These tacos are our family’s FAVORITE beef tacos. They’re made with a homemade blend of seasonings and spices along with a few secret ingredients.
One of my favorite go-to meals has to be these beef tacos. They’re easy, flavorful and ready to go in less than 30 minutes! Sound too good to be true? Think again!
Taco night!!
I haven’t always made my own taco seasoning, but as I’ve moved more towards scratch baking/cooking I’ve discovered how simple and flavorful it can be. Most of the spices are pantry staples, perhaps with the exception of coriander (a big favorite of mine, especially when used in Mexican dishes).
It takes just a few minutes of measuring and that’s it… you’ve got a bowl full of bold, fresh, preservative-free seasonings and spices.
What makes this taco meat so darn good (aside from the homemade seasoning blend) has got to be the use of two secret ingredients: brown sugar and apple cider vinegar. Just a teaspoon of brown sugar along with 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar give the meat a sweet and acidic flavor that can’t be beat!
Another reason why this meat tastes 100x better than anything you could make with a packet is the fact that you toast the spices as the meat cooks. I’ve used this technique before with my citrus carnitas as well as my beef barbacoa. It definitely brings out the true flavor of the spices and adds a smokiness that I love.
How to Make Beef Tacos
They’re easier than you think!
VEGGIES. In a large skillet set over medium heat, add the olive oil. When the oil is hot add the onion, sauté until soft, about 4-5 minutes. Add the pepper, garlic, and seasonings. Continue to sauté until fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.
BEEF. Add the ground beef and cook until no pink remains, breaking it apart into small chunks with a spatula or wooden spoon. When the meat is cooked throughout, pour in the tomato sauce, chicken broth, apple cider vinegar and brown sugar. Simmer until about half of the liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes.
Remove from the heat and serve hot.
Tips + Storing Info
These tacos are so easy and delicious you’re sure to want to add them to your menu pretty often! Here are a few extra tips to get the fiesta started:
- Double batch: Since this beef is so easy to store for later, why not make a double batch and use half of it for dinner and save the other half to use another night? Your future self will thank you!
- The meat in this recipe isn’t limited to tacos – feel free to switch it up and use it to make loaded nachos, taco salad, or beef burritos.
- Toppings Bar: It’s always fun to set out a toppings bar for your tacos. Some great toppings to include are: sliced olives, diced tomatoes, shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese, sour cream, guacamole, cilantro, diced green chilis, and more!
- Guac: Homemade guacamole would be amazing with these tacos. I have an easy recipe to make your own here – Restaurant Style Guacamole
Prep your beef ahead of time. STORE in the fridge for a few days.
To FREEZE, simply add cooked taco meat to a Ziploc freezer bag, label it with the date, and store it for up to 4 months. Make sure you get as much air as possible out of the freezer bag before you seal it. When you are ready to use it you can thaw it in the fridge overnight before reheating it. Or you could add it to the crock pot on low straight from the freezer to warm it up. You could also microwave it on the defrost setting if you’re in a hurry.
For more Mexican dishes:
- Shredded Beef Enchiladas
- Chile Verde Stew
- Pork Tamale Casserole
- Instant Pot Fiesta Chicken and Rice
- Black Beans And Rice
Beef Tacos Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ yellow onion - minced
- 4 cloves garlic - minced
- ½ jalapeño pepper or Hatch Chile - minced
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp coriander
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp oregano
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika - or regular
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- 1-1 ½ lb lean ground beef
- ½ c tomato sauce
- ½ c low sodium chicken broth
- 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp light brown sugar - packed
Instructions
- In a large skillet set over medium heat, add the olive oil. When the oil is hot add the onion, sauté until soft, about 4-5 minutes. Add the pepper, garlic, and seasonings. Continue to sauté until fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the ground beef and cook until no pink remains, breaking it apart into small chunks with a spatula or wooden spoon. When the meat is cooked throughout, pour in the tomato sauce, chicken broth, apple cider vinegar and brown sugar. Simmer until about half of the liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and serve hot.
We love tacos in our house! I’ve been making my own taco seasoning forever, and I’ve never thought of brown sugar and apple cider vinegar. It adds such a great flavor and combo of sweet and acid!
I forgot to put the sugar in and it was still delicious. The family gobbled it up!
Oh my goodness! This is so delicious and tasty! My son loves this!
Looks great! Can’t wait to try this out with family and friends.
Delicious taco meat! Love the way the brown sugar and apple cider vinegar give it a whole new flavor! Super easy. Great in tacos, burritos, salads…yum!
Taco meat can be used in so many recipes. Have fun with whatever you make!
We LOVED these beef tacos. It was an easy recipe to make and my family ate the entire meal. No leftovers. So that means it was a winner!!
Next time make a batch and a half for easy lunch leftovers. Glad you loved it!