The Best Taco Meat Recipe (2024)

The best taco meat recipe starts with ground beef, a delicious homemade taco seasoning, and a little broth. This homemade taco meat is healthy, easy to make, and the perfect way to enjoy ground beef tacos at home!

The Best Taco Meat Recipe (1)

There are very few things that my 7-year-old will eat but one of them is taco meat. Not tacos actually in tortillas or a taco shell but the meat.

Because of that, we’ve had to come up with the best taco meat recipe ever so that the meat tastes good even without all of the toppings!

This homemade taco meat is our family’s favorite and a great addition to tacos, quesadillas, burritos, burrito bowls – you name it!

We very rarely use packets of seasonings these days after trying Whole 30 a few years back. But honestly, it’s more about the taste.

I just think homemade taco seasoning tastes better. A lot better.

It’s also better for you. This recipe is also very lifestyle friendly – gluten-free, paleo, Keto, Whole 30 you name it!

Don’t want ground beef tacos? Try our favorite chicken tacos instead!

What is taco meat made out of?

There are really only a few ingredients in this taco meat recipe. I’ve broken out the taco seasoning spices below. Other than the taco seasoning, you’ll also need to have these ingredients on hand to make the homemade taco meat.

  • Ground beef
  • Salt
  • Chicken broth or bone broth

What’s in homemade taco seasoning?

The reason this is the best taco meat recipe is because the taco seasoning mixture we use is so good! You could make the seasoning up and store it for the future or you can just add what you need to make these tacos right now!

For the taco seasoning, you’ll need to have these spices available.

  • Cumin
  • Garlic powder
  • Chili powder
  • Oregano
  • Smoked paprika
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How do you make taco meat from scratch?

One of the most important parts of this taco meat recipe is how you make it. How you make it will determine whether you have dry meat or meat with a little moisture left.

It’ll also change whether or not the ground beef captures the flavor of the taco seasoning well or just a little.

Here’s how you make this taco meat from scratch!

1 – Cook the ground beef

The first step in making sure your taco meat is seasoning properly is to add salt and garlic to both sides of the ground beef before you cook it. If you’re using a block of meat, cut the block of meat in half and salt both sides of both halves of the block.

Then cook the ground beef on medium to medium-high heat depending on how how your stove cooks.

The best way we’ve found to cook the meat is to cook for two minutes on one side, flip and cook for another two minutes, then break up the meat and cook until the meat is browned.

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2 – Add the taco seasoning

While the meat is browning, combine your spices to make the homemade taco seasoning.

Once the meat is browned, sprinkle the seasoning over the mix and cook for one more minute to let the flavors sink in.

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3 – Add the broth and simmer

Add the broth, reduce the heat, and allow the meat to simmer for another 4 to 5 minutes. The goal is to simmer most of the liquid away so you’re left with the best taco meat. Taco meat that’s flavorful, moist, and perfect for your favorite Mexican dishes!

If you want to try something other than just tacos, try adding this taco meat to these taco salad bites or this taco soup recipe!

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The Best Taco Meat Recipe (6)

Taco Meat Recipe FAQs

I’ve had a lot of the same questions about this recipe so I’ve included answers to some of the more popular questions and comments below. If you have others, please feel free to leave comments, and I’ll do my best to answer quickly!

Is taco meat Whole 30 or Keto friendly?

Yes! We added this taco meat to our Whole 30 meal plan all the time! The only thing you need to adjust is to make sure that you’re using chicken bone broth instead of chicken broth.

How Long Will This Taco Meat Recipe Keep in the Fridge?

One of the best things about this taco meat recipe is that you can actually make a bunch of taco meat once and then use it in various recipes throughout the week. The taco meat keeps in the fridge for 4-5 days and then I’d probably toss it and make up a new batch.

So you could have regular tacos for dinner Sunday night, taco salad for lunch on Monday, and then taco stuffed baked potatoes for dinner on Tuesday night! Just double it if you plan on using it all week long.

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Can you freeze cooked taco meat?

Yes, you can freeze this in an airtight container. To thaw, simply heat the taco meat with a little broth in a pan over the stovetop.

When do you season the taco meat?

There are two parts to seasoning the meat. You’ll want to add salt to the ground beef before browning as the first step in seasoning. Then second, you’ll add the actual taco seasoning spices to the ground beef once browned.

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When do you drain the taco meat?

Whether or not you need to drain the taco meat depends on what kind of ground beef you’re using. If you’re using one with a higher fat content like 80/20, you may want to drain the ground beef after it’s browned and before adding in the seasonings.

We typically use a 93/7 or 85/15 ground beef and with that low fat content, we don’t normally drain the taco meat at all. The fat actually adds flavor and a lot of the liquid simmers out.

What to serve with taco meat?

Any Mexican side dish would work great with this taco meat! Our favorite is this coconut rice! Or I mean tacos are kind of an entire meal in themselves when you use this taco meat with a tortilla, cheese, and veggies!

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4.89 from 188 votes

Best Taco Meat Recipe

The best taco meat recipe starts with ground beef, a delicious homemade taco seasoning, and a little broth. This homemade taco meat is healthy, easy to make, and the perfect way to enjoy ground beef tacos at home!

The Best Taco Meat Recipe (10)

Cook: 15 minutes minutes

Total: 15 minutes minutes

Serves4

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • salt
  • 2 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 cup chicken broth or bone broth

Instructions

  • Salt both sides of the meat. If working with a block of meat, cut in half and salt both sides of each half of the meat.

  • To brown the meat, cook for two minutes on one side, flip and cook for another two minutes, then break up the meat and cook for another two minutes, cooking for a total of about six minutes or until meat is browned.

  • Combine all other spices while browning the meat.

  • Once meat is browned and broken up, sprinkle the spice mix and cook 1 minute more.

  • Add the chicken broth and reduce heat to medium and simmer for 4-5 minutes, until most of the liquid has cooked away.

  • Serve with your favorite Mexican dishes.

Tips & Notes:

To make this Whole 30, keto, paleo friendly – use chicken bone broth instead of chicken broth. If you do this, you may want to add a bit more salt as well since chicken broth tends to be a bit more salty than bone broth.

Nutrition Info

Calories: 307kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 21g, Fat: 23g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Cholesterol: 81mg, Sodium: 107mg, Potassium: 397mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 336IU, Calcium: 34mg, Iron: 3mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

Author: Britni Vigil

Course:Dinner

Cuisine:Mexican

Did You Make This?Tag @PlayPartyPlan on Facebook and Instagram and hashtag it #playpartyplan so I can see your creations!

Other Easy Dinner Recipes

  • Easy Cincinnati chili
  • Sweet meat sauce recipe
  • Instant Pot chicken tacos
  • Sausage jambalaya

Don’t forget to pin the best taco meat recipe for later!

The Best Taco Meat Recipe (11)
The Best Taco Meat Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to make really fine taco meat? ›

Boiling ground beef is the best way to cook it so that it comes out in small, fine crumbles. Trust me, this is the secret to all those amazing tacos and pasta sauces at your favorite restaurant! It's also a healthier option, because the boiling process helps separate the fat from the meat, and it comes out quite lean.

How can I make my taco meat taste better? ›

Taco Meat Recipes

Feel free to play around with adding different veggies or spices. I sometimes toss chopped onions in with the ground beef while it's browning. Chopped roasted green chiles are another great add-in, especially if you like spice. Simply add them along with the beans and corn.

What is the best meat for tacos? ›

Use flank steak. It is a lean cut of beef and is best when cooked to medium rare and thinly sliced, making it perfect for tacos. Only marinate the steak in lime juice for 30 minutes or the steak will get mushy. This is a quick and easy recipe, you don't have to marinate the steak for hours.

What makes tacos taste better? ›

Not enough people use cilantro. Iceberg lettuce can be refreshing in a burrito, but when it comes to tacos, cilantro, onion and lime are king. I know Tex-Mex enthusiasts love their dairy on a taco. Big pinches of cheddar cheese that lack flavor or the ability to melt.

How do Mexican restaurants get their ground beef so fine? ›

Put the ground chuck in a large pot or Dutch oven and add seasonings. Add just enough water to cover the meat, bring to a boil, then reduce and simmer for about an hour. Every 15 minutes or so break up the meat with a large spoon or a potato masher so that it isn't lumpy.

What is the thickening agent for taco meat? ›

A typical 12-serving taco seasoning mix recipe uses about 1 ½ tablespoons of cornstarch. If you want to skip the cornstarch in your homemade seasoning to use it for other purposes, just sprinkle ⅓ to ½ teaspoon of cornstarch per pound of browned, spiced meat before adding ¾ cup of water and heat until thickened.

When to add seasoning to taco meat? ›

Crumble the ground chuck into a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until browned. Remove from heat, rinse meat with hot water, and drain water and grease from beef. Return meat to skillet, and pour in seasoning.

What gives the taco taste? ›

Mexican Tacos: For authentic Mexican flavor, use a blend of spices that includes cumin, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder and/or onion powder. These spices will give your tacos a warm, earthy flavor and just a touch of heat.

What does adding water to taco meat do? ›

What you're doing when you add water is helping the cornstarch create a smooth sauce flavored with the spices. The heat then activates the cornstarch, thickening the mixture.

What is the most traditional taco meat? ›

Barbacoa. Barbacoa refers to meat that is cooked in an underground oven. These days, beef barbacoa is the most common taco meat found in restaurants.

What is traditional taco meat? ›

The more popular meats are usually chorizo, carnitas (braised pork), arrachera (skirt steak), and tacos al pastor (pork marinated in chili and achiote paste). But there's plenty more, like birria (goat meat), cochinita pibil (roasted pork with achiote), and barbacoa (lamb).

What kind of meat does taco Bell use in their tacos? ›

We use 100 percent USDA premium beef in our seasoned beef. We prepare it much the same way you prepare taco meat at home: after simmering, it is drained of excess fat and pre-seasoned with our signature blend of 7 authentic seasonings and spices.

What is the most important ingredient in tacos? ›

Salsa: Salsa and sauces are the soul of your taco, tying all other ingredients together.

How do you spice up bland taco meat? ›

For tacos or Mexican dishes, common spices for ground beef include cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and a pinch of cayenne for heat. Adjust quantities based on personal taste preferences.

What is fine ground beef? ›

The general rule is that the finer the grind, or the more times it is ground, the more compact the meat will cook up. Finer grinds are good for densely textured recipes like meatloaf or meatballs, but for dishes where you want a light, juicy texture (like in hamburgers), go for a coarser grind.

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