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Mexican Ground Beef Recipe

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This Mexican Ground Beef is so flavorful and easy to make! Elevate your taco meat and make delicious restaurant-style beef tacos. Bonus! This recipe is gluten-free, low carb, keto-friendly, and has no added sugar.

Ground beef taco meat served in a white dish

You'll ❤️ This Seasoned Ground Beef for Tacos

"One of my favorite ways to "upgrade" taco meat from the basic seasoning packet taco meat recipe - but it's still super easy. I make my own taco seasoning mix but you could buy it from the store if your prefer." -Kori

Absolutely Delicious

I think you'll enjoy this Mexican ground beef recipe the next time you make tacos. I've always made my taco meat from a seasoning packet but felt it needed something more to the flavor.

Enter this recipe. I threw in a few extra ingredients to come up with, what I think, is absolutely delicious taco meat. 🙂

Easy

Granted, making taco meat with just a simple store-bought packet, ground beef, and water is the easiest - but why not elevate the flavor with minimal effort?

Just add diced tomatoes, onion, garlic, my taco seasoning mix, and additional salt and pepper to taste?

Healthy

Mexican ground beef taco meat is a healthy homemade recipe your whole family can enjoy!

  • Making the taco filling and seasoning mix from scratch instead of from a means you know what you are serving your family.
  • This recipe is gluten free, low carb, and keto.
  • Want to reduce the fat content? Use a lower fat or lean ground beef, ground turkey, or ground chicken. Drain the fat after browning.

Ingredients

Ingredients needed to make mexican ground beef recipe

Here are the ingredients you'll need to make Mexican Ground Beef:

See the recipe card for exact quantities.

  • Ground Chuck - use ground beef with an 80/20 fat percentage for best flavor. You can use any kind of ground beef (chuck, round, or sirloin), chicken, or turkey.
  • Onion - I used yellow onion but you can use what you have on hand.
  • Garlic - use fresh minced garlic
  • Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilies
  • Healthy Copycat Taco Seasoning or Store-Bought Packet - my taco seasoning mix is very easy to make and healthy. I highly recommend that you make it plus extra for use later! It keeps for months in an airtight container.
  • Water
  • Kosher Salt or Sea Salt
  • Ground Black Pepper

Substitutions and Variations

  • For more spice add hot diced tomatoes and chilies, diced green chilies, red pepper flakes, sliced jalapenos, or hot sauce to the meat mixture.
  • Add garlic and play around with your seasonings.
  • Sneak in some vegetables by adding 1 to 1½ cups of mushrooms, onions, green bell pepper, spincah, or diced zucchini. You could also add corn or drained and rinsed beans too. Add fresh vegetables to the meat while cooking. Add corn or beans after the meat is done and just heat on the stove until warm.
  • Use ground turkey or chicken in place of the ground beef. Keep in mind that the higher the fat content meat you use, the more flavor there will be in your meat.

How To Make

Here's how to make Mexican ground beef:

For complete instructions, please see the printable recipe card below.

Brown Meat

Add oil to a large skillet and preheat over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and onions.

As the meat is cooking, break apart any large chunks of ground beef.

Cook until the meat is browned, no longer pink and onions are soft.

Cooking the ground beef and onion in a skillet until done

Add Remaining Ingredients

In the same skillet add diced tomatoes, garlic, taco seasoning mix, water, salt, and pepper.

Adding remaing ingredients to the skillet

Cook

Bring to a simmer and continue cooking over medium-high heat until all liquid is absorbed.

Cooking the seasoned taco meat in a skillet until liquid evaporates

Serve

Adjust salt and pepper if needed. Serve as desired, or...

Make it a Mexican ground beef taco recipe! Fill your favorite taco shell (flour or corn, crispy or soft) along with grated cheese, and other toppings such as shredded lettuce, sour cream, salsa, sliced black olives, green onions, and so on! Enjoy!

Serving the taco meat on a taco shell with lettuce and cheddar cheese

How To Serve

Serving this Mexican ground beef recipe is quite simple. Here are a couple of ideas:

  • Fantastic in our Mexican Ground Beef and Potatoes!
  • Make a taco! Serve in a corn tortilla or flour tortilla (regular, low carb, or keto tortilla), wrapped in lettuce, and top with your favorite taco fillings
  • Make a Taco Chaffle and top with this taco meat and all of your favorite taco toppings.
  • Serve with a side of refried beans, rice, and a fresh green salad.
  • Make Air Fryer Nachos or the keto version Pork Rind Nachos.
  • Make easy burritos by adding meat and grated cheese with a little salsa in a burrito-sized flour tortilla. Wrap in foil and bake at 350 degrees F until warm.
  • Make a taco salad with lettuce, tomatoes, olives, green onions, cheese, and any other salad ingredient you might like (corn chips, crumbled tortillas?) and drizzle with our Avocado Dressing 🙂 It's seriously good dressing.
  • Got spicy lovers? Make sure they have a favorite hot sauce and some sliced jalapenos to the meat.

Top Tips

  • For the best flavor, use ground beef with an 80/20 fat percentage (20% fat content).
  • While you will lose some of the flavor, you can drain the fat in the ground beef to reduce extra fat if desired.
  • Double or triple the taco beef and freeze some for future meals! It keeps really well in the freezer.

FAQs

What ground beef is best for tacos?

Simply put, the higher the fat content the more moisture and flavor you will have in your tacos. We used an 80/20 ground chuck but you could also use ground sirloin, ground round.

There are multiple kinds of ground beef in the grocery store with varying degrees of fat. The type you choose will depend on your personal preferences and nutritional requirements (low fat vs keto for example).

Can you make this ground beef taco meat recipe ahead of time?

Yes, you can make Mexican ground beef ahead of time. Simply make the recipe, let it cool down, then refrigerate in an airtight container until you are ready to serve.

Reheat it in your microwave or don't use the stovetop until it reaches the desired temperature.

How long will beef taco meat keep?

Cooked taco meat will keep up to 4 days if stored in an airtight container.

Can you freeze taco meat?

Yes, you can freeze beef taco meat! Make multiple batches and freeze some for later.

Store in a freezer-proof airtight container or plastic bag. Thaw in the refrigerator and then reheat in your microwave or on your stovetop.

Can I ask you a favor?

If you tried this recipe, let me know! I'd love for you to come back and give the recipe a 5 star rating and leave a review in the comments! 🙂 Let's stay connected, so please follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest! Subscribe to my newsletter to get healthy fresh recipe ideas every week!

📖 The recipe.

Mexican ground beef taco meat ready to be served in a white bowl surrounded by taco shells, cheese, and tomatoes

Mexican Ground Beef Recipe

Delicious Mexican-style ground beef is full of flavor and will take your tacos to the next level! This recipe is gluten fee, low carb, keto, and has no added sugar.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save
Author Kori Butler
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 17 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine American | Mexican
Servings 8 servings
Calories 322 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 pounds ground chuck (80/20)
  • ½ cup diced onions
  • 1 10 ounce can diced tomatoes with green chilies
  • 2 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 taco seasoning mix (or 1 store bought packet)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • ¾ cup water
  • Optional tacos: corn or flour tortilla taco shells grated cheese, and any favorite taco toppings (see suggestions in Notes below)

Instructions
 

Seasoned Ground Beef

  • Add oil to a large skillet and preheat over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and onions.
  • As the meat is cooking, break apart any large chunks of ground beef.
  • Cook until the meat is browned, no longer pink and onions are soft.
  • In the same skillet add diced tomatoes, garlic, taco seasoning mix, water, salt, and pepper.
  • Bring to a simmer and continue cooking over medium-high heat until all liquid is absorbed.

Ground Beef Tacos

  • Warm your favorite corn or flour taco shells if desired
  • Fill tortillas with seasoned ground beef, cheese, shredded lettuce, and your favorite taco toppings.

Video

Kori's Tips

  • Don't miss all of our helpful hints, substitution ideas, cooking tips, and other delicious recipes that can be found in our post. Check it out!
  • VARIATIONS: For more spice add hot diced tomatoes and chilies, diced green chilies, red pepper flakes, sliced jalapenos, or hot sauce to the meat mixture.
  • SUBSTITUTIONS: Feel free to use ground turkey or chicken in place of the ground beef. Lower the fat content by using a lower fat ground beef
  • TOP TIPS: For best flavor use ground beef with 80/20 fat content (20% fat). Meal prep: make extra batches of the taco meat and freeze some for later! Make my homemade taco seasoning (it's easy!) or buy a store-bought packet, either one is fine but the best flavor comes from the homemade version. 😊 Make extra and save some for future recipes!
  • SERVING SUGGESTION: Ground beef taco recipe toppings: grated cheese, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sliced green onion, sour cream, salsa, or sliced black olives. Low carb keto followers are sure to use a low carb tortilla or serve on its own or wrapped in lettuce. This meat is used in my Mexican Ground Beef and Potatoes Recipe!

    • Nutrition

    Serving: 1/6 recipeCalories: 322kcalCarbohydrates: 3.9gProtein: 20.2gFat: 24.8gSaturated Fat: 8.9gCholesterol: 80.5mgSodium: 651.8mgFiber: 1.6gSugar: 1.2g
    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Mention @seekinggoodeatsofficial or tag #seekinggoodeats! Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.

    © 2025 Seeking Good Eats™

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. MARY TOGNAZZINI

      I WISH YOU WOULD ADD PIN WHEN I JUMP TO THE RECIPE INSTEAD OR JUST SAVE OR PRINT.

      Reply

      • Kori Butler

        Done! 🙂 A pin has been added to the recipe card! Enjoy!

        Reply
    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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