Description

These Crispy Ground Beef Tacos are a delicious and satisfying meal featuring seasoned ground beef cooked with onions and tomato paste, layered with melted mozzarella cheese inside flour tortillas, and pan-fried until golden and crispy. Perfect for a family dinner or casual get-together, these tacos combine savory beef filling with a crispy shell and melty cheese for an irresistible flavor and texture combination.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

1 pound 90/10 ground beef
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons taco seasoning
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/4 cup water or beef broth, as needed
Salt to taste
8 (6 inch) taco size flour tortillas
2 to 3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
Avocado or vegetable oil for cooking
Fresh cilantro, finely chopped, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Cook the onions: Heat about 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onions and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened and translucent.
Brown the ground beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet. Use a large spoon to break it up and cook for about 4-5 minutes until most of the meat is browned.
Season the beef mixture: Stir in tomato paste and taco seasoning. Add water or beef broth if the mixture appears dry. Continue cooking for 3-4 minutes until the beef is fully cooked and the liquid mostly evaporates. Season with salt as needed. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
Assemble the tacos: Place a tortilla on a clean work surface. Spread about 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons of shredded mozzarella on the top half of the tortilla. Spoon a portion of the beef filling over the cheese, then top with another 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons of cheese. Fold the bottom half of the tortilla over the filling and gently press to seal.
Prepare all tacos: Repeat the assembly with remaining tortillas, beef filling, and cheese, making a total of 8 tacos.
Fry the tacos: Heat 3-4 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. In batches, pan-fry the tacos for about 1 minute per side or until golden brown and crispy. Add more oil between batches if needed. Transfer cooked tacos to a wire cooling rack set over a baking sheet to drain excess oil.
Serve: Garnish the crispy tacos with fresh chopped cilantro if desired. Serve immediately while hot and crispy with your favorite sauces. Enjoy!

Notes

Use 90/10 ground beef for optimal flavor and lower fat content.
Adjust taco seasoning amount to taste or use homemade seasoning.
If preferred, substitute flour tortillas with corn tortillas but note they are more delicate for folding and frying.
Use avocado oil or vegetable oil for frying due to their high smoke points.
To keep tacos warm before serving, place them in a low oven (around 200°F) on a baking sheet after frying.
Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 2 days and reheated in a skillet to maintain crispiness.
For extra flavor, add a squeeze of lime or diced fresh tomatoes as toppings.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Frying
Cuisine: Mexican

Keywords: crispy tacos, ground beef tacos, pan-fried tacos, cheesy tacos, homemade tacos, taco recipe