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Savory Beef Tacos Recipe with Easy Zesty Fresh Pico de Gallo

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A quick and easy recipe for savory beef tacos paired with a bright, fresh pico de gallo that brings a perfect balance of savory, fresh, and a touch of heat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (450g) ground beef (80% lean recommended)
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 medium ripe tomatoes, diced
  • ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 small jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped
  • 1 small red onion, finely diced
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • Salt to taste
  • 8 small corn or flour tortillas (warmed before serving)
  • Optional toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, avocado slices

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Pico de Gallo: Dice tomatoes and red onion into small pieces. Finely chop jalapeño and cilantro. Combine all in a mixing bowl, add lime juice and salt to taste. Stir gently and set aside.
  2. Cook the Savory Beef: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté chopped onion until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
  3. Add ground beef, breaking it up with a spatula. Cook until browned and cooked through, about 7-8 minutes. Sprinkle in cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Stir well and adjust seasoning if needed.
  4. Warm the Tortillas: Warm tortillas in a dry skillet over medium heat, flipping every 30 seconds until soft and slightly charred. Keep warm wrapped in a kitchen towel.
  5. Assemble the Tacos: Spoon savory beef onto each tortilla. Top with pico de gallo and optional toppings like shredded cheese, sour cream, or avocado slices.
  6. Serve immediately while warm.

Notes

Use fresh, ripe tomatoes and fresh lime juice for best flavor. Let pico de gallo sit for 10 minutes to meld flavors but avoid waiting too long to prevent watery salsa. For more heat, leave jalapeño seeds or add hot sauce. Warm tortillas properly to avoid cracking or drying out. Multitask by prepping pico de gallo and warming tortillas while cooking beef.

Nutrition

Keywords: beef tacos, pico de gallo, easy tacos, quick dinner, savory beef, fresh salsa, Mexican recipe, weeknight meal

Find it online: https://evabake.com/savory-beef-tacos-recipe-with-easy-zesty-fresh-pico-de-gallo/