Ground Beef Street Tacos
These Ground Beef Street Tacos are loaded with bold flavor and ready in just 25 minutes! Make these easy ground beef tacos for the perfect easy dinner for taco night or your next fiesta!
Servings: 8 small tacos
Cost: $10.63 Recipe, $1.33 per Serving
Ingredients
For the Beef:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 cloves Garlic minced (or 2 teaspoon pre-minced garlic)
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup water
- 2 Limes divided
For Assembly:
- 12 corn tortillas street taco size
- ¼ cup Salsa Verde
- 1 white onion finely diced
- 1 cup Cotija Cheese optional
- ½ cup fresh cilantro chopped
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook 1 pound ground beef for 5–6 minutes, breaking it apart with a spoon as it browns.
- Add 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon oregano, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper to the skillet. Stir until the beef is evenly coated with the seasonings.
- Pour in ¼ cup water and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has mostly evaporated and the beef is fully cooked.
- Squeeze the juice from ½ lime over the beef mixture and stir to combine. Cut the remaining 1½ limes into wedges for serving.
- Warm 12 street taco-size corn tortillas in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 30 seconds per side until soft and pliable.
- Divide the seasoned beef evenly among the tortillas.
- Top the tacos with ¼ cup salsa verde, 1 finely diced white onion, ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro, and 1 cup Cotija cheese if using.
- Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side for squeezing over the tacos before eating.
Video
Notes
Recipe Tips
- Lean Ground Beef - If the beef releases a lot of fat while cooking, drain it before adding the seasonings.
- Adding Water - To prevent the beef from drying out, keep an eye on the simmering time after adding water. The mixture should be moist but not watery by the time it's done.
- Heating Tortillas - Warming the tortillas in a skillet adds a bit of char and enhances their flavor. If you want them softer, wrap the tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave them in 15-second intervals. Use two tortillas per taco for extra sturdiness.
- Add Shredded Cheese - Melt shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack over the beef for amazing flavor.
- Chipotle Style - Add chipotle peppers in adobo for smoky spice.
- Low Carb Variation - Serve over lettuce wraps instead of tortillas.
- Add Heat - Serve with jalapeños or a drizzle of hot sauce.
Nutrition
Calories: 299kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 484mg | Potassium: 329mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 626IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 154mg | Iron: 2mg
