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Flavorful Classic Beef Tacos Recipe Easy Homemade with Fresh Fixings

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A quick and easy recipe for classic beef tacos with a perfect blend of spices and fresh toppings, delivering a hearty, zesty, and comforting meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb lean ground beef (85% lean preferred)
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp dried oregano
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • ½ cup beef broth or water
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 8 small corn or flour tortillas, warmed
  • 1 cup shredded lettuce (iceberg or romaine)
  • 1 medium tomato, diced
  • ½ cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
  • Fresh cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
  • 1 avocado, sliced or mashed (optional)
  • 1 lime, cut into wedges
  • Sour cream or Mexican crema (for topping)
  • Pickled jalapeños or fresh sliced jalapeños (optional)

Instructions

  1. Dice the onion and tomato, mince the garlic, shred the lettuce and cheese, and slice the avocado. Set aside in separate bowls for assembly. (About 10 minutes)
  2. Heat a large non-stick or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add a teaspoon of oil if beef is very lean.
  3. Add chopped onions and sauté for 3-4 minutes until soft and translucent. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Add ground beef to skillet, breaking it apart. Cook 6-8 minutes until no pink remains. Drain excess fat if necessary, keeping some for flavor.
  5. Sprinkle chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper over beef. Stir well. Add tomato paste and mix thoroughly.
  6. Pour in beef broth or water. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5-7 minutes until mixture thickens and flavors meld. Add more broth if dry.
  7. Warm tortillas in a dry skillet or wrapped in a damp towel in microwave for 30 seconds.
  8. Assemble tacos by spooning beef onto tortillas. Top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, cheese, cilantro, avocado slices, sour cream, and a squeeze of lime. Add jalapeños if desired.
  9. Serve immediately while warm.

Notes

If beef seems dry, add a splash of fresh lime juice at the end for brightness and moisture. Avoid overcooking beef during simmering to keep it tender. Warm tortillas properly to prevent sogginess. Leftover beef filling can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: beef tacos, classic tacos, easy taco recipe, homemade tacos, ground beef tacos, Mexican food, quick dinner, fresh toppings

Find it online: https://jodierecipes.com/flavorful-classic-beef-tacos-recipe-easy-homemade-with-fresh-fixings/