Beef Tacos with Salsa Guacamole (Printable)
Seasoned beef nestled in warm tortillas, topped with fresh salsa and creamy guacamole for a flavorful dish.
# What You'll Need:
→ Beef Filling
01 - 1.1 lb ground beef
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 2 tsp ground cumin
06 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
07 - 1 tsp chili powder
08 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
09 - 1/2 tsp salt
10 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
11 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
12 - 1/4 cup water
→ Fresh Salsa
13 - 3 medium ripe tomatoes, diced
14 - 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
15 - 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
16 - 1 small handful fresh cilantro, chopped
17 - Juice of 1 lime
18 - Salt and pepper, to taste
→ Guacamole
19 - 2 ripe avocados
20 - 1 small tomato, seeded and diced
21 - 1/4 red onion, finely chopped
22 - Juice of 1 lime
23 - Salt and pepper, to taste
→ For Serving
24 - 8 small corn or flour tortillas
25 - Shredded lettuce (optional)
26 - Grated cheese (optional)
27 - Sour cream (optional)
28 - Lime wedges
# Directions:
01 - Combine diced tomatoes, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix thoroughly and set aside to allow flavors to meld.
02 - Mash avocados with a fork in a bowl until mostly smooth with some texture remaining. Fold in tomato, red onion, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Adjust seasoning, cover, and refrigerate until ready to serve.
03 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook until softened, approximately 2 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 additional minute until fragrant.
04 - Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking apart with a spoon. Cook until thoroughly browned and no pink remains.
05 - Stir in cumin, paprika, chili powder, oregano, salt, and pepper. Add tomato paste and water, mixing to combine. Simmer 3–4 minutes until mixture thickens slightly. Remove from heat.
06 - Heat tortillas in a dry skillet over medium heat or wrap in damp paper towels and microwave until pliable and warm.
07 - Spoon beef mixture into warm tortillas. Top with prepared salsa and guacamole. Add lettuce, cheese, and sour cream if desired. Serve immediately with lime wedges.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The salsa gets better while you cook, so youre rewarded for procrastinating.
- Everything comes together in one pan and two bowls, which means minimal cleanup and maximum satisfaction.
02 -
- Cold guacamole on hot meat creates a temperature clash that ruins the first bite.
- Overloading the tortilla is a rookie mistake that ends in lap disasters.
03 -
- Toast your spices in the beef fat before adding liquid, it wakes them up completely.
- A potato masher works faster than a spoon for breaking up ground meat evenly.