More Than Meat Tacos Recipe

Tired of bland, packaged taco seasoning? This recipe delivers a flavor explosion with a homemade spice blend that's incredibly easy to make! Perfect for cast iron (but works on the stovetop too!), these tacos are bursting with authentic Mexican flavors. We'll build a delicious 1/2 cup spice blend (using chili powder, paprika, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper) and only use a portion of it for this recipe, leaving you with extra for future taco nights! Get ready for a culinary adventure!

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Calories 450.6 kcal

Protein 54g

Rating Be the first

Recipe Actions

Share this recipe:

Recipe Author

The Forktionary Kitchen Team

Adapted from Food.com, then tested & standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for More Than Meat Tacos

Bacon
1 pound ground beef (or your preferred protein)
Green Bell Pepper
1 medium chopped onion
2 cloves minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Kosher Salt
Water
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon paprika
Ground Cumin
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Cook Smarter with Sous, Your Kitchen Companion

Missing an ingredient for this More Than Meat Tacos? Need a perfect wine pairing or a healthy side dish idea? Don't guess—ask Sous! Your AI-powered sous-chef is ready to help you swap ingredients, adjust serving sizes, and discover flavor tips in seconds.

How to Make More Than Meat Tacos

In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons chili powder, 1 tablespoon paprika, 1 tablespoon cumin, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, and 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper. Mix thoroughly. This makes approximately 1/2 cup of spice blend.
Set aside 7 teaspoons of the spice blend for the taco meat. Store the remaining blend in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.
Brown 1 pound ground beef (or your preferred protein) in a large skillet (cast iron preferred!) over medium-high heat. Drain off any excess grease.
Add 1 medium chopped onion and 2 cloves minced garlic to the skillet. Cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes.
Stir in 7 teaspoons of the spice blend, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Add 1 (14.5 ounce) can of diced tomatoes (undrained), 1/2 cup beef broth, and 1 tablespoon of lime juice. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat, and cover. Simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the liquid has reduced slightly and the flavors have melded.
Warm your favorite taco shells according to package directions.
Serve the taco meat in the warm shells with your favorite toppings! (We suggest shredded cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and cilantro).

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

25 g

Sugar

10g

Fat

59g

Carbs

Recipe Categories (Choose a category and find related recipes!)

Main Courses Lunch Main Dish / Dinner Beef & Red Meat Ground Beef Recipes Salmon Recipes The Americas American Mexican Gluten Free Game Day Recipes

Recipe Tags (Choose a tag and find related recipes!)

30 Minutes Or Less Time To Make Course Main Ingredient Cuisine Preparation North American Main Dish Beef Vegetables Mexican Dietary Low Carb Ground Beef Low In Something Meat Onions Peppers

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to make More Than Meat Tacos?

More Than Meat Tacos takes about 45 minutes from start to finish — roughly 15 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.

How many calories are in More Than Meat Tacos?

More Than Meat Tacos has approximately 450.6 calories per serving, with about 54 g protein, 3 g carbohydrates and 52 g fat.

What ingredients do I need for More Than Meat Tacos?

The key ingredients for More Than Meat Tacos are Bacon, Ground Beef, Green Bell Pepper, Onion, Garlic, Black Pepper. See the full list with measurements above.