Skillet Ground Beef Taco Meat with Homemade Seasoning Recipe

About

A quick and budget-friendly seasoned ground beef taco filling made entirely in one skillet. Perfect for taco nights, burrito bowls, or meal prep.

1. 1

   Prep the Aromatics

   prep 3 min

   Finely dice the half onion and mince the garlic cloves. Set aside near the stove so they are ready to add once the beef starts browning. This should take about 3 minutes.

2. 2

   Brown the Ground Beef

   cook 6 min

   Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and break it apart with a wooden spoon or spatula. Cook for 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beef is mostly browned with no large pink chunks remaining. Do not drain yet.

3. 3

   Drain Excess Fat

   cook 2 min

   Carefully tilt the skillet and spoon out excess fat, or transfer the beef to a colander to drain. Return the drained beef to the skillet over medium heat. Removing excess fat keeps the filling from being greasy without sacrificing flavor.

4. 4

   Cook Onion and Garlic

   cook 3 min

   Add the diced onion to the skillet with the drained beef and cook over medium heat for 2–3 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onion softens and turns translucent. Add the minced garlic and stir for 30 seconds until fragrant.

5. 5

   Add Spices and Tomato Paste

   cook 2 min

   Sprinkle in the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper directly over the beef mixture. Stir well to coat everything evenly, then add the tomato paste and stir again for about 1 minute until the paste is fully incorporated and slightly darkened.

6. 6

   Simmer to Finish

   cook 4 min

   Pour in the water and stir to combine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is mostly absorbed and the meat mixture is moist but not watery.

7. 7

   Serve

   serve

   Remove from heat and serve the taco meat immediately in warm tortillas or over rice for burrito bowls. Top with your choice of shredded cheese, sour cream, salsa, or fresh cilantro.