Our Favorite Taco Meat Recipe

Our favorite taco meat recipe calls for ground beef, turkey or chicken, along with basic seasonings you probably already have on hand. Easy and much better than what you can do from the packages sold in the store.

My whole family loves this taco meat recipe, and we use it all the time for quick meals like beef tacos, turkey tacos, taco salad, burritos, nachos, and more.

It’s absolutely a recipe to keep in your back pocket, because when those busy days happen (which they do!), knowing you can make a 15-minute dinner with basic spices from your spice cabinet and a pound of ground meat helps.

Key Ingredients

• Taco Seasoning: I know you can buy packets at the store, but trust me, our taco seasoning mix is ​​so much better. Besides, I think you already have all the spices you need to make it in your spice cabinet. You will combine chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, oregano and salt together. It’s easy and makes the taco meat extra delicious. Another option is to use this taco seasoning recipe, which makes a larger batch and has a few optional ingredients for flavor.
• Ground meat: Our photos show ground beef, but you can use ground turkey, ground chicken, ground pork, or really any ground meat you have on hand in our recipe below. We like a little fat, but not too much, or else the meat will turn out greasy. Look for 7% to 10% fat.
• Vegetables: These are optional, and I don’t always add them. That said, when I have them in the fridge, I like to add chopped onion and Anaheim pepper to my skillet. It adds a bit of extra texture, and I love how they both turn out sweet once cooked.
• Tomato Paste and Stock: They bring everything together. A little tomato paste deepens the rich flavor of the meat and spices, and the stock keeps it from drying out. I love vegetable broth, tomato broth, beef stock, or chicken stock. You only need 1/2 cup, so use whatever you have (water will work in a pinch too).

Find the full recipe with measurements below.

How to Make the Best Meat Taco

Tip 1: Make our homemade spice mix. Skip the packets at the store, our simple taco meat seasoning calls for spices I bet you already have on hand. You will mix together the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, dried oregano and salt. That simple!

Tip 2: Brown the ground meat. For best results, get some color and a crispy texture on your ground meat. I like to pop it in the skillet and leave it for a minute so it starts to get a little color. Add your spice mix, and then use a wooden spoon to break up the meat into crumbs. A heavier skillet (like a cast iron pan) is perfect.

Tip 3: Add some extra veggies. I don’t always do this, but when I have them on hand, I like to cook some diced onions and Anaheim peppers with the meat. They soften and take on a little sweetness, which is really nice with the spices.

Tip 4: Finish with tomato paste and stock. This is where we bring everything together and make sure our taco meat stays juicy, not dried out. Stir in some tomato paste, then, when it is distributed, pour in some stock. Let it simmer, and then you’re good to go!

Tips for Notification

I’m betting you already have a few ideas for using your taco meat, but here are a few more suggestions. We love it tucked into homemade tortillas (try corn tortillas or flour tortillas), spooned over taco salad, and stuffed into burritos. The tops and sides for this are endless. Here is a list of our favorites: