How to Make the Best Homemade Tacos with Ground Beef (2024)

FAQs

What makes tacos taste better? ›

Acidity and fresh toppings provide a refreshing counterpoint to the richness of taco meat, cheese, and sour cream, and a bit of fresh lime juice squeezed over the top goes a long way.

The magic lies in the seasoning – a simple yet potent mix of garlic, onion, cumin, and cayenne, creating some of the most tasty ground beef.

Pour water and seasoning mix over beef; stir to combine. Bring to a simmer and cook until mixture thickens slightly, about 5 minutes.

Pickled onions, a sprinkle of cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice are great with most taco fillers. Don't forget the saucy toppings, whether it's salsa verde or salsa roja, homemade guacamole, pico de gallo or taco sauce.

When seasoning ground beef, start with salt and black pepper. Then, depending on the dish you're making, experiment with savory spices like garlic powder, smoked paprika, and dried oregano. Other seasoning options include minced garlic and diced onion.

First and foremost, vinegar is used as a tenderizer for meat and poultry. It may be added as an injected marinade in very tough proteins or applied via a soak or rub.

Just add water before cooking to the crumbled meat and stir well and frequently as it browns. This helps the meat separate. You can drain the excess fat of when the water has cooked out of it, but I do not recommend rinsing it. Add more water before adding the seasoning if needed.

Typically when cooking taco meat, we add water to help activate the powdered seasoning mix from a taco packet. But instead, we're going to use our fifth ingredient, milk. Using milk instead of water helps to play on the natural creaminess you'd expect from ranch which adds a really nice mouthfeel to the taco meat.

What spice brings out flavor of beef? ›

Beef tastes great when seasoned with oregano, rosemary, sage, garlic or a combination of these seasonings. Poultry gets an added burst of flavor with spices like paprika, lemongrass and saffron. Fish can be made more flavorful with dry mustard powder, thyme and turmeric.

What can I add to ground beef for flavor? Onions, garlic, salt, and pepper add flavor to your ground beef. Adding the green onions as garnish also gives it more flavor.

On one side you have New York City chefs Tom Colicchio, of Craft and Top Chef fame, and Jean François Bruel of Daniel, both of whom assert that meat should never be seasoned until just before cooking. (Bruel goes even further with steaks, which he finishes seasoning only after they have been seared or grilled.)

The main reason is that it takes fresh, bright ingredients like lime, tomatillos, tomatoes, garlic, jalapeño and serranos, and cilantro; You can't jar this stuff [and expect it to taste as good as the fresh versions]."

The filling for a taco should be simple yet flavorful. Meats such as beef, chicken, pork, and seafood are all common options, and they are typically seasoned with traditional spices like cumin, chili powder, and garlic. Vegetarian fillings like grilled vegetables, beans, and cheese are also popular.

In a medium bowl, combine the corn flour, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, and seasoned salt. Stir in the paprika, cumin, garlic salt, and sugar. Blend in the onion, bouillon, and ground red pepper, stirring until all spices are well blended.

Mexican Tacos: For authentic Mexican flavor, use a blend of spices that includes cumin, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder and/or onion powder. These spices will give your tacos a warm, earthy flavor and just a touch of heat.