Beef Tacos with Soft Tortillas (Printable)

Seasoned ground beef with fresh toppings served in warm soft tortillas for a satisfying Mexican-style meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beef Filling

01 - 1 lb ground beef
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tbsp olive oil
05 - 1 tsp ground cumin
06 - 1 tsp chili powder
07 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
09 - 1/2 tsp salt
10 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
11 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
12 - 1/4 cup water

→ Tortillas

13 - 8 small soft flour tortillas

→ Toppings

14 - 1 cup shredded lettuce
15 - 1 cup diced tomatoes
16 - 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
17 - 1/4 cup sour cream
18 - 1 ripe avocado, sliced or mashed
19 - Fresh cilantro leaves
20 - Lime wedges

# How-To Steps:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes until softened.
02 - Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Add ground beef and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5-6 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
04 - Stir in cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
05 - Add tomato paste and water. Mix well and simmer for 3-4 minutes until the mixture thickens. Remove from heat.
06 - Warm the tortillas in a dry skillet or microwave until soft and pliable.
07 - Spoon beef mixture onto each tortilla. Top with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, avocado, and a dollop of sour cream. Garnish with cilantro and serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The beef filling comes together in under 20 minutes but tastes like it simmered all afternoon
  • Everyone builds their own perfect taco so no negotiating over toppings
  • Leftovers (if you somehow have any) make incredible taco salads the next day
02 -
  • Let the beef filling cool slightly before assembling or the tortillas will get soggy quickly
  • Warm tortillas are essential because cold tortillas crack and fall apart
  • Squeeze the lime over everything right before eating to brighten all the flavors
03 -
  • Use a potato masher to break up ground beef into perfectly small, even crumbles faster than a spoon
  • Double the spice rub and save half for next time to make future batches even faster

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