Description
These Crispy Ground Beef Tacos are a flavorful and satisfying meal featuring seasoned beef cooked with aromatic spices and tomato paste, served in warm, crispy corn tortillas filled with melted cheese and your favorite toppings. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, these tacos combine texture and bold Mexican-inspired flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Beef Filling
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound (450g) ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup (60ml) water
For the Tacos
- 8 small corn tortillas
- 1 cup (115g) shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
Optional Toppings
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced tomatoes
- Sour cream
- Hot sauce
- Chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Cook the Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Then add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Brown the Ground Beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking it up with a spatula, until browned and cooked through, about 5 to 6 minutes. Drain any excess fat if necessary to keep the filling from being greasy.
- Season and Simmer: Stir in the tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Pour in the water and let the mixture simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until it thickens slightly and the flavors meld. Remove the skillet from heat.
- Warm the Tortillas: Preheat a clean skillet or griddle over medium heat. Warm each tortilla for about 15 seconds on each side until pliable and slightly heated.
- Assemble and Crisp the Tacos: Sprinkle shredded cheese on one half of each warmed tortilla. Spoon a generous amount of the beef mixture over the cheese. Fold the tortilla in half like a quesadilla to encase the filling.
- Cook Until Crispy: Place the folded taco back in the skillet and cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side until the tortilla is crispy and golden brown, and the cheese is melted inside. Repeat with remaining tortillas and filling.
- Serve: Serve the crispy beef tacos hot, topped with your favorite taco toppings such as shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, hot sauce, and chopped cilantro for added freshness and flavor.
Notes
- Flour tortillas can be used as an alternative, but corn tortillas crisp up better for this recipe.
- To save time, prepare the beef filling in advance and assemble the tacos just before cooking.
- For a spicier kick, add finely chopped jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce to the beef mixture while cooking.
- This recipe can be made gluten-free if using certified gluten-free corn tortillas.
