Description
This homemade taco meat recipe delivers a rich, glossy coating with smoky chipotle flavor, offering restaurant-quality results that are perfect for a weeknight family meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound (500 g) lean ground beef or turkey
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1.5 teaspoons sea salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon chipotle powder
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup (or date syrup)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) beef or chicken broth, halal-certified
Instructions
- Combine Spices: In a small bowl, mix all dry spices together (chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, pepper, and chipotle powder).
- Brown the Meat: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef or turkey and cook for 6-8 minutes, breaking it apart, until fully browned. Drain and discard any excess fat.
- Sauté Aromatics: Reduce heat to medium. Add the diced onion to the skillet and sauté for about 5 minutes, until softened. Add the minced garlic and prepared spice blend, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add Liquids: Stir in the tomato paste, lime juice, lime zest, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and broth. Ensure all ingredients are thoroughly mixed and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Simmer to Reduce: Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10-15 minutes, or until the liquid has mostly evaporated and the meat is coated with a thick, glossy sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary before serving.
Notes
Use lean ground meat to prevent the final coating from becoming greasy. For best results, pre-mix the dry spices to ensure even distribution in the skillet. If the sauce reduces too quickly, add a splash of extra broth.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 125g)
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Keywords: taco meat, taco seasoning, chipotle, ground beef, ground turkey, tex-mex, skillet, weeknight meal, easy dinner