# Weeknight Ground Beef Tacos

Weeknight Ground Beef Tacos — a easy recipe with 6 main ingredients, ready in about 25 min and serving 4. Check which of its ingredients are on sale at grocery stores near you.

- **Time:** 25 min
- **Serves:** 4
- **Difficulty:** easy
- **Tags:** dinner, beef, quick, mexican
- **Source:** https://savingrecipes.com/recipes/beef-tacos

## Ingredients

- 1 lb ground beef
- 8 small tortillas
- 1 cup shredded cheddar
- 2 tomatoes
- 1/2 head lettuce
- 1 onion
- Taco seasoning _(pantry staple)_
- Salt & pepper _(pantry staple)_

## Instructions

1. Brown beef with diced onion; drain, then stir in taco seasoning and a splash of water.
2. Warm tortillas in a dry skillet.
3. Fill with beef, then top with chopped tomato, shredded lettuce, and cheddar.

## Tips

- Leave a spoonful of fat in the pan after draining. It carries the spice — drained bone-dry, the filling tastes dusty.
- Let the beef sit undisturbed for 3–4 minutes before the first stir. Constant stirring steams it grey instead of browning it, and the browning is most of the flavour.
- Add the seasoning after the beef has browned, with a splash of water. Dry spice hitting a hot dry pan scorches and turns bitter.

## Substitutions

- **Ground beef:** Ground turkey or chicken — add a tablespoon of oil, they're much leaner. For a meat-free version, brown crumbled firm tofu or cooked brown lentils the same way.
- **Taco seasoning:** 1 tsp chilli powder, 1 tsp cumin, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp paprika, ¼ tsp oregano, salt to taste.
- **Shredded cheddar:** Monterey Jack melts softer; queso fresco or cotija crumble on for a saltier, less rich finish.
- **Tortillas:** Corn keeps this gluten-free and is the traditional choice. Flour are larger and hold more filling.

## Storage & reheating

The seasoned beef keeps 4 days refrigerated and freezes for 3 months. Store filling and toppings separately — assembled tacos go soggy within the hour. Reheat the beef in a skillet with a splash of water; the microwave dries it out.

## Common questions

### How much ground beef per person?

About ¼ lb (115 g) each, which is two generously filled small tacos. The 1 lb here feeds four.

### Why do my tortillas crack when I fold them?

They're too cold. Warm each 15–20 seconds per side in a dry skillet, then stack them in a clean towel — the trapped steam keeps them pliable while you fill the rest.

### Can I make this ahead for a crowd?

Yes. Cook the filling up to two days ahead and reheat in a skillet. Prep toppings the same day and set it out as a build-your-own bar.


_Photo: Larry Miller — CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:001_Tacos_de_carnitas,_carne_asada_y_al_pastor.jpg)_