Oven-Baked Beef Tacos {Easy No-Fuss Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

What is the thickening agent for taco meat? ›

A typical 12-serving taco seasoning mix recipe uses about 1 ½ tablespoons of cornstarch. If you want to skip the cornstarch in your homemade seasoning to use it for other purposes, just sprinkle ⅓ to ½ teaspoon of cornstarch per pound of browned, spiced meat before adding ¾ cup of water and heat until thickened.

Salt and Pepper: These are essential seasonings for enhancing the overall flavor of the beef. Garlic: Garlic powder or minced garlic adds a rich and savory flavor to ground beef dishes. Onion: Onion powder, diced onions, or onion flakes can provide a sweet and aromatic quality to the meat.

I usually do. It's because I don't want all the flavor of the seasoning going into the fat instead of adhering to the meat. The fat will drip out of your taco and with it goes half the flavor.

Try the Cornstarch Method by coating your meat with cornstarch mixture or (slurry) and leaving it for 1/2 hour before cooking. This mixture will provide a protective barrier which helps to seal in the moisture to prevent over-cooking and the meat becoming tough.

Once the beef is cooked, you want to cook it with the seasoning and liquid on medium low and just until the sauce starts to thicken. Keep an eye on it so it doesn't dry out. Heat up the tortillas before adding the ground beef on top. You can heat them up in the microwave, oven or on a skillet for 1-2 minutes per side.

The magic lies in the seasoning – a simple yet potent mix of garlic, onion, cumin, and cayenne, creating some of the most tasty ground beef.

Mix the seasoning into the meat before cooking!

To get the most seasoning flavor in your taco meat, mix it into the meat and let it rest in the fridge like you would ground sausage. This also helps keep more moisture in the meat because you risk squeezing the juices out of the meat when you mix it in after it's cooked.

Cilantro Lime- Cilantro Lime Sauce is fresh, vibrant, full of flavor. That is why it is one of the best sauces for all your tacos! It is made from sour cream, mayonnaise, cilantro, jalapeños, garlic, lime juice, and salt. Cilantro Lime Sauce is creamy, spicy, and sour- with a hint of garlic.

What can I add to taco meat to make it go further? ›

Potatoes!! The potato skin to be exact. I asked the waiter about this and he said that's what gives it its creaminess and that his mother used to add potatoes (and sometimes pinto beans) to their ground beef to make it go further.

To season ground meat tacos, first sauté the meat until it loses its pinkish color. Then sprinkle with taco seasoning and stir to combine.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 7 to 10 minutes. Drain and discard any excess grease. Pour water and seasoning mix over beef; stir to combine.

Why do my ground beef tacos taste bland? The number one reason why people end up with bland tacos is because the meat wasn't seasoned properly.

For a Thicker Seasoning Sauce: Add 2 tablespoons flour, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, or 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder to the seasoning blend. Once the meat is browned, add the seasoning and water, stir and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until the sauce thickens.

How add thickness: Most premade taco seasoning packets have a thickening agent in them and you add in a little water to make the taco meat a little saucy. If you are looking to recreate that add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to the taco seasoning mix. Add 1/2 cup of water to the meat when you add your taco seasoning.

A bit of beaten egg and some breadcrumbs might work, if you're willing to go for a meatloaf-ish consistency.

Making Restaurant Style Mexican Ground Beef:

The secret to many of those simple ground beef dishes is to slowly cook the ground beef with a little water; the fat renders out and the beef, when finished, will be just right. And that works with this taco/burrito beef, too.