This is the recipe I reach for most often when we're making ground beef taco, burritos or nachos. It's full of flavor, saucy, and not much harder than reaching for that big bottle of taco seasoning!
If you're tired of reaching for the Costco-sized container of taco seasoning every time you want need ground beef for tacos, enchiladas, or nachos, you have to try this recipe!
I know I'm guilty of going the easy route too, but this recipe is really not that much harder than stirring in premade seasoning.
It is perfect for a myriad of Mexican ground beef recipes and tastes so much better than anything you can shake out of a canister.
Jump to:
📋 Why This Recipe Works
This recipe uses cumin, paprika, chili powder, and dried onion which are all elements in traditional taco seasoning. What sets it apart is the use of green enchilada sauce! The enchilada sauce adds acidity, moisture, and tons of flavor making these ground beef tacos saucy and delicious.
🔪 How To Make The Recipe
1.) Gather your ingredients
You'll need ground beef, paprika, cumin, chili powder, dried onion, and green enchilada sauce.
2.) Brown and crumble the beef
Place the meat in a skillet, cook, and use a spatula to break up and crumble the meat.
3.) Remove the excess fat
I like to fold up a paper towel and move it around in the pan to absorb the excess fat. Sometimes it takes a few paper towels, but it's much easier than transferring the meat into a strainer, in my opinion.
4.) Add the seasoning!
Stir the spices, onion and enchilada sauce into the meat.
5.) Let it it simmer
Let the meat simmer on low to soften the onion and allow the sauce to thicken up a bit. Allow it to simmer as long or little as you'd like or until it's your desired consistency.
6.) Assemble!
See my serving and topping tips below for suggestions on how to use this super versatile meat.
👩🏻🍳 Pro Tips
- Salsa or Enchilada Sauce: Use what you have on hand! I've used both salsa and enchilada sauce with great results. Sometimes salsa is thicker and you may need to add a little bit of water to the meat while it simmers.
- Bake the Shells: If you're making crunchy tacos with this meat, remember to bake or heat up the crunchy shells before assembling. It makes a huge difference!
👪 Scaling The Recipe
Cooking for two or a crowd? This recipe is easily adaptable. Use the slider on the recipe card to change the quantity and the ingredient amounts will change accordingly.
🍽 Serving and Topping Suggestions
I love to eat this taco meat in basic taco form with lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese but here are some other ideas:
- Wrapped up in a tortilla with beans, spanish rice, and pico de gallo for burritos.
- On top of corn chips with refried beans and cheese for some epic nachos
- Mixed with red enchilada sauce and stuffed inside corn tortillas for beefy enchiladas
- Served on greens with beans and veggies for fresh taco salads
Want Super Fine Taco Meat?
Ever wonder why some taco meat found at restaurants or in chili is ground SUPER fine and how they get it that way? That is the result of actually boiling the hamburger first. This method of cooking brings the temperature of the meat up slowly and prevents it from clumping, keeping it finely ground.
If you'd like to try this method with this recipe, place the beef in a deep pan and add enough cold water to cover the meat. Slowly bring the pan to a boil, stirring often to separate the meat into small crumbles. Once it's to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook until the meat is brown and fully cooked.
At this point, you'll drain off the water and add the remaining ingredients to the meat, following the recipe card below.
💭 FAQs
Can I use red enchilada sauce instead?
Yes! The finished meat won't be as tangy, but will be saucy and flavorful!
What kind of ground beef should I use?
It's totally up to you! Both lean and fatty ground beef works well with this recipe. I prefer about 10% fat to keep things lean but still flavorful.
Can I use ground turkey?
Yes! Standard ground turkey works wonderfully! Ground turkey breast doesn't work AS well because it's so lean but will work.
🥘 Leftovers and Storing
This taco meat can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to five days. It can also be place into a freezer zip-lock bag and kept frozen for up to 3 months. When you're ready to eat, place in a skillet with a little bit of water, bring to a simmer, and serve!
🥣 Handy Tools For This Recipe
- Lodge 10" Cast Iron Skillet: Cast Iron Skillets are your BEST friend and are totally underrated. Cast iron retains heat really well and allows you to get that irresistible sear on steaks and other meats you can usually only get at a restaurant. Pair this with the fact that they are CHEAP it's a no-brainer.
- Chop Stir: This strange little tool makes short work of browning ground meat with its odd shape that allows it to crumble the meat quickly as it cooks.
📖 Recipe
Mexican Style Ground Beef
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 10 ounces green enchilada sauce
- 2 tablespoons minced dried onion
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and brown and crumble ground beef until no longer pink. Drain excess fat.
- Return meat to pan and add remaining ingredients, stirring to combine. Let simmer for 5-6 minutes over medium-high heat or until most of the liquid is absorbed and is the consistency you like.
Chef's Notes:
- Salsa or Enchilada Sauce: Use what you have on hand! I've used both salsa and enchilada sauce with great results. Sometimes salsa is thicker and you may need to add a little bit of water to the meat while it simmers.
- Bake the Shells: If you're making crunchy tacos with this meat, remember to bake or heat up the crunchy shells before assembling. It makes a huge difference!
- Add Water: If the meat seems a little dry after adding in the spices and enchilada sauce, add ½-1 cup water and stir to combine. Allow the meat to come to a simmer and reduce down to your desired consistency.
먹튀검증백과 says
This is exactly for that reason fabulous and additionally extremely creative. I simply absolutely love all the different shades and additionally anyone can get the software on the deliver would be happy. Excellent information on your blog, thank you for taking the time to share with us. Amazing insight you have on this, it’s nice to find a website that details so much information about different artists 먹튀검증백과
먹튀검증백과 says
Interesting topic for a blog. I have been searching the Internet for fun and came upon your website. Fabulous post. Thanks a ton for sharing your knowledge! It is great to see that some people still put in an effort into managing their websites. I’ll be sure to check back again real soon. As i followed on your web log even while aligning really just a little submits. Attractive technique for then, We are book-marking at one time seize ones own whole goes up. 먹튀검증백과
메이저사이트 says
Interesting blog! postr the useful info. 메이저사이트
메이저사이트 says
Interesting blog! post Online Form Is your themain soon. Big thanks for the useful info. 메이저사이트
메이저사이트 says
Interesting blog! post O wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon. Big thanks for the useful info. 메이저사이트
메이저사이트 says
Interesting blog! post Online Form Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? Online Form A theme like yours with a few simple adjustments would really make my blog stand out. Online Form Please let me know where you got your design. Appreciate it . Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon. Big thanks for the useful info. 메이저사이트
토토브라더 says
the chance to share something useful and authentic. Please visit us for more information 토토브라더
토토브라더 says
t looking for a similar topic, your web site came up, it appears good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks 토토브라더
Patricia D. Elliott says
I am Patricia D. Elliott my name and i work at tow truck services company. We are NYC-based Company has been offering expert tow truck near me services for many years. tow truck services
토토 says
This is an excellent post I seen thanks to share it. It is really what I wanted to see hope in future you will continue for sharing such a excellent post . Of course, your article is good enough, but I thought it would be much better to see professional photos and videos together. There are articles and photos on these topics on my homepage, so please visit and share your opinions. Your style is really unique in comparison to other people I have read stuff from. Many thanks for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I’ll just bookmark this web site. 토토
Ronald W. Parsley says
I am Ronald W. Parsley my name and i work at tow truck services company. We are NYC-based Company has been offering expert tow truck near me services for many years.
Michael S. Swanson says
I am Ronald W. Parsley my name and i work at tow truck services company. We are NYC-based Company has been offering expert tow truck near me services for many years. tow truck services
먹튀스쿨 says
Wonderful article, thanks for putting this together! This is obviously one great post. Thanks for the valuable information and insiscribed in a systematic manner so that reader could get maximum information and learn many things. 먹튀스쿨