Beef tacos
Spiced beef mince in crisp or soft tacos, topped with lettuce, tomato, cheese and soured cream. A family favourite in 25 minutes.
- Prep
- 10 mins
- Cook
- 15 mins
- Total
- 25 mins
- Serves
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Cost
- Moderate
Recipe: Beef tacos
Beef tacos
Ingredients
For the beef
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 500g beef mince, 5–12% fat
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp chilli powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tbsp tomato purée
- 150ml water
- salt and pepper, to taste
To serve
- 8 taco shells or small soft tortillas
- 1 Little Gem lettuce, shredded
- 2 tomatoes, diced
- 80g Cheddar, grated
- 4 tbsp soured cream
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
- pickled jalapeños and coriander, optional
Kitchen kit
- Large frying pan Search Amazon for large frying pan
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Method
-
Step 1: Brown the mince
Heat the oil in a large frying pan and cook the onion for 5 minutes. Add the mince and cook over a high heat for 6–8 minutes, breaking it up, until browned all over with no pink remaining. Pour off excess fat.
-
Step 2: Season
Add the garlic and spices and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the tomato purée and water and simmer for 5 minutes until thick and saucy. Season.
-
Step 3: Assemble
Warm the taco shells as the pack says. Fill with the beef and top with lettuce, tomato, cheese, soured cream and a squeeze of lime.
Tips
- Minced meat must be cooked until no pink remains and the juices run clear.
Storing & reheating
Cool, cover and refrigerate within 2 hours; eat within 2 days; reheat once until steaming hot.
Freezing
Freeze the cooked mince for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge and reheat until steaming hot.
Variations
- Use turkey mince or a 400g can of drained black beans plus 200g cooked lentils for a veggie version.
Allergies: Always check the labels of the ingredients you buy for allergens — our dietary tags are a guide, not a guarantee.
From feeed.co.uk/recipes/beef-tacos/ · Checked 17 October 2026
Questions people ask
Crunchy or soft?
Either works. Soft corn tortillas, warmed in a dry pan, are the more traditional choice.
Sources & inspiration
Checked 17 October 2026. Written in our own words; we checked proportions, technique and food safety against:
- BBC Good Food: Tex-Mex beef tacos (quantities, timings and temperatures compared) (bbcgoodfood.com)
- BBC Food: Budget beef tacos (quantities, timings and temperatures compared) (bbc.co.uk)
- FSA: cooking your food (steaming hot, no pink, 70°C for 2 min / 75°C for 30 sec) (gov.uk)
- FSA: how to chill, freeze and defrost food safely (leftovers within 2 days) (gov.uk)
See other recipes that use the same kit on our kitchen kit pages.
