Description
These Crispy Beef Tacos are a delicious and easy-to-make meal featuring seasoned ground beef, crisp taco shells, and fresh toppings like lettuce, cheddar cheese, and diced tomatoes. Perfectly seasoned with taco mix and served with sour cream and salsa, this recipe brings classic Mexican flavors to your table in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef
- 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning mix
- 12 hard taco shells
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 ripe tomato, diced
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup salsa
- Salt and pepper to taste
Optional Toppings
- Sliced jalapeños
- Chopped cilantro
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Sauté 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 Ground 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 they are crispy.
- Assemble Tacos: Once your shells are ready, remove them from the oven and start assembling your tacos. 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 you prefer such as sliced jalapeños or chopped cilantro.
- Serve: Serve the tacos immediately, accompanied by a side of sour cream and salsa for dipping. Add a squeeze of lime if desired.
Notes
- Feel free to customize the toppings with avocado, sour cream, or hot sauce to your liking.
- For a milder flavor, omit jalapeños or reduce the amount.
- Leftover beef mixture can be refrigerated and used for taco salads or burritos.
- Hard taco shells can be warmed in the microwave wrapped in a damp paper towel if short on time.
