Seasoned with a savory blend of spices, this Easy Taco Meat recipe is made in just 20 minutes. Perfect to use in your tacos, burrito bowls, casseroles, taco salad and much more!
FREE EASY KETO DINNERS EBOOK
Jump to:
- ❤️ Why You'll Love this Taco Meat Recipe
- 🛒 What's in Easy Taco Meat
- 🔪 How to Make Keto Taco Meat
- What is the Best Meat for Tacos?
- Is Taco Seasoning Different for Chicken or Beef?
- What Does Taco Meat Consist of?
- Are Tacos Keto?
- Are Soft Tacos Keto Friendly?
- Is Taco Meat High in Carbs?
- 🌮 What Can Taco Meat Be Used For?
- More Keto Mexican Recipes
❤️ Why You'll Love this Taco Meat Recipe
- Perfect blend of spices giving it that classic taco flavor
- Quick and easy to make in just 20 minutes
- Add to taco salads or use in tacos, casseroles, burrito bowls and more
- Double the batch and freeze leftovers to use later
If you are in the mood for Beef Tacos, enchiladas, Mini Taco Bites, burritos or a Burrito Bowl, this taco meat recipe is super easy!
It only takes 20 minutes from start to finish and it loaded with oh so much flavor. You can also use it in a Mexican casserole or a layered dip.
This is the best Keto taco meat you will ever make! It's so tasty and freezes beautifully, so you can double the recipe and freeze the rest!
🛒 What's in Easy Taco Meat
- Ground beef (I use grass-fed 85%)
- Onion
- Smoked chipotle (in the can)
- Smoked paprika
- Ground cumin
- Tomato paste
- Garlic sea salt
- Olive oil
- Beef broth
- Ground black pepper
*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.
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🔪 How to Make Keto Taco Meat
Add the ground beef, garlic salt and pepper to a cast iron skillet on medium heat and cook until the ground beef has browned.
Push the meat to one side of the pan, add the olive oil and the onion.
Add a pinch of salt and sauté the onion until translucent.
Add the smoked paprika, cumin, and chipotle to the meat and onions and toast the spices for about 1-2 minutes.
Tip: Toasting the spices really helps wake up their flavors.
Stir in the tomato paste and beef broth. Mix well and simmer for 10 minutes.
Tip: Double the batch while cooking it and freeze some to have on hand. You can freeze portion sizes of this low carb taco meat in an airtight container and it will keep for several months in the freezer. To reheat, just heat slowly in the microwave, or let it thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat on low stove top.
What is the Best Meat for Tacos?
While ground beef is the most popular meat to use for tacos, you really can use either ground chicken, turkey or even pork if you'd like.
Is Taco Seasoning Different for Chicken or Beef?
That is truly up to you, but personally I use the same exact seasoning and even method of making homemade taco meat, whether I use ground beef or one of the others that I mentioned earlier.
What Does Taco Meat Consist of?
Making your own taco meat is really not super complicated. I like to use my 2 favorite spices for most Mexican foods I make- ground cumin and smoked paprika.
I also add onion, chipotle pepper to add a little smokiness, tomato paste for that intense tomato flavor and beef broth to help create a bit of a sauce that coats the beef.
Are Tacos Keto?
Traditional tacos are usually served in a flour or corn tortilla. If you are familiar with Keto, you know there are too many carbs in tortillas.
However, my controlling the ingredients you use in your taco meat, along with substituting the tortillas for a low carb option, like cheese shells, you can enjoy all those traditional flavors without all the carbs.
Are Soft Tacos Keto Friendly?
If you buy the traditional corn or flour tortillas, no, they are way too high in carbs. However, if you make Homemade Keto Tortillas, you can still enjoy soft tacos, without the all the carbs!
Is Taco Meat High in Carbs?
Taco meat is very low in carbs, making it ideal for a Keto diet. This recipe in particular, has only 1 carb per serving. It's a great way to get your protein in, while adding great flavor to anything you use it in.
🌮 What Can Taco Meat Be Used For?
There are so many ways to use Keto Taco Meat, here are just a few of my favorites:
If you enjoyed this recipe for your meal prepping plans, you may be interested in this article, 25 Easy Meal Prepping Recipes and Ideas.
More Keto Mexican Recipes
- Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa
- Sheet Pan Fajitas
- Baked Southwest Skillet
- Stuffed Poblano Peppers
- Mexican Cauliflower Rice
For even more ideas, check out these Keto Friendly Mexican recipes!
FREE 20 EASY KETO RECIPES EBOOK
Easy Taco Meat
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef, I use grass-fed 85%
- ⅓ onion, diced
- ¾ cup beef broth
- 1 smoked chipotle pepper, in the can, chopped
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Add the ground beef, salt and pepper to a skillet on medium heat. Cook until the ground beef has browned.
- Push the meat to one side of the pan, add the olive oil and the onion. Add a pinch of salt and sauté the onion until translucent.
- Add the smoked paprika, cumin, and chipotle to the meat and onions and toast the spices for about 1-2 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and beef broth. Mix well and simmer for 10 minutes.
*Make sure to scroll up and read the post for substitutions, additions and helpful tips for making this recipe.
*Nutritional data is provided as a courtesy and is accurate to the best of my knowledge. You can verify it using the nutrition calculator of your choice. All data is based on net carbs, without sugar alcohol: Swerve, Erythritol, Monk Fruit or Allulose.
© Copyright for Keto Cooking Christian LLC. Please use the share buttons to share on social media, but please do not copy/paste the recipe.
*Originally published on September 8, 2018, updated on August 8, 2023 with improvements to the recipe, new photos and helpful tips.
Linda
Thankful for both your Bible verses and recipes.❤️
Keto Cooking Christian
You are so welcome! 😊
Ann Scotney
Do you drain the meat before adding the onion
Keto Cooking Christian
That's a personal preference, but I always drain it. A lot of times, I make salads and tacos with cheese shells with this meat and the extra juice would make those recipes a little soggy.