These ground beef tacos (beef mince tacos) are one of the best easy weeknight dinners. They can be on the table in 30 minutes with just a handful of simple ingredients. Finish the tacos with all your favourite toppings, and I guarantee they are going to be popular with the whole family.
For as long as I can remember, one of the go-to easy weeknight meals in my life was beef mince tacos. But usually it came in the form of the taco kits you get at the supermarket. We would always have these in the pantry when I was a kid.
In my adulthood as I started making the dinner decisions, I realised that soft flour tortillas were superior to hard shell corn tacos and so my taco nights started looking less like the kits and more like this simple homemade version.
They are still super easy. So easy in fact that I hadn’t even thought of publishing the recipe on my site, but they really do deserve a place here, as just like my taco bowls, I make them for dinner so much.
You can get creative with the toppings you choose for the beef tacos and really customise it so everyone at the table gets a bit of what they like and none of what they don’t.
Key Ingredients
The ingredient list for these beef tacos is short and consists of the kind of things you can generally keep in the pantry for last-minute dinners any night of the week.
Note all ingredients and their quantities are laid out in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Ground beef/beef mince – you can use lean beef mince or regular depending on your preference. I use regular ground beef from Costco as I find for the price it’s the best quality. If you’re buying mince from the supermarket however, lean beef mince is probably you’re best bet for flavour.
- Onion and garlic – optional and I don’t always add it, but it just adds another layer of savoury flavour to the meat mixture.
- Taco Seasoning – While I have an option for you to make your own homemade taco seasoning if you’re really wanting the best flavour, store-bought is just fine and is a great option when you’re short on time.
- Tomato paste – makes the meat mixture rich and flavourful. If I have it, I often add salsa instead.
- Water or beef stock/broth – I usually use water as that is the easiest and I find the taste is still quite rich, but if you want even more depth of flavour add stock.
- Tortillas – as I mentioned, I think flour tortillas work best but you can use any you like. Use soft corn tortillas for a gluten free option or grab a pack of hard shell tacos if you prefer that crunch.
- Toppings – personally, I think ground beef tacos need cheese so use a vegan cheese or a lactose free cheese option that you like. Other classic toppings include shredded lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, and lime.
👉 Tip! If using a store-bought taco seasoning, make sure to check your ingredients! Try and buy seasoning packets that are just the seasoning and not fillers (I’ve found many that actually contain lactose!).
You’ll Also Love: Slow Cooker Shredded Beef Tacos
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Cook the onion and garlic in a little olive oil until softened, then add the beef mince and cook until it’s browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon.
Step 2: Add the taco seasoning, tomato paste and liquid, then simmer until the mince is thick, rich and saucy.
Step 3: Warm the tortillas in a dry frying pan or carefully over a gas flame until soft and slightly charred. Set out all your toppings so everyone can help themselves and build their own.
Step 4: Spoon the beef mixture into the warm tortillas, pile on your toppings and serve straight away with fresh lime wedges on the side.
💡 I HIGHLY recommend reheating leftover taco mince and serving it in a bowl with rice, avocado, a fried egg and a lot of Cholula hot sauce as the best leftovers lunch. It’s super simple but so good. I could eat it every day!
Storage Instructions
The beef mince mixture stores really well, which makes it great for meal prepping ahead of a busy week.
Store any leftover mince in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze it for up to 3 months.
Reheat gently in a frying pan over medium heat, adding a small splash of water if it’s a bit dry.
The tortillas and toppings are best kept separate and assembled fresh just before eating.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. Swap the flour tortillas for soft corn tortillas, and if you’re using a store-bought taco seasoning, just double-check the label to make sure it’s gluten free. Most are, but still always check.
A dry frying pan over medium-high heat for about 30 seconds each side works perfectly.
If you have a gas stovetop, carefully placing them directly over the flame for a few seconds gives you that slightly charred flavour which is delicious and my preferred way.
You can also wrap a stack in a damp paper towel and microwave them for about 30–45 seconds if you’re in a hurry. This also works really well for corn tortillas which are prone to falling apart.
Yes! Turkey mince (ground turkey), chicken mince (ground chicken), or pork mince (ground pork) all work well as a leaner option and are super delicious.
If you do make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below! And tag any of your creations on Instagram with @eightforestlane as I would love to see.
More easy taco recipes:
Corned Beef Tacos
Grilled Prawn Tacos
Gluten Free Fish Tacos
Crispy Black Bean Tacos
30 Minute Ground Beef Tacos
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium brown/yellow onion finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 500 grams (1 lb) beef mince/ground beef
- 35 grams (3 tablespoons) taco seasoning or 1 store-bought packet
- 50 grams (2 tablespoons) tomato paste
- 185 ml (¾ cup) water or beef stock, approximately
- salt and pepper to taste
- 8-10 small flour tortillas or corn tortillas for a gluten free option
- lime wedges
Optional toppings:
- shredded cheese regular, lactose free, or dairy free
- shredded lettuce
- diced tomato
- diced red onion or pickled red onion
- fresh coriander cilantro, roughly chopped
- jalapeños
- avocado
- dairy free sour cream
- hot sauce I personally like Cholula
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and just starting to colour. Add the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Add the beef mince, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Continue cooking for 5–7 minutes until browned.
- Stir through the taco seasoning and tomato paste, coating the mince well. Cook for 1–2 minutes to allow the tomato paste to darken slightly.
- Pour in the water or beef stock and stir to combine. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has mostly reduced and the mixture is thick but not wet. Season to taste.
- Warm the tortillas in a dry frying pan or carefully over a gas flame until soft and slightly charred. Spoon the beef mixture into the warm tortillas and top with your choice of toppings. Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as a guide only and is calculated using automated online tools, therefore we cannot guarantee the accuracy. We encourage you to make your own calculations based on the actual ingredients used in your recipe.
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