Make this easy taco meat in 15 minutes with this easy 4 ingredient recipe that includes ground beef, onion, homemade taco seasoning and salsa. Perfect for ground beef tacos!

Taco meat made with ground beef in a cast iron skillet.

This post may contain affiliate links. Read disclosure policy.

Ground Beef Taco Meat

We make taco meat all the time at our house. It’s super simple and can be used so many ways! It’s perfect for beef tacos, beef enchiladas, Navajo Indian tacos, topping a Mexican salad and more.

My whole family loves it. Whether it’s a classic ground beef taco night or a big taco salad with rice loaded with pico de gallo, black beans, corn, homemade tortilla strips and cilantro lime dressing, this is my go-to. Only 4 ingredients and ready in 15 minutes!

XO - Jamielyn
starstarstarstarstar

This taco meat recipe is so delicious! I saved this to make again
for our next taco night, thank you!

Olivia

Taco Meat Ingredients

Taco meat ingredients including ground beef, onion, taco seasoning and salsa.

Find the full printable recipe with measurements below.

  • Ground beef: I find the best ground beef for tacos is 80-90% lean ground beef, however you could use ground turkey if preferred.
  • Onions: Onions add another layer of freshness. They cook with the beef while it browns and add great flavor.
  • Homemade taco seasoning: I love using my own taco seasoning. It’s easy, cost effective, and great to have on hand. Store-bought works too if that’s what you’ve got!
  • Salsa: Not only does mixing in fresh salsa give the meat extra flavor and keep it moist, it also helps thicken it up as well. If you don’t have salsa on hand, you can use tomato sauce and water instead.

How to Make Taco Meat

This 15-minute taco meat is so easy to make with ground beef and a few other ingredients. Just follow the simple steps below to get started.

Showing how to make taco meat in a 4 step collage.
  1. Brown beef in skillet. Cook ground beef and onions in a large skillet over medium heat until browned. Stir occasionally to break up any large pieces.
  2. Add seasonings. Drain any excess grease from the meat, then add taco seasoning and salsa (or tomato sauce and water).
  3. Simmer. Bring to a light simmer. Add more water if desired.
  4. Serve and enjoy! Serve the perfectly seasoned ground beef in tacos, taco salads or burritos.

Recipe Tips

  • Tomato sauce: For less spice instead of salsa use your favorite plain canned tomato sauce or puree. Add a splash of water to prevent any burning.
  • Other meat: I prefer ground beef but you can use pork, chicken or turkey.
  • Nutrition boost: Stir in some mashed black beans or refried beans and as a bonus it also helps keep the meat creamy.
  • Seasonings: Customize the taco seasoning to your liking! Add cayenne or red pepper flakes for more spice, cumin for earthiness, or smoked paprika for a smokier flavor.
  • Restaurant quality: After browning the meat, pulse it a few times in a food processor until you get smaller crumbles. Just don’t overprocess it! Return to the skillet and continue with the recipe.
Easy ground beef taco meat cooking in a skillet.

Favorite Ways to Use Taco Meat

Here are some of our favorite ways to use it:

Ground beef tacos in a white casserole dish.

Love taco recipes? Try carnitas tacos, baked tilapia fish tacos or even bang bang shrimp tacos!

More Quick and Easy Recipes

See all
See all
Seasoned taco meat in a cast iron skillet.

Taco Meat Recipe

5 from 16 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 6
Make flavorful taco meat in just 15 minutes with this easy 4 ingredient recipe that includes ground beef, onion, homemade taco seasoning and salsa. A ground beef taco is a classic dinner favorite!
Print Pin This! Rate

Video

Ingredients 

  • 1 pound ground beef , 80-90% lean
  • ½ cup finely chopped onion
  • 1-2 Tablespoons taco seasoning , more to taste
  • ½ cup salsa
  • ¼ cup water , more as needed

S&P to taste

Instructions

  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and onion and cook until browned, stirring occasionally breaking up any large pieces. 
  • Once browned, drain off any extra grease. Then add in the taco seasoning, salsa or tomato sauce and water. Bring to a light simmer. Add more water as desired. 
  • Serve in tacos, taco salads or burritos. 

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Storage: Store leftover taco meat in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freezer: Place in a freezer bag, remove all the air, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in a skillet or microwave until warm.

Nutrition

Calories: 205kcal, Carbohydrates: 3g, Protein: 13g, Fat: 15g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 53mg, Sodium: 271mg, Potassium: 285mg, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 180IU, Vitamin C: 1.7mg, Calcium: 23mg, Iron: 1.6mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.