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Cooked ground beef and taco seasoning for Taco Meat recipe.

Easiest Taco Meat Recipe {Plus Ways to Use it)

This is a super easy homemade Taco Meat Recipe that’s saucy and loaded with savory and smoky Mexican flavors from the chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic, and scallions. This version is ground beef taco meat, but you can use this recipe for ground chicken, ground turkey, ground pork, or shredded beef, poultry, or pork. The best part is that it’s so easy and versatile that you can make it in a double batch or bulk for several different meals. Just portion it out and freeze it for later (scroll down for more on this).

Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword ground beef, ground chicken, ground turkey, mexican beef, taco meat
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 230 kcal
Author Carrie Tyler

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil or spray
  • 1 pound Ground Beef, 90% lean (or ground chicken, ground turkey, ground pork)
  • 2 Scallions
  • 1 teaspoon Chili Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Ground Cumin
  • ½ teaspoon Smoked Paprika
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Salt

Optional

  • 2 Tablespoons Fresh Cilantro Chopped
  • ½ Lime, juice only
  • ¼-1/2 teaspoons Cayenne Pepper

Instructions

Prep-Ahead Steps

  1. Slice the scallions.

  2. Measure the seasonings for the ground beef – Paprika, Cumin, Chili Powder, Garlic Powder, and Salt.

Cooking Steps

  1. Preheat a large frying pan on high heat. Add the olive oil and the ground beef and break up the beef with a spatula. Add the chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder, paprika, salt, (optional cayenne) and scallion. Stir to combine and let cook for 4-5 minutes until the beef is cooked through. If you are adding fresh cilantro and lime, this can be done when there is just a minute left of cooking.

Recipe Notes

  1. Can I Substitute Ground Chicken Or Turkey In This Taco Meat Recipe?
    If you want to make this lighter, you can use ground chicken or ground turkey instead of beef. You will need to add a bit of olive oil to the pan before adding the chicken or turkey, as they have less fat than the beef. Simply swap with 1 pound of your protein of choice. Taste as you go to see if you need more seasoning.
  2. Can I Use Vegan Or Plant-Based Meat In This Recipe? Yes, you can use swap in Beyond beef or other similar meat substitute. You can also use tofu or seitan or other plant-based meat. You can also use quinoa, mushrooms, cauliflower, or black beans.
  3. How Long Can I Store The Cooked Beef In The Fridge?  The cooked beef for these quinoa taco bowls can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  4. How Long Can I Freeze This Taco Meat Recipe?  This taco meat can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 9 months.