10-Minute Taco Meat Recipe - The Big Man's World ® (2024)

Satisfy your taste buds with this quick and easy taco meat recipe featuring juicy ground beef cooked in classic Mexican spices. It’s so hearty and full of flavor, and it makes for great leftovers!

Love easy Mexican recipes? Try my Mexican pizza, arrachera, and mulitas.

Homemade taco meat is ALWAYS better than using anything from a packet. My homemade taco meat recipe is a staple in my household. The meat stays juicy and absorbs every ounce of flavor from my homemade taco seasoning. Plus, it’s easy to make and cooks up in minutes.

Why I love this recipe

• Foolproof. Simply add the beef and aromatics to the skillet, let them cook, then pile on the seasonings, and voila! In less than 20 minutes, you have perfectly cooked taco-seasoned meat.
• It makes great leftovers. I usually make a double batch of meat so I can toss it into my meals throughout the week. It tastes great cold but reheats easily.
• This recipe is versatile. You can pile it on tortilla chips for the perfect nachos or stir it into beanless chili. There’s no end to what you can do with it.

Ingredients needed

• Ground beef. I prefer to use lean ground beef because it has a good fat texture but is not overly greasy. Anything labeled “ground hamburger” will also work, but it will be a bit fattier, so you’ll want to drain the excess grease.
• Salt and black pepper. To taste.
• Garlic and onion. Essential aromatics.
• Seasonings. No, we are NOT using the store-bought seasoning packets. I used smoked paprika, chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder, and onion powder, but you can also use my homemade taco seasoning blend.

How to make taco meat

I’ve includedstep-by-step photosbelow to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to therecipe cardat the bottom of this post.

Step 1- Cook the beef. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef. Break it apart with a spatula and cook until it begins to brown.

Step 2- Add aromatics. Add the chopped onions and minced garlic to the skillet. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the beef is fully browned and the onions soften.

Step 3- Add seasonings. In the skillet, sprinkle the salt, pepper, smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and onion powder. Stir the seasoning into the meat mixture.

Step 4- Simmer. Simmer over medium heat for 5-10 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed. Then, serve as desired.

Recipe tips and variations

• Make it spicy. Add a dash of cayenne pepper or hot sauce for an extra spicy kick.
• Drain the grease. Before serving, I like to carefully drain the excess grease or soak it up with a few paper towels.Typically this only happens when I use ground beef with a higher fat content.
• Add more liquid. Depending on the type of ground beef I use, sometimes I’ll add a little extra water, chicken broth, or even tomato sauce to prevent it from drying out.
• Make sure the meat is fully cooked. Once you add the seasonings, the meat may look like it’s done, but you’ll want to let it simmer for the full time to ensure it’s completely cooked.

Storage instructions

To store: Leftover taco meat can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.

To freeze: Allow leftover meat to cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Let the meat thaw overnight in the fridge, or add more reheating time.

To reheat: Microwave leftover beef in 30-second intervals until fully reheated.

Frequently asked questions

More recipes using ground beef

• Stuffed pepper soup
• Air fryer hamburgers
• Salisbury steak
• Air fryer meatballs
• Or any of these healthy ground beef recipes.