How To Season Beef For Tacos? It depends on how much meat, how big it is and what main flavor you are going with. I’m going explain how long to season beef for tacos and burritos so the taste will be perfect.
Are you ready to make some mouth-watering tacos? I know I am! Beef is a widely used meat in many cuisines around the world. Mexican tacos, for example, are primarily made with beef. This Mexican food staple is fun to cook and even more fun to eat.
Steak Taco Seasoning
There are just 7 items needed to make this incredibly flavorful beef taco seasoning, most of which you probably have on hand in your spice cabinet.
For our renowned flank steak tacos, have a batch of our steak taco seasoning on hand!
It’s Steak Taco Time
Making steak tacos for dinner, but don’t know where to start with seasoning your beef? We got you! This incredible steak taco seasoning…
- is just the right balance of salty and sweet
- does not call for you to hurry to the store and purchase a number of spices you won’t use again.
- Regardless matter the cut of meat you use for your tacos, it 100% is our favorite seasoning for steak tacos.
Plus, it’s only 7 ingredients — and bonus, you probably have these all on-hand at home already.
The Ultimate Steak Taco Seasoning
This steak taco seasoning is so incredibly tasty! It brings together the following simple spices for ultimate flavor perfection:
- Garlic powder
- Chili powder
- Cumin
- Smoked paprika
- Brown sugar
- Salt & pepper
How to Use Steak Taco Seasoning
Make sure to massage the seasoning into the meat well before letting it sit “caked on” the steak before cooking. As a result, the meat for your tacos will be incredibly soft and tasty.
KITCHEN TOOLS FOR STEAK TACOS
Is this steak taco seasoning spicy?
This steak taco seasoning is generally mild as is, but you can easily make it spicier:
MAKE IT SPICIER
Add more smoked paprika or red pepper flakes to the beef taco spice mixture if you want your food hotter. Add some cayenne pepper to the mixture if you prefer it extremely fiery.
How much steak taco seasoning do you need for 1 lb. of meat?
A good rule of thumb for our steak taco seasoning is that you need about X tablespoons of seasoning per 1 lb. of meat.
Why make a large batch of this steak taco seasoning?
The beautiful thing about this recipe is that it makes X cups of steak taco seasoning, allowing you to use each batch for several taco nights.
Storage: You may keep an entire batch in your spice cabinet for up to three months by simply making a whole batch using the ingredient proportions listed below.
HOMEMADE BEEF TACO SEASONING
My beef taco seasoning recipe is the ideal combination of flavors to make some very wonderful tacos! Using a few common spices from your pantry, you can quickly and easily make this homemade taco seasoning. great for tacos with ground meat!
BEST HOMEMADE TACO SEASONING
At my house, taco night is a big deal. My family enjoys experimenting with new foods, but there is one recipe we consistently make: traditional ground beef tacos. This beef taco seasoning recipe is what you need to combine your own homemade taco seasoning to give your ground beef tacos that extra unique touch.
Making your own beef taco seasoning is simple and worthwhile.
Although most of us have opted for the taco seasoning packet from the grocery store, preparing your own homemade taco seasoning allows you to completely customize what goes into your taco meat so you can discover the ideal seasoning ratio for you and your family.
For ground beef tacos, steak tacos, or any kind taco you choose, try using this recipe for beef taco flavor. It applies to everything!
BEEF TACO SEASONING FAQ
WHAT IS TACO SEASONING MADE OF?
Taco seasoning is generally a mixture of chili powder, garlic powder, dried onion, black pepper, salt, and paprika, in addition to cumin and oregano, depending on the recipe. My taco seasoning recipe for beef uses a mixture of most of these ingredients.
HOW TO COOK GROUND BEEF WITH TACO SEASONING?
First, add ground beef to a nonstick pan over medium heat. Cook until it browns and fully cooks, breaking it up to crumble it as it cooks. Once cooked, drain the fat, then add it back to the heat, raising the heat to medium-high. Season with beef taco seasoning. Add ¾ cup water (for 1 lb. beef) and simmer until the water reduces completely. If using an Instant Pot or Slow Cooker, you can add the seasoning right away; see: Slow Cooker Taco Meat.
CAN YOU USE BEEF TACO SEASONING ON CHICKEN OR OTHER MEATS?
Beef taco seasoning works well for more than just beef; you can also add it to chicken, pork, or ground turkey tacos if desired. You may wish to adjust the flavors if using with other meats by adding additional seasonings such as cumin or oregano.
DO YOU SEASON BEEF BEFORE OR AFTER DRAINING GREASE?
If draining the grease from your taco meat, it is best to season after cooking the beef, then simmer it with the seasoning. However, higher quality ground beef will create less grease, and generally does not need draining. If you’re cooking with a higher quality ground beef or do not intend to drain the meat, evenly add the seasoning after placing the beef in the pan.
BEEF TACO SEASONING INGREDIENTS
- Chili powder
- Garlic powder
- Dried chopped onion
- Coarse ground black pepper
- Paprika
- Salt
HOW TO MAKE TACO SEASONING
- Mix together in a bowl the chili powder, garlic powder, dried chopped onion, coarse ground black pepper, paprika, and salt.
- If you don’t drain the grease, you can season the taco meat as it cooks by adding the seasoning to the pan and simmering for a few minutes.
VARIATIONS
- For a spicier or less spicy taco seasoning, use more or less chili powder.
- If more spiciness is wanted, you can add a little amount of red pepper flakes to your taco seasoning.
- It’s also possible to use onion powder in place of dried chopped onions.
Ground Beef Taco Seasoning
There’s nothing more satisfying than using a homemade taco mix and thankfully it couldn’t be easier to create. This ground beef taco seasoning is definitely a keeper!
Homemade Ground Beef Taco Seasoning
9/10 times if I’m having tacos, it’s gonna be ground beef. It’s all too tempting to pick up one of those DIY taco kits you find in the supermarkets for beef tacos, but I’m here today to offer my two cents on why homemade is the best way.
First things first…
Ground Beef Taco Seasoning Ingredients
- Paprika
- Cumin
- Oregano
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Cayenne Pepper
- Sugar
- Cornstarch/Cornflour
- Salt & Black Pepper
What is the difference between fajita and taco seasoning?
The contrasts between taco and fajita seasoning are well-expressed in this article. Although they are fundamentally very similar, taco seasoning tends to have a stronger tomato flavor and fajita seasoning tends to be more acidic (to approximate the flavor of lime).
First, I changed the taco seasoning by adding a tiny bit more onion powder than the original recipe. This is due to the fact that I frequently add fried onions to my fajitas and quesadillas but infrequently to the ground beef I use for tacos.
Second, I add a little sugar to the dish to contrast the fajita flavor, which tends to be more acidic, with something sweeter.
Finally, I sift a little cornstarch or cornflour into my seasoning for tacos with ground beef. I don’t know about you, but dry taco meat from beef is the worst. A glossy gravy will be produced by adding some liquid and cornstarch, which will coat the steak and keep it saucy.
How to use Taco Seasoning with Ground Beef
Taco Seasoning with Cornstarch
I’ll add around 1/2 cup of liquid to 1/2 tsp of cornstarch when adding it. Actually, you don’t require cornstarch to use the seasoning; in such instance, you should just add liquid as needed. The beef should finish drying out after around 1/4 cup.
What to use Taco Seasoning for besides tacos?
- Potato Wedges
- Burritos
- Soup
- Salads
- Roasted Veg
- Pasta
How to make Ground Beef for Tacos (quick summary)
- Season the mince after browning it.
- For about a minute, fry tomato puree.
- Add water or beef stock.
- To thicken, stir in cornstarch and boil.
How much taco seasoning does it take to make a pound of meat?
For 1lb/500g ground beef, I use 3 tbsp taco seasoning, which is how much this recipe makes.
Can Taco Seasoning be used on chicken?
Absolutely! If you’re using shredded chicken just mix through the seasoning and follow the recipe for ground beef (just fry the chicken for 1-2mins to lock in the spices and heat through).