Beef Tacos with Salsa (Printable Version)

Ground beef and fresh salsa combine in warm tortillas for a flavorful, easy meal with bold Mexican flavors.

# What You Need:

→ Beef Filling

01 - 1.1 lbs ground beef
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
05 - 1 tsp ground cumin
06 - 1 tsp chili powder
07 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
09 - 1/2 tsp salt
10 - 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
11 - 2 tbsp vegetable oil
12 - 1/4 cup water

→ Salsa

13 - 3 medium ripe tomatoes, diced
14 - 1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
15 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
16 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
17 - Juice of 1 lime
18 - 1/2 tsp salt

→ Assembly

19 - 8 small corn or flour tortillas
20 - 1 cup shredded lettuce
21 - 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
22 - 1/2 cup sour cream (optional)
23 - Lime wedges, for serving

# How to Make It:

01 - Combine tomatoes, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, and salt in a medium bowl. Mix thoroughly and set aside to meld flavors.
02 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté onion until softened, about 2 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
03 - Add ground beef, breaking up with a spoon. Cook until evenly browned, approximately 4 to 5 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
04 - Incorporate tomato paste, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Stir well and cook for 1 minute. Add water and simmer 2 to 3 minutes until moist without excess liquid.
05 - Heat tortillas in a dry skillet or microwave until flexible and warm.
06 - Spoon beef mixture onto each tortilla. Top with salsa, shredded lettuce, cheese, and optionally sour cream. Serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Everything comes together in under 40 minutes, even if youre moving slow.
  • The salsa tastes like summer no matter what month it is, bright and clean against the warm spiced beef.
  • You can double the filling and freeze half, which Ive done more times than I can count.
  • Kids and adults both reach for seconds without being asked.
02 -
  • Dont rush the onions at the beginning, they need those 2 minutes to sweeten and soften or the whole filling tastes raw.
  • If your salsa tastes flat, it needs more lime or salt, sometimes both, taste it and adjust before serving.
  • Warming the tortillas is not optional, cold tortillas crack and ruin the whole experience.
03 -
  • Toast your spices in the pan for a minute before adding the beef if you want a deeper, smokier flavor.
  • Use a cast iron skillet if you have one, it holds heat beautifully and gives the beef those little crispy edges that make all the difference.
  • If youre making this for a group, set up a taco bar and let everyone assemble their own, it turns dinner into an event and takes the pressure off you.

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