Easy Beef Soft Taco Recipe

Beef soft tacos on a gray plate with cheese, lettuce, and jalapenos.

5 from 9 votes

Easy Beef Soft Taco Recipe

The best ground beef taco recipe goes together quickly and is always a go to easy meal. Tender, seasoned beef with delicious toppings nestled in a soft taco.

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Course: dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Diet: Low Lactose

Servings:

Author: Bailey

Equipment

large skillet
sharp knives

Ingredients

Ground Beef Mixture

½ tsp olive oil
1 lb lean ground beef I use 90/10 or 93/7. you can also ise chicken or ground turkey.
½ cup yellow onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
½ tsp paprika
½ tsp salt
½ tsp chipotle powder
½ tsp dried oregano
1 Tbsp tomato paste
½ cup red enchilada sauce Add more if desired. If you do not have enchilada sauce, use any hot sauce of choice. Add 1/4 cup and taste as you go if using a hot sauce.

Toppings

8 flour tortillas, taco sized Use flour or corn. I prefer flour for this recipe, it holds the saucy meat a bit better.
1 Jalapeño, sliced
1 ½ cup romaine, shredded
¾ cup tomatoes, chopped
¼ cup sour cream
½ cup shredded cheese

Instructions

In a large skillet add the oil and heat on medium/high heat. Add ground beef and chop it up with a spatula. Once it's starting to brown (about 4-5 minutes), soak up any excess grease with paper towels. Add in the chopped onion and garlic. Add in the seasonings and tomato paste and sauté for another 3 minutes.
Add the enchilada sauce to the ground beef. Let it simmer on low for about 4-5 minutes more. meanwhile chop romaine and gather the toppings. I like to warm my flour tortillas a bit in the microwave or on the stovetop (this is optional).
Once the beef has soaked up the enchilada sauce a bit and it's mixed well, turn off the heat and begin to build the tacos. I layer the ground beef first, cheese, chopped tomatoes, lettuce and sour cream and jalapeños on the top.

Notes

Drain Excess Fat: After browning the beef, be sure to soak up or drain any excess fat. This will prevent your tacos from becoming too greasy. If you are using ground meat with more fat you may actually need to let drain in a colander for a few minutes.

Customize Toppings: Offer a variety of toppings for tacos so your guests have options. You can include diced tomatoes, sliced jalapeños, sour cream, guacamole, and hot sauces to cater to different tastes.

Make Ahead: You can prepare the beef filling and toppings in advance, storing them separately. This can save time when you're ready to assemble the tacos.

Storing: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can freeze these for up to 2 months.

Nutrition