Ground beef tacos are popular Mexican tacos that are served on crunchy taco shells and are garnished with flavorful ground beef, shredded cheese, and fresh vegetables. These tacos are simple to prepare and are a must-make for dinner.

  • Makes: 12 tacos

Ingredients

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 12 taco shells
  • 6 ounces (1½ cups) shredded American or cheddar cheese
  • 2 cups shredded lettuce
  • 2 tomatoes, chopped
  • ¾ cup salsa
  • ¾ cup sour cream, if desired

Steps

  1. 1
    Preheat the oven to 250° Fahrenheit or 120° Celsius.
  2. 2
    In a medium-sized iron skillet, cook the ground beef and onion for about 8-10 minutes. Stir well with a wooden spoon and cook until the beef browns.
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  3. 3
    Fold in the sauce, chili powder, salt, and garlic powder. Mix well and reduce the heat to a simmer.
  4. 4
    Allow the ground beef to cook for about 10 minutes while covered.
  5. 5
    Shut off the stove and set the ground beef aside to cool until warm. Drain any excess liquids.
  6. 6
    Place the taco shells on an ungreased baking sheet.
  7. 7
    Bake the taco shells for about 5 minutes until warm and slightly crisped. Set aside to cool for about 5 minutes.
  8. 8
    Assemble the tacos. Place the ground beef mixture onto each taco. Sprinkle over the cheese, lettuce, and chopped tomatoes. Add a tablespoon of salsa and sour cream on each taco.
  9. 9
    Serve. Place the tacos on a serving plate once assembled. Enjoy!
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Warnings

  • Take caution not to over-bake the taco shells in the oven. Baking them for too long will cause them to crack.
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Things You'll Need

  • Medium-sized iron skillet
  • Stovetop
  • Baking sheet
  • Wooden spoon
  • Oven
  • Spoon
  • Serving plate

About This Article

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Co-authors: 4
Updated: November 20, 2022
Views: 23,736
Article SummaryX

To make ground beef tacos, first preheat your oven to 250° Fahrenheit (120° Celsius). Next, add 1 pound of lean ground beef and 1 medium onion, chopped, to a medium-sized iron skillet and cook until the beef browns (about 8-10 minutes). Then, add 1 teaspoon of chili powder, ½ teaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of garlic powder, and one 8-ounce can of tomato sauce to the pan and mix well. Once everything is combined, reduce the heat to a simmer and cover the pot with a lid. After simmering for 10 minutes, remove the pot from the heat and set it aside to cool until warm, draining any excess liquids. Add 12 taco shells to a baking sheet and warm them in the over until crisp (about 5 minutes). After they’ve cooled, assemble your tacos. Add the beef mixture first, then sprinkle on your favorite toppings like cheese, lettuce, and chopped tomatoes. Finish them off with a tablespoon of salsa and sour cream, then enjoy!

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