Beef Tacos Sour Cream (Printable Version)
Savory beef filling in crispy shells, layered with fresh veggies, cheese, and a cooling creamy topping.
# Ingredient List:
→ Beef Filling
01 - 1 pound ground beef (80/20 fat content recommended)
02 - 1 small onion, finely diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 teaspoons chili powder
05 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
06 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
07 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
10 - 1/4 cup tomato sauce or salsa (60 ml)
11 - 1/4 cup water (60 ml)
→ Taco Assembly
12 - 8 crispy taco shells or small flour tortillas
13 - 1 cup shredded lettuce (100 g)
14 - 1 cup diced tomatoes (120 g)
15 - 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (50 g)
16 - 1/2 cup sour cream (120 g)
17 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (10 g), optional
18 - 1 small jalapeño, thinly sliced, optional
19 - Lime wedges for serving
# Step-by-Step Instructions:
01 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until fully browned, approximately 5 minutes.
02 - Stir in the diced onion and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds.
03 - Incorporate chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly to combine flavors.
04 - Pour in tomato sauce (or salsa) and water. Simmer gently for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid is absorbed. Adjust seasoning as necessary. Remove from heat.
05 - Heat taco shells or tortillas according to package instructions to ensure crispness or pliability.
06 - Fill each shell with the beef mixture, then layer shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, cheese, and a generous dollop of sour cream. Garnish with cilantro and jalapeño slices if desired. Serve with lime wedges.
# Tips from hearthlykitchen:
01 -
- The beef stays juicy and seasoned perfectly, no dried-out taco meat situation here.
- Everything comes together in 30 minutes total, which means weeknight dinners that don't feel rushed.
- You can set up a taco bar and let people build their own, which somehow makes the meal taste even better.
02 -
- Don't skip draining any excess fat from the beef if there's a pool of grease sitting in the pan, because that's what makes the filling taste heavy instead of bright.
- Toast your spices in the meat for just long enough to smell them really strongly, then add the liquid immediately or they'll burn and taste bitter.
- Sour cream is not a topping, it's a critical element that cools and rounds out the heat and richness of everything underneath.
03 -
- A squeeze of fresh lime juice over the beef before serving adds a brightness that makes people think you spent way more effort than you actually did.
- If you're feeding a crowd, brown the beef ahead of time and reheat it gently in the skillet right before assembly so you're not stuck cooking while everyone's standing around waiting.