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ground beef tacos on a plate with lime wedges

Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe

Tired of tacos that aren't seasoned well? This recipe will fix that!
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5 from 2 votes
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: Latin America, Mexican
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 168kcal

Ingredients

The Beef Filling

  • 1 pound 75-80% ground beef
  • ½ cup chopped onion
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 2 tablespoons cumin (yes, 2!)
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper add more if you want more heat
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon paprika

Traditional Taco Toppings

  • finely sliced lettuce
  • sour cream or Mexican crema
  • chopped onion
  • chopped tomato
  • shredded medium cheddar, or Mexican blend
  • lime wedges for squeezing

Instructions

  • In a large non-stick skillet, over medium heat, brown the ground beef, taking care to break it up into small, small pieces. Remove any excess fat, but not all of it.
  • Turn the flame down a bit and add the chopped onion and minced garlic. Saute, stirring frequently, until the onion becomes transparent.
  • Add the water and the spices. Stir well to mix the spices into the liquid thoroughly.
  • Cover the skillet and simmer for 15 minutes. This will allow the spices to work their way into the beef.
  • Remove the lid and continue cooking at a slow simmer until most but not all of the liquid has evaporated. Remove the skillet from the heat.
  • Serve immediately with your choice of tortilla, a lime wedge for squeezing, and the traditional toppings of lettuce, cheese, onion, tomato and sour cream.

Nutrition

Calories: 168kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 352mg | Potassium: 270mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 811IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 3mg