Description
Savor Mexican-inspired magic with Taco Bell’s legendary ground beef recipe, bringing restaurant-quality flavor straight to home kitchens. Spice-packed seasoning and simple ingredients make this copycat dish an instant crowd-pleaser you’ll want to enjoy again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound (1 lb) ground beef (80/20 blend works best)
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
Additional Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- ½ cup water
- 1 teaspoon beef bouillon powder (or ½ bouillon cube, crushed)
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce (for umami flavor)
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium flame and introduce ground beef, methodically fragmenting the meat into minuscule granules using a wooden spoon or potato masher.
- Continue cooking the beef until it transitions from pink to a uniform brown tone, preserving the natural rendered fat within the pan.
- Craft a complex seasoning blend by whisking together flour, chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, oregano, and cayenne pepper in a separate mixing vessel.
- Generously distribute the aromatic spice mixture across the cooked beef, thoroughly intermingling to ensure each meat particle receives an even coating of seasonings.
- Introduce water, beef bouillon, and soy sauce into the skillet, reducing the heat to a gentle simmer and allowing the ingredients to meld and intensify for 5-10 minutes.
- Periodically stir the mixture, monitoring the liquid reduction and ensuring the beef develops a rich, glossy sauce consistency.
- Assess the meat’s moisture level, adding minimal water if the mixture appears too dry or extending the simmering duration if excess liquid remains.
- Remove from heat once the beef reaches a perfect saucy texture, ready to be integrated into tacos, burritos, or other Mexican-inspired culinary creations.
Notes
- Perfectly crumble ground beef by using a potato masher or wooden spoon to create ultra-fine texture similar to Taco Bell’s signature meat consistency.
- Keep the fat while cooking to enhance flavor and maintain moisture, which helps replicate the authentic restaurant-style ground beef.
- Toast whole spices before grinding for an intense, deeper flavor profile that elevates the seasoning blend beyond standard taco mixes.
- Experiment with lean-to-fat beef ratios between 80/20 and 85/15 to balance flavor and texture without making the meat too greasy.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg