Tacos are a beloved Mexican dish that has gained immense popularity worldwide. They are essentially corn or wheat tortillas folded or rolled around various fillings, commonly including seasoned minced meat, vegetables, cheese, and various condiments. This article presents a comprehensive guide to preparing restaurant-style taco meat, offering three distinct recipes: classic ground beef tacos, flavorful shredded chicken tacos, and a delightful vegetarian taco filling made with hearty lentils. With step-by-step instructions and a treasure trove of tips and tricks, this article empowers home cooks to recreate the authentic flavors and textures of their favorite taco joint right in their own kitchens.
These recipes are not only easy to follow but also highly customizable, allowing you to tailor the flavors to your personal preferences. Whether you prefer the bold and savory taste of traditional beef tacos, the succulent and juicy appeal of shredded chicken tacos, or the wholesome and protein-packed vegetarian lentil tacos, this article has got you covered. Get ready to embark on a culinary adventure that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more!
RESTAURANT-STYLE TACO MEAT SEASONING
This tastes very close to the taco seasoning favored by a very popular fast-food taco restaurant. You can make this at home, and let your family prepare tacos the way they like.
Provided by GVSWIFE
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Latin American Mexican
Time 40m
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- In a medium bowl, combine the corn flour, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, and seasoned salt. Stir in the paprika, cumin, garlic salt, and sugar. Blend in the onion, bouillon, and ground red pepper, stirring until all spices are well blended.
- Crumble the ground chuck into a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until browned. Remove from heat, rinse meat with hot water, and drain water and grease from beef.
- Return meat to skillet, and pour in seasoning. Stir in water. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until most of the liquid has cooked away, about 20 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 164.4 calories, Carbohydrate 2.1 g, Cholesterol 43.6 mg, Fat 12.4 g, Fiber 0.5 g, Protein 10.6 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, Sodium 212.1 mg, Sugar 0.2 g
TACO MEAT - RESTAURANT STYLE
No browned or fried ground beef here. This is cooked in water. YES, in water. Resulting in that nicely steamed, soft texture you get in most Mexican restaurants.
Provided by ReeLani
Categories Meat
Time 1h10m
Yield 1 pan
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Put the ground chuck in a large pot or Dutch oven and add seasonings.
- Add just enough water to cover the meat, bring to a boil, then reduce and simmer for about an hour.
- Every 15 minutes or so break up the meat with a large spoon or a potato masher so that it isn't lumpy. Be sure always to keep just enough water to cover the meat.
- After an hour add the onion and bell pepper and simmer another 20 minutes. The meat should be very finely textured at this point.
- Remove from the heat, pour into a strainer over a large bowl, and let the meat sit in the strainer for 10 or 15 minutes to make sure all grease drains away, pressing it a few times.
- After the meat has drained as much as possible, place the bowl of liquid (which you want to keep) and grease in the freezer for a while. When grease separates and hardens on top, take a spoon and remove all of it. Retain about a cup of the degreased liquid.
- Place reserved liquid in a pan and bring to a boil. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of corn starch in 1/4 cup of cold water and add to the liquid, simmering 4 or 5 more minutes. Add reserved meat into the pan and mix liquid well into meat.
- Serve in taco shells or tortillas, or mix into a taco salad or casserole.
- Leftovers freeze well.
RESTAURANT-STYLE TACO MEAT RECIPE - (4.2/5)
Provided by ErinLayton
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Combine all the spices in a bowl. Start browning the ground beef, breaking up with a spatula as you go. Stir in the seasoning and the water. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook about 20 minutes until most of the liquid is gone. Serve in tacos, nachos, burritos, etc.
RESTAURANT STYLE TACO MEAT SEASONING
I loathe store bought taco seasoning. The flavor of it is so overpowering that you can hardly taste anything else on your taco! I found this recipe and adapted it a bit to suit my own tastes. I'm posting it on here mostly to be able to find it whenever I want to make it again. **NOTE: sometimes i substitute 1 tsp of store-bought taco seasoning in place of 1 tsp chili powder. you can't pick the flavor of the store-bought stuff out and it helps bring the flavors together a bit**
Provided by Melanie2590
Categories Meat
Time 25m
Yield 12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- In small bowl, mix all dry ingredients. set aside.
- brown meat in a skillet. when done, drain off fat.
- return skillet to burner. sprinkle on seasoning mix and add tomato paste and bouillon. add water and stir well to coat meat.
- let simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the majority of the water cooks off.
Tips:
- Choose the Right Type of Ground Beef: For the best flavor and texture, use 80/20 ground beef. This ratio of lean meat to fat will give your taco meat a juicy, flavorful result.
- Brown the Beef Properly: Don't overcrowd the pan when browning the beef. This will prevent the meat from steaming instead of browning. Cook the beef over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until it is evenly browned.
- Drain the Fat: After browning the beef, drain off any excess fat. This will help to reduce the grease content of your taco meat.
- Season Generously: Don't be afraid to season your taco meat generously. A good taco seasoning mix will include chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and salt. You can also add other spices to taste, such as cayenne pepper, oregano, or chipotle powder.
- Simmer the Taco Meat: After seasoning the taco meat, let it simmer for at least 15 minutes. This will allow the flavors to develop and meld together.
- Use Fresh Ingredients: Whenever possible, use fresh ingredients in your taco meat. This will give your tacos the best flavor. Fresh chopped onions, cilantro, and tomatoes are all great additions to taco meat.
Conclusion:
Making restaurant-style taco meat at home is easy and rewarding. By following these tips and using the recipe provided, you can enjoy delicious tacos any night of the week. So next time you're craving tacos, skip the drive-thru and make your own at home. You won't be disappointed!
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