you can’t even pronounce.

I use this mix for everything Tex-Mex in my kitchen – quesadillas, burritos, enchiladas, you name it. Why buy five different packets when one mix does it all?

About the Meat

My base recipe uses just beef and onion – enough to generously fill 10 tacos or 12 regular-sized ones.

Pro tip: Add veggies to boost nutrition and make it go further. Bell peppers, corn, black beans, or zucchini work great. Just increase the seasoning if you add extras.

Classic Toppings Are Best

There are endless fancy toppings out there, but sometimes the classics just hit right:

• Shredded cheese (lots of it)
• Iceberg lettuce
• Diced tomato
• Chopped onion
• Sour cream
• Taco sauce

Pure Tex-Mex goodness. No fancy salsas needed.

And if you’re not a cheese enthusiast like me? Feel free to skip the baking step and just set everything out buffet-style.

Recipe: Classic Beef Tacos

Ingredients:

• 10-12 crispy taco shells or soft tortillas
• 1 tbsp oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 lb ground beef
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1/4 cup water

Homemade Taco Seasoning:

• 1 tsp EACH garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano
• 2 tsp EACH cumin powder, paprika
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Toppings:

• Shredded cheese
• Shredded iceberg lettuce
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 1/2 red or white onion, chopped
• Sour cream
• Taco sauce (optional)

Instructions:

1. Heat your oven to 350F.
2. Heat oil in a large skillet. Toss in garlic and onion – cook until golden, about 2 minutes.
3. Add beef. Break it up while it cooks, just until it turns brown.
4. Sprinkle in your taco seasonings. Cook 2 more minutes.
5. Add tomato paste and water. Cook until the water evaporates. Your beef should be juicy, not watery.
6. Arrange taco shells in a baking pan. Fill with meat and top with cheese. Bake 5-7 minutes until the cheese melts and shells crisp up.