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Easy 15-Minute Budget Ground Beef Taco Skillet

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A quick, budget-friendly, and flavorful ground beef taco skillet ready in just 15 minutes, perfect for weeknight dinners and crowd-pleasing meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20 lean preferred)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 1 medium bell pepper, diced (red, green, or mixed)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 tbsp taco seasoning (blend of chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne)
  • 1 cup salsa (240 ml)
  • 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed (optional)
  • 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or blend)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Fresh cilantro, for garnish (optional)
  • Lime wedges, for serving (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients: dice the onion and bell pepper, mince the garlic, and drain and rinse the black beans if using.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Warm until shimmering.
  3. Add diced onion and bell pepper to the skillet. Stir occasionally and cook for 2-3 minutes until the onion is translucent and veggies soften.
  4. Add minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
  5. Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook for about 5 minutes until browned and no pink remains. Season with salt and pepper during cooking.
  6. Stir in tomato paste and taco seasoning. Mix well and cook for 1-2 minutes to deepen the flavors.
  7. Add salsa and black beans (if using). Stir to combine and let simmer for 2-3 minutes to blend flavors and heat through.
  8. Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over the skillet. Cover with a lid or foil and let the cheese melt for a couple of minutes.
  9. Remove from heat, garnish with fresh cilantro, and squeeze lime wedges over the top if desired. Serve hot, straight from the skillet or with warm tortillas, rice, or a simple salad.

Notes

If the beef mixture seems dry, add a splash of water or broth to loosen it without watering down flavor. Avoid burning garlic as it turns bitter quickly. Let cheese melt under a lid for gooey texture. Ground turkey or chicken can be substituted but watch cooking times. For vegetarian, use lentils or crumbled tofu with taco seasoning. Leftovers keep well refrigerated for 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months (without cheese).

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef taco skillet, quick dinner, budget meal, easy taco recipe, weeknight dinner, skillet recipe, Mexican food

Find it online: https://merrymorsel.com/easy-15-minute-budget-ground-beef-taco-skillet-recipe-to-try-now/