Beef Tacos with Sour Cream (Printable Version)
Classic, flavorful beef tacos featuring creamy sour cream, fresh toppings, and your preferred shells for a quick, satisfying meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Beef Filling
01 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20 preferred)
02 - 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
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 black pepper
11 - 1/4 cup water
→ Taco Assembly
12 - 8 taco shells (soft flour tortillas or crunchy corn shells)
13 - 1 cup shredded lettuce
14 - 1 cup diced tomatoes
15 - 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
16 - 1/2 cup sour cream
17 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
18 - Lime wedges, for serving
# How To Make It:
01 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking apart with a spatula, until browned and mostly cooked through, approximately 5 minutes.
02 - Stir in diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Mix in tomato paste, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly to coat the meat and onion mixture evenly.
04 - Pour in water and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 5 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly. Remove from heat.
05 - Warm taco shells according to package instructions.
06 - Spoon beef mixture into each shell. Top with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and sour cream. Garnish with cilantro if desired. Serve immediately with lime wedges.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- You'll adore how effortlessly these tacos come together, making weeknight dinners an absolute breeze.
- The balance of savory seasoned beef with cool, fresh toppings truly hits all the right notes every single time.
02 -
- I once forgot to drain the fat from the beef, and the tacos became greasy; always drain excess fat for the best texture and flavor.
- Discovering that a touch of tomato paste deepens the savoriness of the meat mixture was a game-changer for my taco recipe.
03 -
- To prevent a watery filling, ensure you drain any excess fat after browning the ground beef before adding the onions.
- Warm your taco shells just before serving; it makes soft shells more pliable and crunchy shells even crisper and more enjoyable.