Best Classic Beef Tacos

This post may contain affiliate links. See my full disclosure here.

The Best classic ground beef tacos are back! These tacos are just like the ones you grew up on only better, thanks to the homemade taco seasoning.  They’re BIG on flavor and seasoned just right. Pile on your favorite toppings or keep it simple. They’re scrumptious either way! Make this recipe for your next taco night!  

Beef tacos are one of my favorite foods. I don’t think I could ever get tired of eating them. I ate them so much growing up, it’s only right to have a recipe on the this site.  Do you remember growing up eating them with all the yummy toppings? My mom would come home with groceries. She’d have everything needed to make classic beef tacos. For instance, them yellow taco kits, the taco seasoning packets, shredded cheese, shredded lettuce ground beef. You know, the basic taco ingredients. Those were the good ole days.

I transformed my mom’s beef taco recipe by ditching the store packets and using my homemade taco seasoning. This taco recipe is one of my go-tos on busy days. It’s a quick prep meal and it’s ready in 20 minutes. My family requests this recipe at least once a week. If it’s not beef tacos they’re wanting, then they’re usually begging me to make my Steak Taco Salad, Taco spaghetti, Italian sausage and peppers ,cheesy beef sheet pan quesadillas, chili or best meatloaf. 

They’d be happy eating them every day of their life IF I let them. My sister made these for her family recently. They all loved it. Her hubby and kid ate several of them. The first words out of her mouth during our online chat. This is what she said. “I made the tacos last night and they were GOOD AS HELL.” Her exact words.  

HOW TO MAKE GROUND BEEF TACOS RECIPE AND INGREDIENTS

Classic beef tacos are super easy to make. Simply, dice the onions and mince the garlic. In a large hot skillet over medium high heat, sauté the onions until they become translucent. Add the minced garlic and then the ground beef into the skillet with the onions. Cook the taco meat until it’s browned. It’s best to drain the meat first then once drained, add the taco seasonings, that way you don’t lose any of the great taco meat flavor. Return the skillet back to the stove and add the water, the taco seasoning and the tomato paste to the skillet mixing everything together until the sauce is has thickened. Add  salt and pepper for taste if needed. 

Now that the ground beef tacos are done, it’s time add the tasty toppings. Some people like to bake their tacos for the melted gooey cheese factor, but I prefer mine unbaked. Sometimes I like to prepare the tacos myself, however, other times, I’ll make a taco bar by setting all the taco toppings out. That way my family can prepare their own tacos and fill them with their favorite toppings.

Our taco spread usually include, soft tacos, shredded cheese of course, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, salsa, sour cream, pico de gallo and for a little kick my husband loves to add pickled jalapeños and sometimes olives.  We also love adding Taco Bell’s Mild Sauce. You can purchase it HERE. 

If you love this recipe, make sure to save it to your Pinterest board by clicking on the Pinterest share button at the top of the post. Then follow me on  Pinterest . I share all kinds of mouth-watering delicious recipes. Alternatively, you can bookmark this recipe by sharing it on Facebook :).

5 from 12 votes

Print

Best Classic Ground Beef Tacos

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

20 mins

 

These best old school ground beef tacos are like the ones you grew up on only better, thanks to the homemade taco seasoning.  They're BIG on flavor and seasoned just right. Pile on your favorite toppings or keep it simple. They're scrumptious either way! Make this recipe for your next taco night.

Course: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: American

Keyword: classic comfort food, party food, tex mex

Servings: 5 people

Author: April

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef use 80% fat ground beef
• 1/2 cup diced onions
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1/2 cup water
• 5 tbsp homemade taco seasoning See notes for link to the recipe
• salt for taste optional
• pepper for taste optional

Instructions

1. In a large skillet, over medium high heat, heat the oil. Add the onions and cook until translucent about 5-7 minutes stirring often. Add the garlic cook until the garlic is fragrant about 30 seconds, stirring to prevent garlic from burning. 

2. Add the ground beef and cook until browned. Drain the beef then return it back to the stove. Add the water, the tomato paste and the taco seasoning *SEE NOTES. Stir well and cook until the sauce has thickened. Fill the tacos with the ground beef add then add your choice of taco toppings. Add salt and pepper for taste if needed.  See notes for topping suggestions. 

Recipe Notes

You can find my homemade taco seasoning HERE.

If you are using seasoning packets, do not add the tomato paste.