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Things you need

Ingredients

( ) 1 pound of ground beef
( ) 1 medium onion, chopped
( ) 1 package of taco seasoning (Trader Joe’s is a good place to get it)
( ) 1 can (14 oz) of diced tomatoes
( ) Oil (for cooking)

How to do it

1. Put oil in a big pot and heat it up. Then add the onions. Cook until the food is golden and caramelized.
2. Put the ground beef in the pot and cook it until it is brown, making sure there is no pink left.

Follow the directions on the taco seasoning packet and add it. (Philip adds the whole packet to make it spicier.)
Add the can of diced tomatoes after about five minutes. Cook on low heat for another 30 to 40 minutes, stirring every so often.
Serve hot and add your favorite taco toppings, such lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, and salsa.

A Recipe for Americanized Taco Meat

Here’s how to make the traditional taco meat if you want to. Cook one pound of ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat until it is brown and fully cooked. Remove any extra fat, then add taco seasoning, one cup of water, and one can of chopped tomatoes that have been drained. Mix well and let the mixture simmer for 10 minutes. Put it on tortillas with your preferred toppings.

How to Cook Taco Meat

Here are several other ways to cook your taco meat:

On the stove, heat a skillet over medium heat. Put in your seasoned meat and cook it until it turns brown. This normally takes five to seven minutes. Your taco meat is ready to go as soon as you drain off any extra fat.
If you don’t have a lot of time, you may alternatively cook the taco meat in a slow cooker. Put in your seasoned meat and a cup of chicken or beef broth. Cook on low for 4 to 5 hours, or until the meat is soft and fully cooked.
Instant Pot: You might want to use an Instant Pot to cook your taco meat faster. Put in your seasoned meat and a cup of water. Put the lid on and cook for 10 to 15 minutes on high pressure, depending on the kind of meat you are using.

Different kinds of meat substitutes

Try utilizing different meat replacements if you want to change things up. You might use ground turkey, chicken, or pig instead of beef, for instance. If you want a plant-based option, try Beyond Meat or other vegetarian options. The cooking technique stays the same; just use the protein source you like best.

Vegetarian and vegan taco meat choices

Try these wonderful options if you want an entirely vegetarian or vegan meal:

To make black bean taco meat, mash one can of drained and rinsed black beans with a fork and add taco seasoning to taste. Mix well, then cook on the burner until it’s hot.
For lentil taco meat, cook one cup of lentils according to the package directions. Then, mix with taco seasoning and a little water. Let it simmer for a few minutes until everything is well mixed.
Crumble firm tofu and mix it with taco seasoning to make tofu taco meat. Put it in a skillet and cook it until it’s hot all the way through.

Things to Think About When Looking for a Taco Meat Recipe

Taste: Everyone has a different taste. Some people enjoy it hot, while others would like it less hot. So, it’s important to select a recipe that you like.
Availability of items: Some recipes may call for items that are hard to locate or only found in certain areas. So, find a recipe that calls for items that are easy to find and buy.
Nutritional Value: Pick recipes that use lean meats and stay away from ones that have a lot of fat or preservatives.
Level of Cooking Skills: If you’re new to cooking, look for recipes that are easy to follow and have clear procedures for getting ready. If you’re a good cook, on the other side, you can choose more difficult recipes to see how good you are.
Time Considerations: If you’re short on time, seek for recipes that are quick and easy to make. If you have extra time, you can also choose recipes that call for slow cooking, marinating, or other stages that take a long time.

Things You Shouldn’t Do

Too much or too little seasoning

If you add too much seasoning to the meat, it will be excessively powerful and overbearing. On the other hand, not seasoning enough might make the meat taste bland and not good.

To keep from over- or under-seasoning, start with a small amount of seasoning and taste it after each addition. This is the best approach to get the right mix of flavors that go well with the other taco elements.

Picking the Wrong Ground Beef

Not all ground beef is the same, and if you use the wrong kind of meat, the recipe will not work. For example, using lean ground beef for taco meat is not a good idea because it will make the meat dry and rubbery and not hold together.

Choose ground beef with a nice mix of lean and fat, like 80% lean and 20% fat or 70% lean and 30% fat. The fat will add taste and moisture to the meat.

Not cooking the meat fast enough or too fast

If you cook the hot meat too quickly, it won’t have time to soak up the flavors of the spices, which will make it taste bland. If you cook the meat too slowly, it can get tough and chewy.

To avoid this mistake, cook the meat on medium-high heat until it turns brown. The meat will get a lovely caramel color and a deep, delicious taste. Lower the heat and let the meat simmer slowly after it has browned. This will let the spices and flavor soak into the flesh.