Description
These Crispy Beef Tacos are a quick and flavorful meal featuring seasoned ground beef cooked to perfection and served in crunchy taco shells with fresh toppings like shredded lettuce, cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes, and optional jalapeños or cilantro. Perfectly balanced with creamy sour cream and zesty salsa, this classic Mexican-inspired dish can be ready in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Beef Filling
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef
- 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning mix
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup water
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Tacos
- 12 hard taco shells
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 ripe tomato, diced
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup salsa
- Optional: sliced jalapeños, chopped cilantro, lime wedges
Instructions
- Prepare Aromatics: Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, sautéing until the onion is soft and translucent, about 3 minutes.
- Cook Beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet. Cook and crumble the meat using a wooden spoon until browned and cooked through, approximately 6-8 minutes.
- Season Beef: Drain any excess fat from the skillet, then sprinkle the taco seasoning mix over the browned beef. Stir well to combine.
- Simmer Mixture: Pour in 1/4 cup of water to the skillet with the seasoned beef and let it simmer for 3-5 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Warm Taco Shells: Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and place the taco shells on a baking sheet. Warm them in the oven for 5 minutes until crispy.
- Assemble Tacos: Once the shells are ready, remove them from the oven and fill each taco shell with a spoonful of the beef mixture.
- Add Toppings: Top the beef with shredded lettuce, cheddar cheese, diced tomato, and any additional toppings such as sliced jalapeños or chopped cilantro as desired.
- Serve: Serve the tacos immediately accompanied by sour cream and salsa for dipping. Add a squeeze of lime for extra zest if preferred.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
- For extra flavor, add a sprinkle of crushed red pepper or hot sauce to the beef mixture while simmering.
- Hard taco shells can be swapped for soft tortillas if you prefer.
- Fresh lime juice adds brightness and complements the flavors well.
- Store any leftover beef mixture separately and reheat for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
