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Three crispy beef tacos on a white plate with lime wedges
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Crispy Beef Tacos

These Crispy Beef Tacos are loaded with savory, seasoned ground beef and lots of cheese, then quickly fried to crispy, melty perfection. A fun twist on classic ground beef tacos!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 8 tacos

Ingredients

For the Seasoned Ground Beef:

  • 1 pound ground beef 80/20 recommended
  • 1 medium white or yellow onion finely diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • Hot sauce such as Valentina for finishing

Seasonings:

  • 1 teaspoon Adobo seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon cumin powder
  • 1/2 packet Sazón Goya seasoning with achiote/annatto for color
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • Cracked pepper to taste Adobo and Sazón contain sodium so I avoid added salt

For the Tacos:

  • 8 flour tortillas taco-sized
  • 2 cups shredded colby jack or mexican blend
  • 1/4 cup neutral oil like canola or vegetable oil, for frying

Toppings:

Instructions

Prepare the Seasoned Ground Beef

  • Brown the Beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks. Once mostly browned, drain off any excess grease.
  • Season: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the Adobo, cumin, Sazón seasoning, chili powder and pepper. Stir well to coat the beef.
  • Add Aromatics: Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté for 5-7 minutes, until the onion softens and becomes translucent.
  • Finish the Filling: Stir in the tomato paste and the broth. Cook until the liquid has mostly reduced and the mixture is rich and savory. Stir in a few dashes of hot sauce (optional) and remove from heat.

Assemble and Fry the Tacos

  • Prep the Tacos: Lay out a single tortilla. Scoop a few spoonfuls of the ground beef filling onto one half of the tortilla.
  • Add Cheese: Top the beef filling generously with a handful of shredded cheese. Fold the tortilla over. Gently press the edges to secure. Repeat for all tacos.
  • Heat the Oil: Heat the neutral oil in a clean large skillet over medium-low heat. You need enough oil to lightly coat the bottom of the pan.
  • Fry the Tacos: Place 2-3 tacos into the hot oil. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side until the tortilla is golden brown and crispy.
  • Create the Cheese Crust: As the tacos cook, any cheese that spills out will melt onto the hot pan, creating a crispy cheese crust. Use a spatula to gently press the edges of the taco into the melted cheese skirt.
  • Drain: Once golden and crispy on both sides, remove the tacos and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.

Finish with Toppings

  • Top and Serve: Open the tacos and drizzle the inside generously with creamy jalapeno and extra hot sauce to taste. Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro and serve immediately with a lime wedge.