Beef Tacos with Soft Flour Tortillas (Printable)
Seasoned ground beef tucked into warm flour tortillas with fresh toppings for an easy, satisfying Mexican-inspired dinner.
# What You'll Need:
→ For the Beef
01 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20 or 85/15)
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tbsp olive oil
05 - 2 tsp chili powder
06 - 1 tsp ground cumin
07 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
09 - 1/2 tsp salt
10 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
11 - 1/4 cup beef or chicken broth
12 - 1 tbsp tomato paste
→ For the Tortillas and Toppings
13 - 8 small soft flour tortillas, 6-inch
14 - 1 cup shredded lettuce
15 - 1 cup diced tomatoes
16 - 3/4 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
17 - 1/2 cup sour cream
18 - 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
19 - 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced
20 - 1 lime, cut into wedges
# How-To Steps:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until softened.
02 - Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Add ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned, approximately 6 to 7 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
04 - Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute.
05 - Add tomato paste and broth. Stir well and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes until slightly thickened. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Remove from heat.
06 - Warm flour tortillas in a dry skillet or microwave until soft and pliable.
07 - Spoon beef mixture onto tortillas. Top with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, cilantro, jalapeños, and a squeeze of lime.
08 - Serve immediately while tortillas and filling are warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The beef simmers just long enough to create this incredible sauce that stays put in your tortilla instead of running down your arm like some recipes do.
- You can prep all the toppings while the meat cooks, making this genuinely doable on even your most exhausted weeknight.
02 -
- After making these dozens of times, I learned the hard way to always warm tortillas individually - stacking them in foil seems easier but leaves you with gummy, steamed wraps that tear when filled.
- The beef mixture actually tastes better if you make it 30 minutes ahead and let it rest before serving, giving the spices time to fully infuse.
03 -
- For an incredible flavor boost, add a tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder to your beef as it cooks - its a subtle background note that people cant quite identify but makes the dish remarkably complex.
- Grate your cheese rather than buying pre-shredded - the anti-caking agents in packaged shredded cheese prevent that beautiful melt that brings tacos to life.