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Taco meat is a simple recipe that I make all the time. If you’ve been following my Monthly Menu Plans you’ll remember that each Tuesday in our house is a Taco or Tater themed, so usually at least once a week I’m making this taco meat, it works for taco night, or just as often, the starting point for something else.
A batch can turn into taco salads for lunch, burritos, quesadillas, or a big pan of Loaded Nachos. I also like serving it with Easy Homemade Spanish Rice or Cilantro Lime Rice when we want to make dinner a little more filling.
I usually make my Homemade Taco Seasoning and keep it ready to go. But you don’t have to have a jar of seasoning already mixed. I’ve included the individual spices in the recipe notes, too. That way, you can still make this taco meat with what you already have in the spice cabinet.
This is a simple recipe, and that’s exactly what I want it to be. Once you have a good basic taco meat recipe, you can use it for so many different meals.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy: You can have the meat browned, seasoned, and ready to serve in about 20 minutes.
- Only three main ingredients: Ground beef, taco seasoning, and water are all you need.
- Easy to customize: Keep it simple or add onions, extra spice, or other seasonings.
- Great for meal prep: Make it ahead and keep it in the refrigerator for quick lunches and dinners.
- Freezer-friendly: Cook a double batch and freeze half for another meal.
- Useful beyond tacos: Use it for nachos, burritos, taco salads, quesadillas, and more.
Ingredients
- Ground beef
- Taco seasoning
- Water
Equipment
Large skillet: A roomy skillet gives you plenty of space to brown the ground beef without overcrowding it. I especially like using a cast iron skillet for taco meat.
Meat chopper: This is one of those simple kitchen tools that I use all the time. It makes it easy to break ground beef into small, even pieces while it cooks.
Wooden spoon or spatula: You’ll need something sturdy to stir the seasoning and water into the browned meat.
How to Make Easy Taco Meat
Start by browning the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Break the meat apart as it cooks so you get small crumbles rather than large chunks. A meat chopper works especially well for this.
Give the beef enough time to brown completely. You don’t need to constantly stir it. Letting the meat sit against the hot skillet for a bit helps it develop more flavor.
Once the beef has cooked through, check how much grease remains in the skillet. Drain off the excess when needed. The amount will depend on how lean your ground beef is.
Next, reduce the heat and add the taco seasoning. My Homemade Taco Seasoning works perfectly here, but store-bought seasoning works too. Don’t have either one? The recipe card notes include a simple blend of chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and oregano.
Add the water and stir everything together until the seasoning evenly coats the meat. Let the taco meat simmer uncovered for a few minutes. The liquid will reduce and help the seasoning cling to every bite.
Once most of the liquid has cooked away, it’s ready to serve. Use it right away or let it cool before storing it for another meal.
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
PrintEasy Ground Beef Taco Meat
This easy taco meat recipe is made with ground beef, taco seasoning, and water for a simple, flavorful filling that’s perfect for tacos, nachos, burritos, taco salads, and more.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican, Mexican-Inspired, Tex-Mex
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1/2 cup water
- 4 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning (see notes for individual seasonings)
- or 2 standard 1-ounce packets taco seasoning
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon or meat chopper, until browned and cooked through, about 7–10 minutes.
- Drain off excess grease if needed.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Sprinkle the taco seasoning evenly over the cooked beef.
- Pour in 1/2 cup water and stir well until all of the beef is coated.
- Simmer uncovered for 3–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has cooked down and the meat is well coated with the seasoning.
- Remove from the heat and use immediately for tacos, nachos, burritos, quesadillas, taco salad, or your favorite Mexican-inspired recipes.
Notes
- To make 1 pound of taco meat: Use 1 pound ground beef, 2 tablespoons taco seasoning, and 1/4 cup water.
- Homemade taco seasoning: Use 2 tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning per pound of ground beef.
- No taco seasoning on hand? For this recipe, use:
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon each paprika garlic powder, onion powder, and salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- and 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano.
- For loaded nachos: You can stir cooked cilantro lime rice or Spanish rice into the finished taco meat before adding it to your nachos.
- Ground turkey or ground chicken can be substituted for the ground beef.
- For extra onion flavor, cook diced onion along with the ground beef.
Recipes That Pair Well With This
Taco meat makes an easy starting point for dinner. Add rice, dips, and a few toppings, and everyone can build their plate however they like.
- Easy Homemade Spanish Rice – A simple stovetop rice side that fits right in with taco night.
- Cilantro Lime Rice – A fresh, flavorful option that’s great alongside tacos or tucked into a burrito.
- Easy Homemade Guacamole Recipe – Fresh guacamole is an easy topping or side for tacos, nachos, and burritos.
- Easy Homemade Sour Cream – Add a spoonful to tacos, nachos, burritos, or taco salads.
- Mexican White Cheese Dip – Serve warm queso with tortilla chips or drizzle some over your taco meat.
- Chick-fil-A Style Thick Fudgy Chocolate Chunk Brownies – Finish taco night with a thick, fudgy chocolate brownie.
- Best Snickerdoodle Cookies Ever – Soft cinnamon-sugar cookies are an easy dessert to make ahead for taco night.
More Recipes to Try
- Loaded Nachos – This recipe is coming soon and will use this easy taco meat as the base. Pile it over tortilla chips with cheese and all your favorite nacho toppings.
- Creamy Beef Enchiladas – A hearty ground beef dinner with plenty of creamy sauce and cheese.
- Chicken Street Tacos – Switch from ground beef to chicken with these easy street tacos and fresh toppings.
- Grilled Chicken Avocado Burritos – Chicken, avocado, cheese, and sour cream wrapped in a tortilla and browned in a skillet.
- Crockpot Chicken Taco Soup – An easy dump-and-go dinner with plenty of taco flavor.
- Creamy Salsa Verde White Chicken Enchiladas – Creamy chicken enchiladas with salsa verde for another Mexican-inspired dinner.
Tips for Little Helpers
Taco night has plenty of jobs for little helpers! Kids can set out tortillas, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, salsa, and other toppings while an adult handles the hot skillet.
They can also help measure the taco seasoning and water before you start cooking. Older kids who are learning to cook can practice breaking apart and stirring the ground beef with close supervision.
Tips for Success
Break the beef into small pieces. Smaller crumbles distribute the taco seasoning more evenly and work better in tacos and nachos. A standard meat chopper is key here!
Drain only when needed. Lean ground beef may not leave much grease behind. Higher-fat beef will usually need to be drained before you add the seasoning.
Let the seasoning simmer. Don’t add the seasoning and immediately remove the skillet from the heat. Simmering it with water gives the spices time to coat and flavor the meat.
Adjust the seasoning to your taste. You can always add a little more taco seasoning if you like a stronger flavor.
Make extra. Taco meat freezes well, so this is an easy recipe to double when you have enough ground beef on hand.
FAQs
How much taco seasoning do I need per pound of ground beef?
I use taco seasoning for every pound of ground beef. The full recipe uses two pounds of beef, and the recipe card gives you the exact amount you’ll need.
What can I use if I don’t have taco seasoning?
You can season the beef with individual spices instead. I use a combination of chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and oregano. You’ll find the exact amounts in the recipe card notes.
Do I need to add water to taco meat?
Yes. A little water helps distribute the taco seasoning throughout the beef. As the mixture simmers, the water cooks down and leaves the meat evenly seasoned.
Should I drain ground beef before adding taco seasoning?
Drain it when there is a noticeable amount of excess grease in the skillet. With leaner ground beef, you may not need to drain much at all.
Can I make taco meat ahead of time?
Absolutely. Taco meat reheats well, which makes it useful for meal prep. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it.
Can I use ground turkey or chicken instead?
Yes. Ground turkey or ground chicken can replace the beef. Since both tend to be leaner, watch the skillet closely so the meat doesn’t dry out.
What can I make with leftover taco meat?
Use leftovers for nachos, burritos, quesadillas, taco salads, rice bowls, or another round of tacos. It’s one of the reasons I like making a larger batch.
Storage
Let leftover taco meat cool, then transfer it to an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
Reheat individual portions in the microwave or warm the meat in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add a small splash of water if the meat seems dry while reheating.
Freezing Instructions
Easy taco meat is a great recipe to keep in the freezer. Let the cooked meat cool completely before transferring it to a freezer-safe container or freezer bag.
Press excess air from freezer bags and freeze the meat flat to save space. For the best quality, use it within about 3 months.
Thaw the taco meat overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat it in a skillet or microwave until hot throughout. A splash of water can help bring back some moisture as it reheats.
Variations
Add onion: Cook diced onion along with the ground beef for extra flavor.
Make it spicy: Add cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, or diced jalapeños.
Use another ground meat: Swap the ground beef for ground turkey or ground chicken.
Make taco bowls: Spoon the meat over Cilantro Lime Rice and add lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, Easy Homemade Guacamole, sour cream, and salsa.
Make loaded nachos: Spread tortilla chips on a sheet pan, top them with taco meat and cheese, and turn this simple recipe into Loaded Nachos.
Stretch the taco meat: For nachos or burrito bowls, mix some cooked Easy Homemade Spanish Rice or Cilantro Lime Rice into the taco meat.
Final Thoughts
Easy taco meat isn’t a complicated recipe, but that’s what makes it so useful. It’s one of those basics that can make several different meals depending on what you have in the refrigerator.
Make tacos one night, use the leftovers for nachos the next day, or freeze a batch for later. Keeping Homemade Taco Seasoning ready in the pantry makes it even easier, but the individual seasoning option means you can make this recipe either way.
Once you have the taco meat ready, set out your favorite toppings and let everyone build their own dinner.
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