Ground Beef Taco Filling made homemade without packaged seasoning mix is such a versatile meal prep protein to freeze and make easy ground beef dinners in a flash.
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Ground beef taco meat recipe
It’s easy to make ground beef taco filling seasoning from scratch with pantry staples like garlic, onion and spices.
Once seasoned this ground beef taco meat recipe is simmered with tomato paste and water to really get that slow simmered beef flavor. Once you have the ground meat recipe done you can use it as a taco filling or use it to add slow simmered beef flavor to so many different meals.
Once you learn how to make taco meat with ground beef using this recipe you’ll be adding this recipe to your meal prep dinner rotation! I like to make up a double or triple batch early in the week to enjoy stress free ground beef dinners all week long. See below for my favorite recipes with taco meat.
Ingredients
- Ground beef – or use ground turkey, ground chicken or ground lamb.
- Canola oil
- Onion – white onion is preferred but other onion like yellow or sweet can be substituted.
- Garlic cloves
- Tomato paste
- Water
- Seasonings – chili powder, cumin, coriander, oregano, cayenne, salt and black pepper.
For extra heartiness add canned black beans and/or cubed sweet potatoes to the filling.
Step by step instructions
- Heat oil in medium skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in garlic, spices and 1 teaspoon salt. Mix in ground beef, increase heat to medium high and break up with a spoon until browned, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in tomato paste and cook about 1 minute before adding water. Then increase heat and bring to a boil. Reduce and simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes.
- Serve or cool and store for later use.
- Enjoy!
How to store
Cool then store ground beef taco filling tightly covered refrigerated for up to 4 days. Or freeze taco filling in a freezer safe container (vacuum sealed preferred) for up to 4 months.
How to use
Use ground beef taco filling as a base to so many different meals other than just tacos.
You can use refrigerated or frozen taco filling in taco soup, enchiladas, taco pie, taco lasagna, taco casserole, taco omelets, breakfast tacos, beef stuffed peppers, taco salad, sloppy joes, quesadillas, empanadas, nachos and more!
Serving size
One pound of ground beef taco meat will make about 8-12 small tacos using 2-3 tablespoons of meat per taco. Or roughly 4 to 6 servings.
📖 Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef lean
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 medium white onion minced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon salt to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne optional
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
- Heat oil in medium skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.1 tablespoon oil, 1 medium white onion
- Stir in garlic, spices and 1 teaspoon salt. Mix in ground beef, increase heat to medium high and break up with a spoon until browned, about 5 minutes.1 pound ground beef, 3 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, ¼ teaspoon cayenne, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Stir in tomato paste and cook about 1 minute before adding water. Then increase heat and bring to a boil. Reduce and simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes.1 tablespoon tomato paste, ¼ cup water
- Serve or cool and store for later use.
Nutrition
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