Easy Best Taco Meat Recipe - Zesty and Delicious - Gonna Want Seconds (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to taco meat to make it taste better? ›

Tips for Making the Best Taco Meat

If you prefer your taco meat a little spicier, add in a pinch of cayenne pepper or some red pepper flakes. If you like a more earthy flavor, add a few extra pinches of cumin. If you like it smoky, try adding ancho chili powder or smoked paprika.

Acidity and fresh toppings provide a refreshing counterpoint to the richness of taco meat, cheese, and sour cream, and a bit of fresh lime juice squeezed over the top goes a long way.

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 much water do I add to taco seasoning? A good ratio to follow is per 1 pound of raw ground meat, you want to add 1 cup of water, and then the seasoning.

Allowing your meat to reach room temperature before cooking is one of our top tips for improving the flavor of your meat. Though the length of time will vary based on what you are cooking, sitting your meat out helps ensure it gets evenly cooked.

The magic lies in the seasoning – a simple yet potent mix of garlic, onion, cumin, and cayenne, creating some of the most tasty ground beef.

Pickled onions, a sprinkle of cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice are great with most taco fillers. Don't forget the saucy toppings, whether it's salsa verde or salsa roja, homemade guacamole, pico de gallo or taco sauce.

It's all about the tortilla

A restaurant-quality taco starts with a great tortilla — and that means one made from scratch. More than a vessel to hold the goodness inside, the tortilla is essential to the taste and texture of the taco.

The filling for a taco should be simple yet flavorful. Meats such as beef, chicken, pork, and seafood are all common options, and they are typically seasoned with traditional spices like cumin, chili powder, and garlic. Vegetarian fillings like grilled vegetables, beans, and cheese are also popular.

Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants boil raw ground beef with water and seasonings until cooked through to achieve a super fine texture, and the aforementioned Maid Rite sandwiches (aka Loose Meat Sandwiches, which are NOT Sloppy Joe's!) use steam to keep the cooked ground beef soft after cooking.

Do you simmer taco meat covered or uncovered? ›

In a large cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink, breaking it into crumbles; drain. Add water and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until the water is evaporated, about 15 minutes.

How much ground beef per taco? Each taco shell or small soft taco-size tortilla fits about 2 ounces or 1/4 cup of meat. If you add diced onions, you could stretch a pound of ground beef to make about a dozen tacos. With just the meat and spices, you can make about 8 tacos from a pound of meat.

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.

Beef tastes great when seasoned with oregano, rosemary, sage, garlic or a combination of these seasonings. Poultry gets an added burst of flavor with spices like paprika, lemongrass and saffron. Fish can be made more flavorful with dry mustard powder, thyme and turmeric.

Intensify the flavors of meat, poultry and fish with high-heat cooking techniques such as pan-searing, grilling or broiling, which help to brown meat and add flavor. Just don't overcook, burn or char meat.

Once the beef is cooked, you want to cook it with the seasoning and liquid on medium low and just until the sauce starts to thicken. Keep an eye on it so it doesn't dry out. Heat up the tortillas before adding the ground beef on top. You can heat them up in the microwave, oven or on a skillet for 1-2 minutes per side.