Spicy Beef Tacos Salsa Verde (Printable)
Juicy, seasoned beef with zesty salsa verde in warm tortillas, perfect for a lively, flavorful meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ For the Beef
01 - 1.1 lb ground beef (80/20 preferred)
02 - 1 small onion, finely diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
05 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
07 - 1 teaspoon chili powder
08 - ½ teaspoon dried oregano
09 - ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
10 - 1 teaspoon salt
11 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
12 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
13 - ¼ cup water
→ For the Salsa Verde
14 - 10 oz tomatillos, husked and rinsed
15 - 1 jalapeño pepper, stemmed
16 - 1 small garlic clove
17 - 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
18 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
19 - ½ teaspoon salt
20 - 2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
→ For Serving
21 - 8 small corn or flour tortillas, warmed
22 - ½ cup crumbled queso fresco or feta (optional)
23 - 1 ripe avocado, sliced
24 - Fresh cilantro leaves
25 - Lime wedges
# How-To Steps:
01 - Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add tomatillos and jalapeño; simmer for 5 minutes until tomatillos turn pale green and soften. Drain and cool slightly. In a blender, combine tomatillos, jalapeño, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, and salt. Blend until smooth. Stir in chopped red onion. Chill until ready to use.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Add ground beef and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned throughout, approximately 5 minutes.
04 - Stir in smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, oregano, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute to bloom the spices.
05 - Add tomato paste and water. Stir to coat the beef evenly and simmer for 3-4 minutes until the sauce thickens. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
06 - Fill each warm tortilla with spicy beef mixture. Top with salsa verde, crumbled cheese (if using), avocado slices, and fresh cilantro. Serve with lime wedges on the side.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The homemade salsa verde is an absolute game changer that comes together in minutes
- These tacos hit that perfect balance of smoky, tangy, and just enough heat to keep things interesting
02 -
- Do not skip the step of boiling the tomatillos because raw salsa verde tastes unpleasantly sour and grassy
- Let the beef mixture rest in the pan off the heat for 5 minutes before serving so the flavors really meld together
03 -
- Reserve a spoonful of the salsa verde to drizzle over the top so you can see that gorgeous green color
- Let your beef get a little crispy in spots as it browns because texture makes these tacos sing