Make this 20 Minute Easy Beef Taco Meat Recipe tonight

 

Whenever we’re short on time or having friends for the weekend… and I need an absolutely delicious but quick to prepare dinner,

I always turn to my amazing and easy beef taco meat recipe.  

It’s always a favorite and I love how those who try it for the first time are surprised and delighted by the unexpected ingredient.

The main ingredient in standard taco fare is usually ground beef.  I make a delicious southwest chicken meal, too.  But for the beef lovers, this is a standout with a myriad of wonderful flavors.

 

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with this amazing taco meat recipe with a surprise ingredient

 

Since tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo…

you may have already been planning on serving up tacos for your family.  Instead of your usual beef taco meat recipe, you’ll want to try mine.  I just know everyone will be raving for more.

If you want to serve your family healthy foods, you can do that even with quick and easy, kid-friendly favorites.

I truly believe that you should make room in your budget for grass-fed beef.  Nutritionally it’s packed with more goodness, and it’s leaner, which means that with only 10% fat, it is not necessary, to drain the fat, which makes prep time even quicker.  Plus, our bodies and brains are hungry for and more satiated with the good fat that comes from pastured, grass-fed beef.  It’s a double win!

 

Magic ingredient for this easy beef taco meat recipe that will make your taste buds dance with delight

 

As you can see, I’m not using taco shells for this taco dinner.  Personally, hard taco shells are messy, and well, they’re too hard.  I know, it’s a personal preference.  Generally, tortilla chips are more flavorful anyway.  Call me crazy, but I have found that organic tortilla chips are way more flavorful and delicious than the standard chips.  However, they can be pricey if they’re not on sale.

Yesterday when I was at the store, I found some tortilla chips in the deli section at Meijer.  They were NON-GMO and only $2.50/bag. The trouble with corn in our diets is that most tortilla chips are made from GMO corn.  Seriously, I try to stay away from that as much as possible, considering my budget, so I was very happy to find these chips.  It was a win for better quality food and my pocketbook.

Although I used quite a few of my own seasonings in this recipe, I still use half a packet of taco seasoning.  Someday, I’ll perfect the flavor using all my own, but since this is a recipe that I am usually making in 20 minutes, on the fly, I don’t know when that will happen.  However, I did discover that McCormick, the king of spices, is now carrying organic taco seasoning.  I keep it in my cupboard and I used it in this recipe.

Salsa is one of the surprising ingredients in my easy beef taco meat recipe.  Seriously, it is a game-changer.  I wouldn’t dream of making taco meat without it.  And once you try it, you won’t either.  There are so many fun flavor variations and if you’re striving for healthy food options, salsa is always on the list.  For this recipe, I used a corn and black bean salsa that is organic and again, on sale.  Whenever I find organic salsas on sale, I stock up.  Even Aldi has as few organic salsa options and they are delicious.

 

Quick & Easy Beef Taco Meat Recipe | A tasty twist on the usual taco PLUS a secret surprise ingredient!

 

I saved the best for last.

You’ve been wondering, what in the world is so different about this taco meat recipe… well… it’s raisins.  With all the savory and spiciness… the raisins are a wonderful and tantalizing twist.  Often I don’t tell my friends, and they think they’re biting into a black bean only to be surprised by this amazing sweet surprise. I usually hear, oh my goodness Diane, this is so good.  Their taste buds dance and my heart dances with joy.  Pure happiness!

Although I am truly an eat to live kind of gal… I love to serve delicious healthy foods to my family and friends.  Cooking for me is an act of love as much as setting a pretty table, which you know is super high on my hospitality list.

Whether it’s for Cinco de Mayo or just a quick but delicious meal for the fam between or before sports or dance or church…  I hope that this recipe becomes a go-to family favorite for you and yours.

 

It's a party for your taste buds! Delicious EASY beef taco meat recipe for Cinco de Mayo -

 

 Easy Beef Taco Meat Recipe ~ 20 Minute Dinner

 

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. ground grass fed beef
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic granules/powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground onion powder
  • 1/8-1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
  • 1/8-1/4 teaspoon ground chipotle
  • 1/4 teaspoon Celtic Sea Salt
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoons McCormick Organics Taco Seasoning
  • 1/3+ Cup raisins
  • 16 ounces salsa
  • 1 Tablespoon water
  • Iceberg lettuce (washed, dried, torn into small pieces)
  • Finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • Daisy sour cream (A one ingredient sour cream and worth the few extra pennies.)
  • Tortilla chips

 

Method

  • In a large frying pan, brown ground beef over medium to medium-high heat. Be sure to break apart the ground beef well.  I use this chopper which is so much easier on my wrist and makes fast work of chopping up the ground beef. (Often I wonder how I previously managed without it.)
  • After getting the beef chopped up and the browning process started… ADD the chopped onions.
  • When the meat is nearly browned, ADD all the seasonings and stir in well and finish the browning process.
  • ADD raisins, salsa, water and mix well and simmer on medium for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Make sure your salsa is hot and your raisins are plumped.  (Usually, after emptying the salsa in the pan, I add the water to the jar, shake, and then pour into the pan.)
  • Turn heat down to low, cover with lid, and prepare for plating your meal.
  • Serve on a bed of lettuce with shredded cheddar, sour cream, and tortilla chips.
  • Enjoy!

 

Were you surprised by the “surprise” ingredient?

 

Put dinner on the table in 20 minutes with this amazing EASY taco beef meat recipe

 

I hope you enjoy it as much as we do and add it to your regular menu.

Be sure to let me know when you try the recipe… I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Thanks so much for popping by today!

If you enjoyed this post, please use the sharing buttons to share it with your friends and “pin it,” too.

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Comments

  1. Gwen says

    I liked all your advise on picking the best items. The hamburger tastes funny. I’ll look for grass fed. No I’d never guess raisins ever!!!!! I’m going to see if we have the McCormickk seasoning too. I pinned this recipe already!!!

    • Thanks Gwen, I’m striving for good health and all those little things do add up to a more wholesome and nutritious meal. I do enjoy “fun” foods occasionally. 😉
      If you find grass fed beef, let me know what you think. We think it really tastes better.
      Ha! I surprised you with the raisins!! Yay!!!!!!!!
      Let me know if you make this recipe. I’d love to know if you like it as much as we do.
      Have a great weekend!! xo

  2. Ivory says

    Looks amazingly yummy, and I cannot wait to make these.

    • You are going to love the recipe Ivory! Thanks so much for popping by! {hugs}

  3. I’m so going to give this a try Diane. We make a beef dish in South Africa called bobotie and it’s one of my favorites. It’s got the sweet bit of raisins and they do make such a difference to the meaty falvor.

    • Let me know when you try it, Michelle, I’d love to hear if you enjoy the flavor boost, too.
      Thanks for popping by!
      All the best for an extraordinary day!

  4. This sounds so yummy. Thanks for sharing your wonderful posts at Over The Moon Party.
    See you next week.
    Hugs,
    Bev

    • Thanks, Beverly… it IS so delicious. My husband requests it often. Hope you give my recipe a try! xoxo

  5. These pictures are fantastic and I wish this was my dinner!

    • You are so sweet! I have a new camera and it was the first time I used it for a photo shoot… the day after I got it. Talk about pressure!!!
      Wish you could have enjoyed the meal with us. We LOVE this recipe!

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