Crispy Ground Beef Tacos
Crispy Ground Beef Tacos combine savory beef, melted cheese, and crispy tortillas for a delightful dinner that’s customizable and perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
For the Filling
- 1 pound 90/10 ground beef
- 1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/4 cup water or beef broth, as needed
- to taste none salt, as needed
For the Tacos
- 8 (6 inch) taco-size flour tortillas
- 2 to 3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 2 tablespoons avocado or vegetable oil for frying
- to taste none fresh cilantro, finely chopped, for garnish optional
Instructions
Preparation
- Heat some oil (about 1 tablespoon) in a large skillet over medium heat. Add in the onions and cook until softened, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add in the beef. Use a large spoon to break up the beef and cook until most of the beef is browned, about 4-5 minutes.
- Mix in the tomato paste and then the taco seasoning. Stir in water (or beef broth) if the filling appears dry, and continue to cook until the beef is fully cooked through and most of the cooking liquid has evaporated, about 3-4 minutes.
- Taste the filling and season with salt, if needed. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.
Assembly
- On a clean work surface, place down a tortilla. On the top half of the tortilla, add some mozzarella cheese (about 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons). Spoon over a portion of the beef filling and top with some more cheese (about 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons).
- Fold the bottom half of the tortilla over the filling and gently press down to seal.
- Transfer the assembled taco to a large baking sheet and repeat with remaining beef filling, cheese, and tortillas.
Cooking
- Heat up some oil (about 3-4 tablespoons) in a large skillet over medium heat. In batches, pan fry the tacos, about 1 minute per side, or until golden brown.
- Transfer to a wire cooling rack placed over a baking sheet. If needed, add a little more oil in between frying the batches of tacos.
- Garnish tacos with fresh cilantro (optional) and serve immediately while still hot and crispy.
Notes
For best results, enjoy tacos with a variety of toppings like shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, salsa, and guacamole. Store leftovers in an airtight container and reheat in a skillet to maintain their crispiness.