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Flavorful Classic Beef Tacos Recipe with Easy Homemade Zesty Seasoning

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A quick and easy recipe for classic beef tacos featuring a homemade zesty seasoning blend that delivers bold, fresh flavors perfect for casual dinners or gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (450g) lean ground beef (85% lean recommended)
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
  • 8 small corn or flour tortillas
  • 1 cup shredded lettuce
  • 1 cup diced tomatoes or pico de gallo
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
  • Sour cream or Greek yogurt (optional)
  • Fresh cilantro leaves (for garnish)
  • Lime wedges (for serving)

Instructions

  1. Finely chop the onion and garlic. Dice tomatoes if using fresh. Shred lettuce and cheese, roughly chop cilantro. Set aside toppings in small bowls.
  2. In a small bowl, combine chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Stir well.
  3. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
  4. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Add ground beef, breaking it up with a spatula. Cook 5-7 minutes until browned and no longer pink.
  6. Sprinkle homemade zesty seasoning over beef. Add 1/4 cup water and stir well. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 3-5 minutes until mixture thickens slightly. Add more water if needed to keep moist.
  7. Warm tortillas in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 30 seconds per side or microwave wrapped in a damp paper towel for 20-30 seconds.
  8. Assemble tacos by spooning seasoned beef into tortillas. Top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes or pico de gallo, shredded cheese, sour cream or Greek yogurt if using, and fresh cilantro. Serve immediately with lime wedges.

Notes

If beef looks dry, add a splash of beef broth or tomato juice during simmering. Do not overcook to avoid dryness. Warm tortillas properly to prevent breaking. The zesty seasoning can be made ahead and stored up to 3 months. Leftover beef stores well refrigerated for 3 days or frozen for 2 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: beef tacos, classic tacos, homemade seasoning, easy taco recipe, quick dinner, zesty seasoning, ground beef tacos

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