Beef Taco Skillet Recipe
Introduction
This Beef Taco Skillet is a quick, flavorful meal perfect for busy weeknights. Combining seasoned ground beef, black beans, tortillas, and melty cheese, it’s an all-in-one dish that brings comfort and Tex-Mex flair to your table.
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 (14 fluid ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (14.5 fluid ounce) jar salsa (use your favorite kind)
- 4 medium flour tortillas, cut into quarters
- 1 cup Tex-Mex cheese blend, shredded
- Toppings: sour cream, chopped scallions, cilantro, avocado, etc. (optional, to taste)
Instructions
- Step 1: Add the ground beef and chopped onions to a skillet over medium-high heat. Break up the meat with a spoon and add the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, ground cumin, and chili powder. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 8–10 minutes until the beef is fully cooked. Spoon out excess fat if there is a lot.
- Step 2: Preheat your oven’s broiler on high and position the rack in the top third of the oven.
- Step 3: Reduce the stove heat to medium. Add the drained black beans, salsa, and tortilla quarters to the skillet. Toss gently with two spoons to fold the tortillas into the mixture evenly.
- Step 4: Let the skillet heat through for a few minutes so the tortillas soften and absorb some of the flavors.
- Step 5: Sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the skillet. Transfer the skillet to the oven and broil for a few minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown. Watch carefully to avoid burning.
- Step 6: Remove from the oven and serve immediately. Add your favorite toppings such as sour cream, chopped scallions, cilantro, or avocado. Season with salt and pepper if needed.
Tips & Variations
- For firmer tortillas, add them later in step 4 or crisp them separately before mixing in to prevent them from soaking up too much liquid.
- Use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef for a lighter option.
- Add a diced jalapeño with the onions for extra heat.
- Swap salsa for a homemade pico de gallo to brighten the flavors.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until warmed through. To keep the tortillas from becoming too mushy, avoid reheating for too long.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I make this recipe gluten-free?
Yes, use gluten-free tortillas instead of flour ones to make this meal gluten-free.
Can I prepare this dish ahead of time?
You can cook the beef mixture in advance and refrigerate it. Add the tortillas, cheese, and bake just before serving to keep the textures fresh.
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Beef Taco Skillet Recipe
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
This Beef Taco Skillet is a flavorful and easy-to-make one-pan meal combining seasoned ground beef, black beans, salsa, and tortillas, topped with melted cheese and optional fresh toppings. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, it blends classic Tex-Mex flavors with the convenience of a skillet meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 (14 fluid ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (14.5 fluid ounce) jar salsa (your favorite kind)
- 4 medium flour tortillas, cut into quarters
- 1 cup Tex-Mex cheese blend, shredded
Toppings (Optional)
- Sour cream
- Chopped scallions
- Cilantro
- Avocado
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the ground beef and onions: Place the lean ground beef and chopped onions in a skillet over medium-high heat. Break the meat apart with a spoon as it starts cooking. Add garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, ground cumin, and chili powder. Continue cooking and stirring occasionally for 8-10 minutes until the beef is fully cooked through. If there is excess fat, carefully spoon it out.
- Preheat the oven broiler: Set your oven broiler to the high heat setting and position the oven rack in the top third of the oven, so it will be close to the heat source for broiling the cheese later.
- Add beans, salsa, and tortillas to skillet: Reduce the stovetop heat to medium. Gently add the drained and rinsed black beans, salsa, and quartered flour tortillas into the skillet. Toss gently with two spoons to fold the tortillas in and distribute them evenly throughout the mixture, ensuring everyone will get some tortillas in their serving. This step softens the tortillas as they absorb liquid.
- Heat the skillet mixture: Let the skillet heat on medium for a few minutes to warm everything through and allow flavors to meld together.
- Add cheese and broil: Sprinkle the shredded Tex-Mex cheese blend evenly over the top of the skillet mixture. Transfer the skillet to the oven and broil for a few minutes, watching carefully, until the cheese is bubbly and nicely browned.
- Serve with toppings: Remove the skillet from the oven and serve immediately. Add optional toppings such as sour cream, chopped scallions, cilantro, and avocado. Season with salt and pepper to taste if needed.
Notes
- To keep tortillas less soft and prevent them from soaking up too much liquid, add them towards the end of cooking or layer them on top instead of mixing them throughout.
- You can substitute corn tortillas instead of flour tortillas if desired.
- Feel free to customize toppings based on your preference for freshness and texture.
- If you want less fat, consider using extra-lean ground beef or turkey.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Keywords: beef taco skillet, taco skillet recipe, one-pan dinner, ground beef skillet, Tex-Mex skillet, easy taco recipe
