Ground beef tacos are one of my favorite low effort meals. Whether you use premade taco seasoning or your own blend, it’s easy to end up with a great meal in no time at all. In fact, I probably spend more time chopping vegetables to serve on the tacos than actually cooking the meat.
I often have some chipotle in adobo left over from various recipes that only use 1 or 2 peppers and a little sauce. I freeze one pepper and a little sauce in each cube of an ice cube tray so that it doesn’t go to waste, but I still enjoy finding new uses. So I thought I would try adding it to tacos, and these chipotle beef tacos were born. The chipotle and sauce make up a lot of the flavor, so I don’t add as many spices as I do for regular tacos, and I think this tastes better.
How to Serve Chipotle Beef Tacos
I like to eat these with sour cream, cheddar cheese, tomato, lettuce, and onion. The onion can be green onion if that’s what I have, and I often add cilantro. You can choose as many or few of these toppings as you like, and feel free to add your own.
This recipe makes enough taco meat for about 8 taco shells or tortillas, if you are also topping with cheese, sour cream and vegetables. If you or anyone you are serving is only eating meat, like my husband does, then you won’t get quite as many servings.
How to Make Chipotle Beef Tacos
Brown Beef
Lightly grease a large skillet and set over medium heat. When hot, add the beef and cook, stirring, until browned. This will take about 4-5 minutes.
Add Garlic, Tomato Paste, Chipotle, and Adobo Sauce
Add the minced garlic, tomato paste, chipotle pepper, and the adobo sauce (which is just the sauce that comes from the can of chipotle peppers). Cook for about a minute to start the garlic cooking and distribute everything evenly. The tomato paste is optional, but highly recommended as it provides a depth of flavor you just don’t get without it.
Add Spices
Add the chili powder, cumin, oregano and salt and cook, stirring to mix thoroughly, for a few minutes more. Taste and add more salt if desired.
Serve
Serve on warm taco shells or tortillas, with any of the suggested toppings or whatever else you desire.
Chipotle Beef Tacos
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste optional
- 1 chipotle pepper in adobo minced
- 1-2 teaspoons adobo sauce
- 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
To Serve
- 6-8 taco shells or tortillas warmed
- Sour cream
- Grated cheese
- Chopped tomatoes
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced onion
- Cilantro
Instructions
- Set a large skillet over medium heat and grease lightly. Add ground beef and cook for 4-5 minutes, until browned.
- Add garlic, tomato paste, chipotle pepper and adobo sauce and cook, stirring, for about 1 minute.
- Add chili powder, cumin, oregano and salt and cook, stirring, for a couple minutes more until everything is well combined. Taste and season with more salt if desired.
- Serve on taco shells or tortillas with desired toppings.
Did you make this recipe? If so, follow @theflavorvortex on Instagram and post a picture using #theflavorvortex as I would love to see it!