Given the breadth of cuisines I cover on this blog, I've often been asked if I ever eat "normal" food. This always takes me a little by surprise, because (with a few exceptions) most of the things I cook are very low effort.
These beef tacos, along with my family-favorite Taco Rice, are the kind of weeknight meal I'll prepare when I come home after a long day of meetings only to find the fridge devoid of anything even remotely inspirational. The kind of day when I'm almost tempted by my phone and a takeout menu that someone surreptitiously slipped under the door. Thankfully, stand-bys like these beef tacos are at the ready to save me from an almost-certainly bad meal and subsequent heartburn.
There's nothing fancy or even authentic about these tacos, but they're a great quick meal that can be thrown together in as little as 10 minutes if you have a few basic pantry items prepared. Just make sure you stock some type of protein in the freezer, some onions, a spice mix, and a bag of masa harina (to make the tortillas). The rest are all condiments and embellishments that are nice to have, but aren't necessary for this simple satisfying meal.
Recipe
Beef Tacos
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ medium onion (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 450 grams lean ground beef
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon dark brown sugar
- 12 corn tortillas
- 1 batch salsa verde
- cilantro
- ½ lime (cut into wedges)
Instructions
- Heat a pan until hot, and then add a splash of oil along with the ½ medium onion and 2 cloves garlic. Fry until the onions are just turning translucent, then add the 450 grams lean ground beef, 2 tablespoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt and ½ teaspoon dark brown sugar.
- Stir fry until the beef is cooked and there's no liquid left at the bottom of the pan.
- Heat the 12 corn tortillas and serve with the beef, 1 batch salsa verde, cilantro and ½ lime cut into wedges.
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Julia @ Mélanger says
Marc, love all your Mexican inspired posts. And I am glad you are a fellow 'Anna's' fan. 🙂 I was actually just reading about homemade tortillas on another blog and was thinking back to the fabulous steamed tortillas that Anna's serves up. I read once they purchase them from https://www.harbar.com/ ??? which is a local Massachusetts company. When you have a chance to post a recipe, I'll definitely give them a try!
pigpigscorner says
Your pictures always make me drool!!
Julia @ Mélanger says
Marc, love all your Mexican inspired posts. And I am glad you are a fellow 'Anna's' fan. 🙂 I was actually just reading about homemade tortillas on another blog and was thinking back to the fabulous steamed tortillas that Anna's serves up. I read once they purchase them from https://www.harbar.com/ ??? which is a local Massachusetts company. When you have a chance to post a recipe, I'll definitely give them a try!
Eralda says
these look amazing! I am on a southwestern stage as of late and these might just be my dinner tonight. Thanks 🙂
Megan says
OH YES! Tacos! Gonna make this next time I have a taco night!
Jennifer says
Looks great Marc!
I usually use ground beef in my tacos, but I like the way you prepared it! I am going to try that next time for sure!
Have a great weekend!
pigpigscorner says
Your pictures always make me drool!!
Eralda says
these look amazing! I am on a southwestern stage as of late and these might just be my dinner tonight. Thanks 🙂
Megan says
OH YES! Tacos! Gonna make this next time I have a taco night!
Jennifer says
Looks great Marc!
I usually use ground beef in my tacos, but I like the way you prepared it! I am going to try that next time for sure!
Have a great weekend!
Erica says
Those Beef Tacos look absolutely delicious! Next time I have to try to make my own tortillas.......Great Job!
Erica says
Those Beef Tacos look absolutely delicious! Next time I have to try to make my own tortillas.......Great Job!
Marc Matsumoto says
Making tortilla's is so simple, once you do it, you'll never go back. One of these days I'll get around to posting my technique.
Marc Matsumoto says
Good point, but I guess "normal" is all relative;-)
manggy says
Hah, I love that-- almost certainly bad meal. So true! I'm a little uncomfortable at the insinuation that something that has a non-American ingredient is "abnormal" but I guess I'm being sensitive.
Giff says
i really should try making my own tortillas!
Kristen says
One of the things I love about living in Texas is authentic Mexican tacos are available 24/7 where ever you go. I feel bad for anyone who has never experienced a true, authentic taco. Thank you for assuring me that there are people outside of the "border states" who know what a true taco really is.
manggy says
Hah, I love that-- almost certainly bad meal. So true! I'm a little uncomfortable at the insinuation that something that has a non-American ingredient is "abnormal" but I guess I'm being sensitive.
Heather says
ohh wow. that sounds amazing! i just love how versatile tacos are!
Jenni Field says
"Regular food?!" I almost didn't know where I was for a minute! 😉 Regular or not, it looks good enough to eat!
Giff says
i really should try making my own tortillas!
Kristen says
One of the things I love about living in Texas is authentic Mexican tacos are available 24/7 where ever you go. I feel bad for anyone who has never experienced a true, authentic taco. Thank you for assuring me that there are people outside of the "border states" who know what a true taco really is.
Ninette says
Great entry. I know ... some of my friends think I cook "fancy" when you really look at what I cook, they're easy, quick on the fly things, with the exception that I don't use much canned convenience items. Good food can be made fresh.
tara says
Oh you evil man. Here I sit, fully-sated from dinner and put over-the-top by a brownie afterwards, and now I want tacos.
Heather says
ohh wow. that sounds amazing! i just love how versatile tacos are!
Holly says
I see that you have been on a Mexican kick like Iwas last month:)
The Duo Dishes says
Very curious about your salsa verde. Do you have a good recipe?
Jenni Field says
"Regular food?!" I almost didn't know where I was for a minute! 😉 Regular or not, it looks good enough to eat!
Ninette says
Great entry. I know ... some of my friends think I cook "fancy" when you really look at what I cook, they're easy, quick on the fly things, with the exception that I don't use much canned convenience items. Good food can be made fresh.
tara says
Oh you evil man. Here I sit, fully-sated from dinner and put over-the-top by a brownie afterwards, and now I want tacos.
chef E says
I will trade one of my tacos for one of yours :)!
Holly says
I see that you have been on a Mexican kick like Iwas last month:)
The Duo Dishes says
Very curious about your salsa verde. Do you have a good recipe?
katiek says
Delicious.
I think it may even be a little authentic...
diva says
great dish!! love tacos. the girls had fajitas last night and i was a little jealous of em. should whip this recipe out and bet they'll go green with envy. x
chef E says
I will trade one of my tacos for one of yours :)!
Elra says
Always like this specialty, always taste delicious.
feeding maybelle says
I have been AWOl for a while, so nice new look. ANd, I love beef tacos.
Christina@DeglazeMe says
I am still so impressed that you make your own tortillas!
Jan says
Yummy yum yum - did you save any for me?! They look delish!
katiek says
Delicious.
I think it may even be a little authentic...
diva says
great dish!! love tacos. the girls had fajitas last night and i was a little jealous of em. should whip this recipe out and bet they'll go green with envy. x
Rosa says
Oh, I love tacos! Yours look beautiful and so scrumptious!
Cheers,
Rosa
Elra says
Always like this specialty, always taste delicious.
feeding maybelle says
I have been AWOl for a while, so nice new look. ANd, I love beef tacos.
Christina@DeglazeMe says
I am still so impressed that you make your own tortillas!
Laura @ Hungry and Frozen says
"normal food" - pah! What's that. These look delicious - that lime wedge looks perfect with it. I prefer to come up with something from what I've got than order take-out too...tempting as it can be.
Jan says
Yummy yum yum - did you save any for me?! They look delish!
Rosa says
Oh, I love tacos! Yours look beautiful and so scrumptious!
Cheers,
Rosa
Laura @ Hungry and Frozen says
"normal food" - pah! What's that. These look delicious - that lime wedge looks perfect with it. I prefer to come up with something from what I've got than order take-out too...tempting as it can be.