Ground Beef Tacos

Name: Ground Beef Tacos
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 1 lb lean ground beef; 1 medium onion, chopped; 1 teaspoon chili powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce; 1 box (4.6 oz) Old El Paso™ Crunchy Taco Shells (12 Count); 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (6 oz); 2 cups shredded lettuce; 2 medium tomatoes, chopped; 3/4 cup thick & chunky salsa; 3/4 cup sour cream, if desired

Prep time:30 min
Total time:30 min
Ingredients:12
Servings:6
Calories per serving:390

By Pillsbury Kitchens(Opens in a new tab)Updated 07/16/2025

Ground Beef Tacos

Prep time:30 min
Total time:30 min
Ingredients:12
Servings:6
Calories per serving:390

These fresh, homemade ground beef tacos are bursting with Mexican-inspired flavors the entire family will love! It’s a one-dish dinner idea that is ready to serve in just 30 minutes. It's as easy on the budget as it is to make and clean up. No wonder it gets ranked highly by our fans.

The savory taco meat filling is a simple combination of ground beef that’s simmered with onions, a few on-hand seasonings, and tomato sauce for amazing flavor everyone will love. Spooned into crunchy taco shells, the tacos get topped with cheddar cheese and lettuce and are served with salsa and sour cream—a meal your family will request again and again.

Recipe Ingredients

The ingredients for these tacos might already be in your kitchen.

Ground Beef: After testing meat with various fat contents, we found that at least 80% lean (or higher) delivers the best flavor without a greasy taste.

Taco Shells: We love the crunch and ease of eating tacos made with hard shells. Swap 12 (6- to 8-inch) soft flour tortillas if you prefer.

Shredded Cheese: Cheddar makes the seasoning in the tacos sing, but Mexican blend is another great choice. Pepper Jack works if you want a kick.

Seasonings: Chili powder, garlic powder, and salt are all you need for a mild, all-family flavor. Spice up the meat by adding 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes or a few dashes of hot sauce with the seasonings.

Toppings: These add flavor, crunch, and visual appeal, but feel free to swap in your favorites, such as black or green olives, diced fresh avocado, or guacamole.

How to Make Ground Beef Tacos

Here are the basics of how to make our easy ground beef tacos. Refer to the recipe for all the specifics, so your tacos will taste perfectly seasoned with the just the right amount of filling.

Prepare the Taco Meat

Cook your ground beef with onion to add flavor in just one step—slashing time from cooking them separately. Add garlic powder, chili powder, salt, and tomato sauce to the drained meat mixture and simmer to bring out and balance the flavors perfectly.

Warm the Taco Shells

For the best texture and experience, warm the taco shells in the oven. In a hurry? You can skip this step and get right to filling the shells!

Assemble the Tacos

Spoon the taco ingredients into the shells, starting with the ground beef mixture and top with cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes.

Serve with Sauces

Offer salsa and sour cream so that each person can top their tacos as they wish.

How to Store (and Reheat) Ground Beef Tacos

Use these tips for storing ground beef tacos.

Refrigerator Storage

Place cooled taco meat in a food-storage container with a lid. Store in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.

Freezer Storage

Place cooled taco meat in a freezer-safe food storage container with a lid. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Thawing

Place frozen taco meat in the refrigerator overnight to thaw, or follow directions for reheating from frozen (below).

Reheating

Refrigerated Taco Meat: Place meat in a microwavable bowl. Cover and microwave on Medium-High (70%) 2 to 3 minutes or until heated through. Meanwhile, heat shells as directed in recipe. Fill shells and top as desired.
Frozen Taco Meat: Place meat in a microwavable bowl. Cover and microwave on Low (30%) 2 to 3 minutes or until meat can be broken up with a spoon. Heat on Medium-High (70%) 2 to 3 minutes or until heated through. Meanwhile, heat shells as directed in recipe. Fill shells and top as desired.

Frequently Asked Questions

Want to spice things up a bit? Here’s how to make tacos spicier for everyone or for those who want a bolder flavor.

Spicier Tacos for All: If everyone loves the heat in Tex-Mex tacos, you can add a dash or two of red pepper sauce with the tomato sauce in the ground beef mixture. Serve hot salsa with the tacos for even more heat.

Spicier Tacos for Just a Few: Prepare the tacos as directed, but serve them with hot salsa and red pepper sauce on the side so those who like heat can dial up the flavor as they wish.

You can make the ground beef mixture for the ground beef tacos recipe up to 2 days in advance. Cool it and place it in a food safe storage container. Store in in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it. (The flavor of the taco meat can get even better when the ingredients have time to hang out together.) When you’re ready to make the tacos, spoon the taco meat into a microwavable bowl. Cover and microwave on medium-high (70%) about 1 minute or until heated through. Continue as directed in Step 3.

This ground beef tacos recipe is very adaptable to other types of ground meat. You can use ground turkey, ground chicken, ground pork, or even meatless crumbles instead of the ground beef. Use what your family prefers or what is on sale. If making taco meat with ground turkey, ground chicken, or meatless crumbles, spray your skillet with cooking spray before cooking as these ground meats are lower in fat and can stick to the pan without it. We don’t suggest using ground sausage for this dish; the seasonings in the meat can fight the flavors of the taco seasoning.