5 Ingredient Beef Tacos Recipe Easy Weeknight Dinner Ready Fast
A quick and easy weeknight dinner featuring 5 simple ingredients that come together in about 15 minutes for flavorful, kid-approved beef tacos.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
- 1 pound (450g) ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio recommended)
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning (store-bought or homemade with chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt)
- 8 small flour or corn tortillas
- 1 cup (100g) shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup (120ml) salsa
Instructions
- Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and break it apart with a wooden spoon or spatula. Brown the beef evenly for 7–8 minutes, then drain excess fat if needed.
- Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning evenly over the browned beef. Stir well to coat all the meat and let the spices bloom for about 1 minute.
- Add ¼ cup (60ml) water to the skillet, reduce heat to low, and simmer uncovered for 3 minutes until the liquid evaporates and the beef is saucy but not soupy.
- While the beef simmers, warm the tortillas in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 30 seconds per side until soft and pliable, or wrap in foil and warm in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10 minutes.
- Assemble the tacos by spooning the beef into the warm tortillas, sprinkling shredded cheddar cheese on top, and adding salsa. Serve immediately.
Notes
[‘Brown the beef properly to develop flavor; let it sit a few seconds before stirring to form a crust.’, ‘Add taco seasoning gradually to avoid overpowering saltiness.’, ‘Use fresh salsa or pico de gallo for brighter flavor.’, ‘Warm tortillas just enough to be flexible to prevent tearing.’, ‘Leftover beef stores well in the fridge for 3-4 days; reheat gently with a splash of water or broth.’, ‘Do not freeze the beef mixture to avoid grainy texture.’, ‘Customize by adding veggies like diced bell peppers or corn, or swap cheese for avocado for dairy-free option.’]
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 taco
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 550
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 22
Keywords: beef tacos, easy dinner, 5 ingredient recipe, weeknight meal, quick tacos, taco seasoning, ground beef tacos