To season ground beef for tacos, you can make a homemade taco seasoning blend that combines key spices for authentic flavor. Here is a common and well- balanced taco seasoning mix you can use for about 1 pound (500g) of ground beef:
Taco Seasoning Ingredients:
- Chili powder: 1 to 2 tablespoons
- Ground cumin: 1 to 2 teaspoons
- Garlic powder: 1 teaspoon
- Onion powder: 1 teaspoon
- Paprika (sweet or smoked): 1 teaspoon
- Dried oregano (Mexican or Italian): 1 teaspoon
- Salt: 1 teaspoon (adjust to taste)
- Black pepper: 1/4 teaspoon
- Crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper: 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon (for heat)
- Optional: 1/4 teaspoon sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch (to thicken and balance flavors)
How to Season and Cook:
- Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until fully cooked; drain excess fat.
- Add the taco seasoning mix to the beef.
- Stir in about 1/2 cup of water (or beef broth) and optionally 1 tablespoon of tomato paste.
- Simmer the mixture for 5-10 minutes until the liquid reduces and the seasoning coats the meat nicely, creating a flavorful, slightly saucy texture.
This method results in juicy, well-seasoned taco meat ready to serve in tortillas or taco shells
. You can adjust the spice levels and ingredients to your preference, for example, using smoked paprika for a smoky flavor or adding more chili powder for heat. Homemade seasoning is fresher and healthier than store-bought packets and allows you to control salt and additives
Summary:
- Mix chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, oregano, salt, pepper, and optional cayenne.
- Brown ground beef, add seasoning and some liquid, then simmer until thickened.
- Use about 3 tablespoons of seasoning per pound of beef.
This simple homemade taco seasoning will elevate your ground beef tacos with authentic Mexican-inspired flavors
