Ground Beef Soft Tacos
These Beef Soft Tacos are juicy, flavorful, and come together in under 30 minutes—perfect for Taco Tuesday or a quick weeknight dinner. The seasoned ground beef is simmered with tomatoes and green chilies, then thickened into a saucy, craveable filling. Pile it high in warm tortillas with your favorite toppings for an easy, crowd-pleasing meal.
Servings: 8 tacos
Ingredients
- 1 pound 85-15 or 90-10 ground beef
- 1 Tablespoon EACH chili powder, cumin, & smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon EACH garlic & onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Morton kosher salt
- 1 10- ounce can mild tomatoes and green chilies, like Rotel
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- 2/3 cup water
- 8 flour tortillas, shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, & sour cream for serving
Instructions
- Brown the Beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef. Cook for 5–7 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon or meat chopper as it browns, until fully cooked and no longer pink. Do not drain any grease.1 pound 85-15 or 90-10 ground beef
- Add Seasonings and Tomatoes: Reduce the heat to medium. Stir in the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and the can of tomatoes and green chilies (with all the juices). Use the back of your spoon to gently break up some of the tomato chunks so they release even more flavor. Cook for 2–3 minutes, allowing the spices to bloom and everything to meld together.1 Tablespoon EACH chili powder, , 1 teaspoon EACH garlic & onion powder, 1 teaspoon Morton kosher salt, 1 10- ounce can mild tomatoes and green chilies,
- Thicken the Filling: Sprinkle the cornstarch evenly over the beef mixture and stir until fully incorporated. Pour in the water and stir again to combine. Simmer for 3–4 minutes, or until the liquid thickens into a rich, saucy taco filling. Assemble tacos as desired.1 Tablespoon cornstarch, 2/3 cup water, 8 flour tortillas,
Notes
- Don’t Drain the Beef: Removing the fat can make the filling dry. The grease helps the sauce stick.
- Smash the Tomatoes. Use the back of your spoon to gently crush some of the tomato chunks. This helps release their juices and creates a more cohesive, saucy filling.
- Warm the Tortillas. Heat flour tortillas in a dry skillet for 30–60 seconds per side or wrap them in foil and warm in the oven. This makes them soft, pliable, and extra delicious.
- Let the Beef Thicken. Don’t skip the simmer after adding the cornstarch and water. This is when the filling thickens into that craveable saucy texture.
Nutrition
Calories: 228kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 570mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g