Easy Beef Taco Skillet

This recipe for an easy beef taco skillet makes a hearty family meal or serve with tortilla chips instead for an addictive appetizer!

Are you looking for a quick and easy Mexican recipe that is perfect for weeknight dinners?

This Easy Beef Taco Skillet Recipe will make your life easier with its simple ingredients, but big flavor. It only takes about 30 minutes to make this hearty meal!

This is a simple, easy beef taco skillet recipe that will have your family asking for seconds! It’s so easy to make and can be served with rice or tortillas. Give it a try tonight and let me know what you think!

How to Store this Beef Taco Skillet

While the cooked and mixed recipe can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days, it is best served warm and fresh out of the skillet and onto a plate.

Can you Freeze this Beef taco skillet?

Yes! The cooked and mixed recipe can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 months without any change to its flavor or texture.

About the Ingredients for this Beef Taco Skillet

Oil – You can use olive oil or any other neutral flavoured oil.

Onion – We used white onion, but yellow onion will work too.

Garlic – 3-4 cloves is minimum, you could swap in a little garlic powder but I do recommend using fresh here.

Salt and Pepper – Helps to balance the other flavours and make them really shine. No bland meals here!

Beef – Extra lean ground beef is best to use, but if you do use fattier beef chuck, just make sure you drain all the fat.

Taco seasoning – You can use either store bought or homemade taco seasoning.

Tomatoes – If you can’t get fire roasted tomatoes with green chilis you can swap with plain diced tomatoes and add a diced, seeded jalapeno.

Cheese – Mexican blend shredded cheese is best but really you can use any shredded cheese you like here.

How to Serve this Beef Taco Skillet

This easy and versatile 30-minute beef taco skillet can be served a couple of ways.

For a delicious main course, serve with shredded lettuce, salsa, chopped tomatoes, extra cheese, and some warm corn taco shells or large lettuce leaves for wrapping. Another option is to add a cup of cooked rice to the skillet.

For a hearty appetizer, as shown here, serve with gluten-free tortilla chips and top with diced tomatoes, green onion, avocado, and extra cheese right before serving.

Looking for More Mexican Inspired Recipes?

Check out some of my favourite Mexican recipes:

This Skillet Carne Asada features a steak marinated in a perfect combination of citrus, chili and cilantro for the most flavourful tacos.

This easy beef enchiladas recipe is packed with flavor and is sure to become a favourite weeknight family dinner.

Garden fresh, this Easy Roasted Jalapeño Salsa Verde Recipe is a delicious summer appetizer that you can can for later or enjoy immediately!

This low carb chicken enchilada soup is a comforting dinner recipe that can be made in the Instant Pot, slow cooker or on the stove top.

How to Make a Beef Taco Skillet

Yields: 4-6 Servings | Prep time: 15 mins | Cook time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

1 T. Olive oil
½ medium white onion, diced
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
1¼ lbs. ground beef (80% lean)
2 T. taco seasoning
1 10-oz. can fire-roasted tomatoes with green chilis, drained
4 oz. shredded Mexican-blend cheese (+ extra for serving or topping)

Optional, to Serve:

For tacos: Taco shells or lettuce wraps, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, salsa, and/or extra cheese

For nachos: Gluten-free tortilla chips, diced tomatoes, sliced green onions, and/or avocado

Directions:

1. Prepare the taco seasoning by combining all ingredients in a bowl. Stir to combine and transfer to an airtight container. Set aside.  
   
   
2. Add olive oil to a large skillet set over medium heat. Add diced onion and garlic and season with salt and black pepper, to taste. Stir to combine and sauté, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens and develops some color, approximately 4-5 minutes.
   
   
3. Add beef to skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, approximately 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat and carefully drain excess fat from skillet.
   
   
4. Add taco seasoning and fire-roasted tomatoes and green chilis and stir to combine. Cook, stirring frequently, until tomatoes are heated through and the beef mixture is thoroughly coated in the taco seasoning, approximately 2-3 minutes. Taste, and add additional taco seasoning, if desired.
   
   
5. Remove from heat and top with shredded cheese. Cover for 1-2 minutes or until cheese is completely melted. Serve immediately with desired accompaniments. Enjoy!