Beef Tacos Soft Tortillas Salsa (Printable version)
Tender ground beef in soft tortillas topped with fresh, zesty salsa and vibrant flavors.
# What you need:
→ Beef Filling
01 - 1.1 lbs ground beef
02 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 tbsp olive oil
05 - 1 tsp ground cumin
06 - 1 tsp chili powder
07 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
09 - 1/2 tsp salt
10 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
11 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
12 - 1/4 cup water
→ Fresh Salsa
13 - 3 medium ripe tomatoes, diced
14 - 1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
15 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
16 - 1/2 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
17 - Juice of 1 lime
18 - 1/2 tsp salt
19 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Serving
20 - 8 small soft flour tortillas
21 - 1 cup shredded lettuce
22 - 1 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
23 - 1 ripe avocado, sliced
24 - Lime wedges
# How To:
01 - In a bowl, combine tomatoes, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Mix well and set aside to let flavors meld.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
03 - Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned, 5–6 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
04 - Stir in cumin, chili powder, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Add tomato paste and water, mix thoroughly, and simmer for another 2–3 minutes until thickened.
05 - Wrap tortillas in foil and heat in a 350°F oven for 5 minutes, or microwave covered with a damp towel for 30 seconds.
06 - Spoon beef mixture onto each tortilla. Top with fresh salsa, shredded lettuce, cheese, and avocado. Serve with lime wedges.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The whole thing comes together in under 40 minutes, so even a weeknight dinner feels doable without ordering out.
- Homemade salsa tastes so much brighter and fresher than anything bottled, and people always ask for the recipe once they taste it.
- You can set out all the toppings and let everyone build their own, which somehow makes even simple ground beef feel like a celebration.
02 -
- Don't skip draining the excess fat from the beef—too much grease makes the filling slide around inside the tortilla instead of staying put.
- If your tortillas crack or tear when you fill them, they weren't warm enough; wrap them again and heat them properly before trying to assemble.
- Make the salsa at least five minutes ahead so the flavors meld, or it tastes like a pile of raw vegetables instead of a cohesive sauce.
03 -
- Don't crowd the skillet when browning the beef—if you dump it all in at once, it steams instead of browning, so work in batches if your pan is small.
- The key to soft, pliable tortillas is heat and moisture, so wrap them in foil or a damp towel instead of leaving them exposed to air.