When it comes to weeknight dinner, soft ground beef tacos are my go-to when I need a meal in a pinch. Whether you’re cooking for your family or hosting casual taco night, this recipe will have everyone reaching for seconds. And don’t miss out on these ground beef recipes—they’re just as easy and delicious!
Growing up, my family rotated a handful of recipes to keep grocery shopping affordable. One I always looked forward to was ground beef tacos. Apparently, my son feels the same way. After dinner one night, he told me I needed to add this to the blog because “everyone should know how to make these so they can feed their kids.” I guess there is something special about childhood meals– even when they’re simple!
Key Ingredients
Soft ground beef tacos stray from traditional Mexican tacos, but you will enjoy a glimpse into the American tacos nights of my childhood, and they are as Utah as it gets! Here’s what you need to get started.
- Oil: Start by sautéing onions and garlic in oil before browning the ground beef.
- Onions: Yellow or white onions work best, softening as they cook.
- Garlic: Two fresh garlic cloves are all you need for extra flavor.
- Ground Beef: 80/20 ground beef (80% lean, 20% fat) is an excellent choice for soft ground beef tacos. The bit of fat adds flavor and keeps the meat juicy, but it’s not so much that the tacos feel greasy. You can substitute it with lean ground beef, ground chicken, or ground turkey; add a splash of broth if those alternatives dry out as they cook.
- Taco Seasoning: Taco seasoning is serious business in my kitchen! Skip the pre-made packets and make your own with dark chili powder, ground cumin, kosher salt, smoked paprika, coriander powder, cayenne pepper, and Mexican oregano. It makes half a cup, but you only need 2-3 tablespoons for this recipe. Store the leftovers in a glass jar in your pantry for 2-3 months for other meals. If you go the store-bought route, reach for Siete, Trader Joe’s, or Penzey’s taco seasoning.
- Tomatoes: Roma tomatoes or vine-ripe tomatoes work. To save time (and disguise the tomatoes for my husband), I puree them in a food processor beforehand.
- Cilantro: Brighten the ground beef mixture with chopped cilantro leaves and use them as a fresh-tasting topping.
- Flour Tortillas: Warm flour tortillas to cradle the taco filling and toppings.
Additions and Substitutions
- Enhance the flavor. After browning and seasoning the ground beef, add a splash of beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, or tomato paste for extra umami.
- Switch up the tortillas. Prefer a different base? Swap the flour tortillas for corn tortillas or crispy hard shells.
- Go low-sodium. If you’re watching your salt intake, opt for a low-sodium taco seasoning for all the flavor without the extra salt.
How to Make Soft Ground Beef Tacos
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Warm oil in a saute pan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until they soften. Then, stir in the garlic and saute for one minute.
Step 2: Add the ground beef to the pan and break it up with a meat masher. Cook until it browns, for 8 to 10 minutes.
Step 3: Stir in the taco seasoning and cook for 2 minutes. Then, add the tomato puree and chopped cilantro. Cover and simmer for 5-8 minutes.
Step 4: Warm the flour tortillas in a dry skillet or wrap them in foil to heat in the oven. Transfer the warm tortillas to a tortilla keeper or a clean kitchen towel to keep them warm.
Step 5: Spoon the ground beef into the flour tortillas, garnish with your favorite toppings, and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Brown the beef. Take your time browning the ground beef before adding seasonings and mix-ins—the secret to building deeper flavor. While you may be tempted to drain the excess grease, don’t. Let the beef cook a bit longer to reabsorb the flavorful juices.
- Warm the tortillas. Heat the flour tortillas in a dry skillet for a few seconds on each side, or wrap them in foil to warm in the oven. The quick step makes the tortillas pliable enough to hold the ground beef and toppings.
If you enjoy the soft ground beef tacos, try these easy weeknight meals!
Serving Suggestions
Soft ground beef tacos are easy to make and delicious! You can keep it simple or pile them high with your favorite toppings. And they come together quickly in under 30 minutes, making them a lifesaver for busy nights.
A taco bar spread with all the fixings is a must-have for an easy taco night! Start with the basics—shredded cheese (Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a Mexican blend), sour cream, chopped cilantro, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, avocado cubes, and lime wedges.
Elevate the spread with toppings like pickled red onions, guacamole without tomato, sliced black olives, jalapeño peppers, and various salsa options. Try them with pico de gallo, serrano crema, salsa verde with tomatillo, pineapple corn salsa, avocado lime crema, or good ole Pace (another throwback to my childhood tacos).
Pair the beef tacos with classics like vegan Mexican rice and refried beans. A simple black bean salad is an excellent choice, or serve them with cilantro lime rice, elotes Mexicano, zesty jicama slaw.
What To Do With Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Got leftovers? Store the cooked ground beef and toppings in separate airtight containers for 3-4 days.
- Freeze: Let the beef cool, and transfer it to a freezer-safe container or bag. The filling for soft ground beef tacos freezes for 2-3 months.
- Thaw: Defrost the beef in the refrigerator overnight.
- Reheat: Warm the leftovers on the stovetop for the best results, then prepare your toppings and sides.
- Repurpose: If you don’t feel like making tacos for a second night in a row, use the extra toppings and ground beef to make taco soup, ground beef enchiladas, nachos, quesadillas, breakfast burritos, or Mexican pizza.
More Taco Recipes:
Soft Ground Beef Tacos
- 2 tablespoons dark chili powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1½ teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon Mexican oregano
- 2 teaspoons oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1½ pounds ground beef
- 2-3 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 2 medium Roma tomatoes, pureed or finely diced
- ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves, finely chopped
- 8-10 small (6-inch) flour tortillas
- Warm the oil in a preheated saute pan over medium-low heat. Add the onions and cook until they soften. Then, stir in the garlic and saute for one minute.
- Add the ground beef to the pan and break it up with a meat masher. Cook until it browns, for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Stir in the taco seasoning and cook for 2 minutes. Then, add the tomato puree and chopped cilantro. Cover and simmer for 5-8 minutes.
- Warm the flour tortillas in a dry skillet or wrap them in foil to heat in the oven. Transfer the warm tortillas to a tortilla keeper or a clean kitchen towel to keep them warm.
- Spoon the ground beef into the flour tortillas, garnish with your favorite toppings, and enjoy!
- Brown the beef. Take your time browning the ground beef before adding seasonings and mix-ins—the secret to building deeper flavor. While you may be tempted to drain the excess grease, don’t. Let the beef cook a bit longer to reabsorb the flavorful juices.
- Warm the tortillas. Heat the flour tortillas in a dry skillet for a few seconds on each side, or wrap them in foil to warm in the oven. The quick step makes the tortillas pliable enough to hold the ground beef and toppings.
Lynn
Wednesday 19th of October 2022
These were perfect for the whole family.
Tressa Jamil
Wednesday 19th of October 2022
Our kids beg for these tacos; I'm happy you enjoyed them.