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I use this Ground Beef Taco Meat for many Mexican-style dishes at our house.
(Post modified on 5/2/23.)
It’s easy to put together and so tasty, whether you’re using it to make tacos, enchiladas, Montereys, chimichangas, taco burgers, or flautas. So versatile!
More Mexican Dinner Ideas
- Pork Loin in Tomato Sauce
- Ground Beef and Bean Enchiladas
- Fish Tacos with Lime Crema
- Chicken Quesadillas
Ingredients for Ground Beef Taco Meat
(See the full recipe at the bottom of this post.)
- lean ground beef (ground venison also works well)
- yellow cornmeal
- chili powder
- ground cumin
- dried minced onion
- seasoned salt
- paprika
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- granulated sugar
- black pepper
- cayenne pepper
- soy sauce
- water
Instructions for Making This Recipe
Gather all your ingredients so that you have everything close at hand on the counter or table.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown the ground beef.
Prepare the Taco Meat Spices
While the meat cooks, prepare your spices. In a small bowl, combine the yellow cornmeal, chili powder, ground cumin, dried minced onion, seasoned salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, granulated sugar, freshly ground black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Whisk together until mixed well.
Once the ground beef has browned, sprinkle the spices over the burger. Mix well to combine. Continue to cook for 2-3 minutes to enhance the seasonings.
Sprinkle soy sauce over the burger and then pour in the water. Mix to combine. Lower heat to a simmer and cook until the water has dissolved, approximately 15-20 minutes.
Ways to Use the Taco Meat
Once the meat is finished, use it to prepare your favorite Mexican dishes.
For Tacos:
Spoon taco meat inside toasted taco shells. Top with shredded cheddar cheese, shredded lettuce, and salsa.
To Make Ground Beef and Bean Enchiladas:
Line taco meat on the edge of a warmed corn or flour tortilla. Sprinkle with cheese, if desired. Roll up and place in a baking pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray and sauced with Enchilada Sauce. Repeat until the pan is filled. Pour remaining enchilada sauce over the tortillas. Then sprinkle with grated cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese, and sliced olives.
For Montereys:
Place refried beans onto a fried flour tortilla, followed by a layer of taco meat. Continue layering the Monterey with shredded lettuce, shredded cheddar cheese and salsa. Finish with a dollop of sour cream and a drizzle of Queso dip.
To Make Chimichangas:
Place taco meat in the middle of a flour tortilla and fold the sides up over the meat to cover. To bake, spread oil over each tortilla. If frying in deep fat oil, you may insert 1-2 toothpicks to secure each tortilla. Bake or fry until golden brown. Serve with shredded lettuce and cheese.
Taco Meat for Taco Burgers:
Spoon taco meat on the bottom piece of a bun. Top with shredded cheese, lettuce, and hot sauce or salsa.
See more Mexican Dinner Recipes Here. Browse Beef Recipes Here.
Ground Beef Taco Meat
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef ground venison also works well
- 3-4 tablespoons taco seasoning mix See recipe below
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3/4 cup water
Taco Seasoning Mix
- 3 tablespoons yellow cornmeal
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
- 2 teaspoons seasoned salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Gather all your ingredients so that you have everything close at hand on the counter or table.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown the ground beef.
- When the ground beef has browned, sprinkle the taco seasoning over the meat. Mix well to combine. Continue to cook for 2-3 minutes to enhance the seasonings.
- Sprinkle soy sauce over the burger and then pour in the water. Mix to combine.
- Lower heat to a simmer and cook until the water has dissolved, approximately 15-20 minutes. This will make enough meat to serve 6-8 people.
Prepare the Taco Seasoning
- While the meat cooks, prepare your taco seasoning. In a small bowl, combine the yellow cornmeal, chili powder, ground cumin, dried minced onion, seasoned salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, granulated sugar, freshly ground black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Whisk together until mixed well.
- Using a funnel, pour seasoning mix into a small container with a lid. Store any extra for future use. This will make a little over 8 tablespoons.
Ways to Use the Taco Meat
- Once the meat is finished, use it to prepare your favorite Mexican dishes.
- Tacos: Spoon taco meat inside toasted taco shells. Top with shredded cheddar cheese, shredded lettuce, and salsa.
- Ground Beef Enchiladas: Line taco meat on the edge of a warmed corn or flour tortilla. Sprinkle with cheese, if desired. Roll up and place in a baking pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray and sauced with Enchilada Sauce. Repeat until the pan is filled. Pour remaining enchilada sauce over the tortillas. Then sprinkle with grated cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese, and sliced olives.
- Montereys: Place refried beans onto a fried flour tortilla, followed by a layer of taco meat. Continue layering the Monterey with shredded lettuce, shredded cheddar cheese and salsa. Finish with a dollop of sour cream and a drizzle of Queso dip.
- Chimichangas: Place taco meat in the middle of a flour tortilla and fold the sides up over the meat to cover. To bake, spread oil over each tortilla. If frying in deep fat oil, you may insert 1-2 toothpicks to secure each tortilla. Bake or fry until golden brown. Serve with shredded lettuce and cheese.
- Taco Burgers: Spoon taco meat on the bottom piece of a bun. Top with shredded cheese, lettuce, and hot sauce or salsa.
