Beef Tacos with Sour Cream (Printable View)
Tender beef combined with fresh vegetables and creamy sour cream on warm tortillas.
# Ingredient List:
→ Beef
01 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend)
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Seasonings
04 - 1 ½ tsp ground cumin
05 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
06 - 1 tsp chili powder
07 - ½ tsp dried oregano
08 - ½ tsp salt
09 - ¼ tsp ground black pepper
10 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
11 - ¼ cup water
→ Tacos
12 - 8 small flour or corn tortillas
13 - 1 cup shredded lettuce
14 - 2 medium tomatoes, diced
15 - ½ cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
16 - ½ cup sour cream
17 - 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
18 - 1 lime, cut into wedges
# How to Make It:
01 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned, about 4 to 5 minutes.
02 - Add chopped onion and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
03 - Sprinkle in cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly to coat the meat evenly.
04 - Incorporate tomato paste and water, mixing well. Reduce heat and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly. Adjust seasoning to taste.
05 - Meanwhile, warm tortillas in a dry skillet or microwave until pliable.
06 - Spoon beef mixture onto tortillas. Top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, cheese, and a generous dollop of sour cream. Garnish with cilantro and a lime wedge as desired.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The whole thing comes together in about 30 minutes, which means you can go from thinking about dinner to actually eating it without the planning stress.
- Each person builds their own taco, so there's no fighting over toppings and everyone gets exactly what they want.
- The seasoning hits that perfect sweet spot between savory and smoky—it tastes homemade but without tasting like you spent all day on it.
02 -
- Don't skip the browning step—rushing it makes the beef steamed and bland instead of caramelized and flavorful, and that's the whole foundation.
- Warm your tortillas right before you eat; a cold tortilla makes the whole taco feel unfinished and changes how everything tastes together.
03 -
- If your skillet isn't hot enough at the start, the beef won't brown properly and you'll end up with steamed meat—wait for the pan to genuinely heat before adding anything.
- Keep the sour cream cold until the very last moment; a warm dollop loses its textural punch and the whole taco loses something essential.