This is the best Ground Beef Taco Meat recipe for an easy meal prep protein that takes minimal effort and can be used in various different ways! Add the meat mixture to taco bowls with your choice of toppings, chopped salads, to make your own taco for taco night, or as a burrito filling for a quick dinner.
As a dietitian, I like to do ingredient prep at the beginning of the week. This usually means choosing 2-3 different proteins, whole grains, vegetables, and sauces or dressings to use throughout the week. And this ground beef taco meat is one of the proteins I commonly prep, especially when I am looking for a protein source high in iron.
It's a basic ground beef recipe with a homemade taco seasoning mix rather than using prepared packets. You can even prep the seasoning in advance and have it ready to go. The secret ingredient is using smoked paprika in addition to regular paprika in the taco seasoning to add a light smoky flavor. And a little trick for keeping lean ground beef moist without being greasy is to add tomato paste and a little water when cooking it.
Once you have the ground meat prepped, use it to make a Street Corn Beef Bowl, Hot Honey Sweet Potato Beef Bowl, or Burger Bowls with healthy Big Mac Sauce. You can even keep it simple and serve it with sweet potato halves and roasted broccoli.
More Meal Prep Protein Recipes
- Juicy Oven Baked Chicken Breast
- Oven Baked Thinly Sliced Chicken Breasts
- Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken
- Healthier Basic Chicken Salad
- Healthy Tuna Salad
- Smoked Paprika Salmon
- Turkey Feta Meatballs
- Greek Chicken Meatballs
- Lemon Sage Chicken Meatballs
If you like this recipe, you may also enjoy my Turkey Taco Skillet, Chicken Taco Skillet, Crockpot Shredded Chicken, Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas, or Shrimp Tacos.
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Key Ingredient Notes and Substitution Ideas
This ground beef taco meat is made with simple ingredients. Below are some notes. Ingredient measurements can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Lean Ground Beef - I use 93% lean ground beef for this recipe. It's the most lean cut of beef so you will need a bit of extra liquid to keep it moist. Also since it's so lean, it's lower in saturated fats and less greasy so it works great for things like a taco salad or ground beef tacos. If you don't eat beef, this recipe works for ground turkey or ground chicken. Use crumbled tofu or black beans for a plant-based alternative.
- Taco Seasoning - I like to make my own homemade taco seasoning with chili powder, cumin, regular paprika, smoked paprika, garlic powder, dried oregano, kosher salt, and black pepper. Add red pepper flakes if you like more spice. If you have a favorite packaged taco seasoning, feel free to use it instead!
- Extra- Virgin Olive Oil - or avocado oil to cook the beef in.
- Tomato Paste - optional to give the ground beef more savory flavor. You can use tomato sauce as an alternative, it just won't be quite as rich in flavor.
- Water - a little water to keep the lean beef moist.
How to Make Ground Beef Taco Meat
Below are the directions for how to make this easy recipe with photos I hope are helpful. Check the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full recipe.
- Step 1: Heat a large skillet on medium-high heat. Add olive oil until heated. Turn down to medium heat. Add the ground beef and break apart the beef with a wooden spoon or masher. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the beef starts to brown.
- Step 2: Add the seasonings, water, and tomato paste. Continue to cook until the beef is cooked through, about 5-7 minutes, adding more water as needed.
Hint: you don't need to stir it constantly, just break it apart and then stir every minute of two until it's done.
Dietitian Tip
Ground beef provides several important nutrients. It's an excellent source of protein, which can help with feelings of satiety and muscle retention. It also provides a significant amount of vitamin B12, zinc, and iron. Pair lean cuts of beef like 90-93% with nutrient-packed ingredients like a whole grain, vegetables, and healthy fats for a balanced meal.
Variations
The great thing about this ground beef taco meat recipe is you can customize to your taste! Below are some ideas.
- Spicy -this ground beef taco meat is slightly spicy. To add more spice, add red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to the seasoning blend or add jalapenos at the end of cooking.
- Deluxe - I've purposely made this recipe without the need to chop anything. But if you have an extra couple minutes, you can add more flavor by first sauteing a chopped yellow onion or white onion for a couple minutes, then adding fresh garlic for about 30 seconds before adding the meat and seasonings.
- Mediterranean - switch up the spice blend and instead of using taco seasoning, use a combination of garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, dried thyme, and ground coridander or cumin. Add a squeeze of lemon at the end.
- Italian - skip the taco seasoning and add dried basil, garlic powder, dried oregano and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese for an Italian flavor.
Ideas for How to Use Ground Beef Taco Meat
Once you have a batch of ground beef taco meat made, you can use it in so many different ways. Below are some of my favorites to give you ideas!
- In Burrito Bowls or Fajita Bowls - add it to a bowl with cilantro lime rice, black bean & corn salsa, and your favorite burrito or fajita toppings like sauteed or roasted red and green bell peppers and red onion. Top it with cilantro lime yogurt dressing, a simple avocado lime crema or creamy southwest dressing.
- On a Taco Salad - use the ground beef to add protein to a taco salad with chopped romaine lettuce, roasted diced sweet potatoes, corn & black bean salsa or black bean pico de gallo, and fresh homemade guacamole or avocado crema. Top it with Southwest Dressing or salsa and crushed tortilla chips.
- To Make Tacos - turn taco Tuesday into something special by serving this ground beef taco meat in a tortilla with some chopped romaine, avocado crema, refried black beans, salsa, and a little sour cream or Greek yogurt.
- On a Farmer's Plate - use the ground beef as the protein and serve it with your favorite 2-3 side dishes. Some ideas are roasted sweet potatoes and roasted broccoli or cauliflower & carrots, cilantro lime rice and black bean pico or mango salsa.
- Street Corn Inspired Beef Bowl - use it to make a Street Corn Beef Bowl with a creamy smoky dressing and corn mixture.
- In a Hot Honey Beef Bowl - turn it into a hot honey and sweet potato beef bowl with cottage cheese for extra protein and avocado for healthy fats.
- In a Greek Beef Bowl - add it to a bowl with a cucumber tomato feta salad or white bean salad and roasted potatoes. Serve with a yogurt dill sauce and homemade hummus.
Equipment
You'll need a large saute pan for this recipe I use my 4.5 quart Caraway skillet which is a non-toxic PFOA and PTFE-free saute pan.
Storage for Ground Beef Taco Meat
- Refrigerator - store ground beef in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezer - store cooked ground beef in the freezer in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. If you want to use single servings later, freeze servings in separate bags.
- To Reheat - thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the skillet or in the microwave. To prevent it from drying out, you can add a splash of broth or water.
Expert Tips
- Be sure to preheat your pan before adding the oil and heat the oil before adding the beef. This helps it to brown instead of steam.
- You don't need to stir it constantly while it cooks. Just stir every couple of minutes to scrape up brown bits.
- Add liquid as needed. Start with a couple tablespoon of water and add up to a quarter cup.
- With a lower lean-to-fat ratio like 90% or 93% ground beef, you don't need to drain off excess grease. If you use 85%, you will need to drain off grease or use a paper towel to absorb it.
- Careful not to overcook the ground beef as this will dry it out.
- I look for grass-fed ground beef.
FAQ
While healthy means something different to everyone, from a nutrition perspective this ground beef taco meat contains lean protein, zinc, iron, and important B vitamins.
Of course! Feel free to use your favorite seasoning packet instead. I like the Mild Taco Seasoning from Siete brand.
Yes, this is a gluten-free recipe.
Related
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Perfect for Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Ground Beef Taco Meat:
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram. Your reviews help support me and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love. 🙂 IG: @mallorythedietitian
📖 Recipe
How to Make Ground Beef Taco Meat, Easy, Stovetop
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef (I use 93%)
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon each: garlic powder, paprika, smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt (start with ½ teaspoon if using fine table salt, more to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ¼-½ cup water
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet on medium-high heat. Add olive oil until heated. Turn down to medium heat. Add the ground beef and break apart the beef with a wooden spoon or masher. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the beef starts to brown.
- Add the seasonings, water, and tomato paste. Continue to cook until the beef is cooked through, about 5-7 minutes, adding more water as needed.
Notes
- Be sure to preheat your pan before adding the oil and heat the oil before adding the beef. This helps it to brown instead of steam.
- You don't need to stir it constantly while it cooks. Just stir every couple of minutes to scrape up brown bits.
- Add liquid as needed. Start with a couple tablespoon of water and add up to a quarter cup.
- With a lower lean-to-fat ratio like 90% or 93% ground beef, you don't need to drain off excess grease. If you use 85%, you will need to drain off grease or use a paper towel to absorb it.
- Careful not to overcook the ground beef as this will dry it out.
- I look for grass-fed ground beef.
- Refrigerator - store ground beef in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezer - store cooked ground beef in the freezer in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. If you want to use single servings later, freeze servings in separate bags.
- To Reheat - thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the skillet or in the microwave. To prevent it from drying out, you can add a splash of broth or water.
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