How to Make Taco Meat Like Mexican Restaurants

The BEST Taco Meat – our go-to recipe for taco night. Tastes as good as our favorite Mexican restaurant! Super easy to make and ready to eat in about 15 minutes. Ground beef, onion, garlic, chili powder, salt, cumin, diced tomatoes and green chiles, red pepper flakes, and water. You will never use a packet of taco seasoning again! Can freeze leftovers for a quick meal later. A must for taco night!

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The BEST Taco Seasoning

I have a serious weakness for Mexican/Tex-Mex food. I absolutely love it. We don't eat Mexican out very often because I have ZERO self-control around the chips and salsa. I've been working on making a beef taco meat recipe that is as good as our favorite Mexican place and I have finally found it. OMG! This taco meat is the BEST! It tastes just as good, if not better, than the Mexican restaurant. This is definitely our go-to recipe for taco night!

How to Make Easy Homemade Taco Meat

This Mexican ground beef is super easy to make. Start by browning two pounds of ground beef in a large skillet. Add chili powder, salt, garlic powder, cumin, minced onion, a can of diced tomatoes and green chilies, red pepper flakes and water. Let that simmer until the liquid is reduced. That's it. All that is left to do is dig in!

You can substitute ground turkey for the ground beef. If you are worried about the heat in the taco meat, you can substitute a can of regular diced tomatoes and a can of diced green chiles and omit the red pepper flakes. You can also use a can of mild diced tomatoes and green chiles in place of regular.

Can You Freeze Homemade Taco Ground Beef?

This recipe makes a lot of meat. You can freeze any leftovers for a quick meal later. To reheat the leftovers, partially thaw and microwave until warm.

What to Serve with Authentic Taco Meat

This really is the BEST Taco Meat. It is great in tacos, on top of salads, on baked potatoes, quesadillas, enchiladas, taquitos, really any Tex-Mex recipe that calls for taco meat. I am so excited to finally have a delicious taco recipe and not have to use the packets of taco seasoning. Taco night isn't complete without some sides. Here are a few of our favorite recipes from the blog that goes great with taco mixture:

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skillet of taco meat

The BEST Taco Meat

Yield: 8 people

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 15 mins

Total Time 20 mins

2 lb ground beef
10 tsp chili powder (3 Tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon)
1 tsp salt, or to taste
1 (10-oz) can diced tomatoes and green chiles, undrained
1 cup water
1 tsp garlic powder
¼ red pepper flakes, optional
¾ tsp cumin
2 Tbsp minced onion flakes

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef until no longer pink. Drain fat.
Add remaining ingredients and simmer until liquid is reduced, about 10 minutes.

Can substitute ground turkey for ground beef.

Can use a can of plain diced tomatoes and a can of diced green chilies in place of the diced tomatoes and green chiles.

Can use a can of mild diced tomatoes and green chiles for reduced heat.

Steph