It only takes 5 ingredients and 15 minutes to make this ground beef taco recipe. We make ground beef tacos at least once every week because it’s our family’s favorite meal! Use our homemade taco seasoning for the best flavor.
Combine ground beef, onion and minced garlic in a non-stick fry pan or cast iron skillet.
Cover and cook over medium-high heat until the meat begins to brown and is no longer pink in the center, stirring often.*
Once the ground beef begins to brown, add taco seasoning and stir until it’s evenly distributed.
Add the lime juice and stir to combine.
Cook, uncovered, until the mixture is browned, stirring occasionally.
Fill taco shells with meat and toppings, as desired.
Video
Notes
*Depending on the fat content of your ground beef, you may want to strain some of the fat off as it cooks. Don’t drain it all, though. It adds flavor and absorbs/distributes the taco seasoning. Also, the meat mixture thickens as it cools slightly.Ingredient Substitutions
Ground Beef. We typically use 85% lean ground beef, however any variety works well. You can also use ground chicken or ground turkey to make this recipe.
Homemade Taco Seasoning. I always have a batch of this in a jar in my spice cabinet. If you prefer to use store-bought, I suggest making sure you chose an organic variety without fillers/artificial ingredients. Two of our favorites are Siete Foods and Simply Organic.
Onion. We usually use sweet white or yellow onions, however red onion tastes great too.
Minced Garlic. I buy minced garlic in a jar since I don't ever seem to have time to mince fresh garlic. But you can choose whichever you prefer.
Store/freezeStore leftover ground beef taco meat in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.