Beef Tacos Sour Cream (Printable)
Seasoned beef and fresh veggies in crispy shells topped with cooling sour cream for a delicious dinner.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Beef Filling
01 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20 fat ratio)
02 - 1 small onion, finely diced
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 tsp chili powder
05 - 1 tsp ground cumin
06 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
07 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
08 - 1/2 tsp salt
09 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
10 - 1/4 cup tomato sauce or salsa
11 - 1/4 cup water
→ Tacos and Toppings
12 - 8 crispy taco shells or small flour tortillas
13 - 1 cup shredded lettuce
14 - 1 cup diced tomatoes
15 - 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
16 - 1/2 cup sour cream
17 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
18 - 1 small jalapeño, thinly sliced (optional)
19 - Lime wedges, for serving
# How To Make It:
01 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking up with a spoon until browned, about 5 minutes.
02 - Add diced onion to the skillet and cook 2 to 3 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook an additional 30 seconds.
03 - Sprinkle chili powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper over the beef mixture. Stir to combine evenly.
04 - Pour in tomato sauce (or salsa) and water. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally until most liquid evaporates. Adjust seasoning to taste and remove from heat.
05 - Heat taco shells or tortillas according to package instructions until crisp and warm.
06 - Fill each shell with beef mixture. Top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, cheese, and a generous dollop of sour cream. Garnish with cilantro and jalapeño if desired. Serve with lime wedges.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Ready in under 30 minutes, which means you can go from hungry to eating in less time than it takes to order delivery.
- The sour cream cooling against warm, seasoned beef creates this balance that somehow makes everything taste better together.
- Flexible enough to feed picky eaters and adventurous ones at the same table without stress.
02 -
- If your beef filling tastes flat, a pinch more salt or a squeeze of fresh lime juice before serving will wake it right up—seasoning is always the last chance to fix something.
- Don't skimp on the sour cream topping; it's not just a garnish, it's the final layer that cools and balances the warmth of the spices and the richness of the beef.
03 -
- Toast your shells in a dry skillet for 30 seconds per side just before serving—it wakes them up and makes them taste fresher and more flavorful than they were straight from the box.
- Keep everything you're topping with in separate bowls; letting people build their own tacos means everyone eats exactly what they love and there's no waste.