What meats are best for tacos?

Any type of ground beef or meat can be used for tacos, but I prefer grass-fed organic beef (I highly recommend Butcher Box !), mixed with a whole bunch of fresh vegetables to add flavor and nutrition to my tacos. A lean ground beef or ground turkey is sometimes preferable since it doesn’t get as greasy, although you can always drain excess grease.

What does taco meat contain?

At its most basic, taco meat contains the meat and the taco seasoning. You can add veggies to this recipe for a boost in nutrition or keep it super simple with just the meat and a few more ingredients.

Are homemade tacos healthy?

Yes! I use organic, grass-fed beef from a trusted source, skip the seasoning packet, and make my own Taco Seasoning . You can also boost your nutrition even more with loads of fresh vegetables, so all the nutritional bases are covered!

How do you season taco meat from scratch?

This taco meat seasoning recipe utilizes common spices in your kitchen (chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, crushed red pepper flakes, and oregano) and allows you to adjust the spiciness of your seasoning. It’s super easy to make and doesn’t have any of the preservatives and anti-caking agents that make store-bought seasonings less healthy!

The Best Taco Meat with Homemade Taco Seasoning (+ Video)

Name: Taco Meat
Prep time: 00:05
Cook time: 00:15
Total time: 00:20
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: olive oil; diced onion; diced celery; diced mushrooms; shredded carrots; ground beef; homemade taco seasoning

Taco Meat

Overview of a cast iron skillet filled with cooked ground beef. Green leaf garnish and a wooden spoon ready to dish up a portion. Text overlay The Best Ground Beef Taco Meat.

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5 from 5 reviews

Brimming with authentic Mexican flavor, this real-food taco meat recipe is so simple to make! You’ll want to make a double batch to freeze some for your next taco night because it’s sure to become a family favorite.

Author: Tiffany
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 4 servings 1x
Category: Main Meals
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients

Scale

1 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup finely diced onion (about 1 large onion)
1 cup finely diced celery (about 2–3 stalks)
1 cup finely diced mushrooms (about 4 oz)
1 cup shredded carrots (about 2 large carrots)
1 lb ground beef
2–3 Tbsp Homemade Taco Seasoning

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Instructions

In a large heavy bottom skillet (I use my 12” cast iron skillet), warm olive oil over medium heat. Add 1 cup finely diced onions, 1 cup finely diced celery, 1 cup finely diced mushrooms, and 1 cup shredded carrots and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are translucent.
Add the 1 lb ground beef and 2-3 Tbsp Taco Seasoning. Break up the beef using a pastry cutter or a wooden spoon and stir until everything is mixed well.
Cook the ground beef on medium heat until it’s no longer pink. The juices and water should be evaporating, but if they’re not, you can turn the heat up slightly. Stand at the stove if you turn the heat up and stir constantly so as not to burn the meat or vegetables.
Serve as you would ground beef, preferably in tacos!

Notes

Choose the right pan. It’s important to use a shallow pan for this taco meat recipe. This allows any excess liquid to evaporate quickly and create delicious ground beef taco meat that’s solid clumps instead of soggy meat mash (which we don’t like!).
- I used this 12” cast iron skillet and it was the perfect size for this recipe
Make your own Taco Meat Seasoning. In addition to tasting AMAZING, this allows you to adjust the level of seasoning, cuts down on additives, and saves money.
Freeze some taco meat. I’m all about freezing things for later (a la Yogurt and Tomato Paste and Breakfast Sausage and Meatballs and even this step-by-step freezer cooking guide), so I highly recommend doubling or tripling this recipe and freezing it for later.

Nutrition

Calories: 260

Find it online: https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/ground-beef-taco-meat/