Beef Taco Skillet Recipe: Easy One-Pan Dinner

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Get ready to fall head over heels for this incredible Beef Taco Skillet! Here are four reasons why it’s about to become your new weeknight hero:

1. Speedy Supper Savior: With only 10 minutes of prep and 20 minutes of cook time, you can have a delicious, homemade meal on the table in just 30 minutes. Perfect for those busy evenings!
2. One-Pan Wonder: Forget the mountain of dishes! This entire meal comes together in a single skillet, making cleanup a breeze. More time for chilling, less time scrubbing.
3. Flavor Fiesta in Every Bite: Packed with zesty taco seasonings, savory beef, hearty black beans, and melted cheese, every spoonful is an explosion of your favorite taco flavors.
4. Healthy & Customizable: Lean ground beef and fresh toppings keep it light, while the flexibility to add your favorite veggies or adjust the spice level means it’s always made just the way you like it.

Tired of the same old dinner routine? Craving vibrant, south-of-the-border flavors without the mountain of dishes? Get ready to spice up your weeknights and conquer dinner dilemmas with the ultimate Beef Taco Skillet! This isn’t just a meal; it’s a culinary high-five, delivering all the zesty, cheesy goodness of your favorite tacos in one glorious pan. Imagine juicy ground beef, savory spices, tender tortillas, and gooey melted cheese, all coming together in a sizzling symphony of taste. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s undeniably delicious – prepare to declare victory over boring dinners!

Ingredients

• 🥩 1 pound lean ground beef
• 🧅 1/2 medium onion, chopped
• 🧄 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 🧅 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 🌶️ 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 🌿 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 🌶️ 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 🫘 1 (14 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 🍅 1 (14.5 ounce) jar salsa (your favorite kind)
• 🌮 4 medium flour tortillas, cut into quarters
• 🧀 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
• 🥑 Optional toppings: light sour cream, chopped scallions, fresh cilantro, sliced avocado

Detailed Step-by-Step Directions

Get ready to whip up your amazing Beef Taco Skillet with these easy-to-follow steps:

1. Sizzle & Season: Grab your large skillet and place it over medium-high heat. Add the lean ground beef and chopped onion. Break up the meat with a spoon as it cooks. Once it’s partly browned, sprinkle in the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, ground cumin, and chili powder. Stir well to coat the beef evenly with all those delicious spices. Continue cooking for 8-10 minutes until the beef is fully browned and the onion is softened. For a healthier meal, carefully drain any excess fat.
2. Broiler Prep: While your beef is busy browning, preheat your oven broiler to high. Make sure to position your oven rack in the top third of the oven – this is where the magic happens for that perfectly melted, bubbly cheese!
3. Combine & Warm: Reduce the stove heat to a steady medium. Now, add the drained and rinsed black beans, your favorite jar of salsa, and the quartered flour tortillas directly into the skillet with the beef mixture. Gently toss everything together with a spoon until the tortillas are well distributed throughout the skillet. Heat for just a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until everything is warmed through and happy.
4. Cheese Please! Evenly sprinkle the glorious shredded Mexican cheese blend over the entire top of the skillet mixture. Ensure every corner gets a generous layer for maximum melty goodness.
5. Broil to Perfection: Carefully transfer the hot skillet (don’t forget oven mitts!) to your preheated broiler. Keep a very close eye on it – broiling can be quick! Broil for just a few minutes, watching until the cheese is beautifully melted, bubbly, and has developed a lovely light golden hue.
6. Serve & Enjoy: Remove the skillet from the oven and serve immediately. Let everyone customize their portions with your favorite healthy toppings like a dollop of light sour cream, a sprinkle of fresh cilantro, a handful of chopped scallions, or creamy sliced avocado. If you like, add a pinch of salt and pepper to taste. Dive into this quick, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying Beef Taco Skillet!

Ways to Present and Serve Your Beef Taco Skillet

This versatile Beef Taco Skillet is a showstopper on its own, but here are some fun and delicious ways to present and serve it:

• Classic Skillet Style: The easiest way! Simply bring the hot skillet directly to the table (on a trivet, of course!) and let everyone serve themselves. Provide bowls and spoons, along with an array of toppings.
• Taco Bar Upgrade: Turn it into a mini build-your-own taco bar! Scoop the skillet mixture into individual bowls. Offer separate bowls of crunchy lettuce, diced tomatoes, more shredded cheese, jalapeños, and your optional toppings like sour cream, guacamole, and extra salsa. Serve with extra tortilla chips for scooping.
• Lettuce Wraps: For a low-carb option, serve the skillet mixture with large, crisp lettuce leaves (like butter or romaine) and let guests spoon the taco filling into them.
• Burrito Bowls: Serve the skillet mixture over a bed of fluffy brown rice or quinoa for a heartier burrito bowl experience.
• Quesadilla Filling: Use any leftovers (or a fresh batch!) as a savory filling for quesadillas. Simply spoon between two tortillas with extra cheese and grill until golden.
• Individual Servings: Divide the skillet mixture evenly into oven-safe individual ramekins before broiling the cheese for personalized portions.

How to Store It and How Long It Lasts

Good news! This delicious Beef Taco Skillet is almost as good the next day. Here’s how to store it:

• Refrigeration: Once the skillet has cooled to room temperature (within 2 hours of cooking), transfer any leftovers to an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
• Reheating: To reheat, you can use the microwave for individual portions (cover loosely to prevent drying out) or gently warm it in a skillet on the stovetop over medium heat until heated through. You can also reheat in an oven at 350°F (175°C) until warm.
• Freezing: While technically possible, freezing the entire skillet with the tortillas is not recommended as the tortillas can become soggy and the texture might change upon thawing. If you wish to freeze, it’s best to freeze just the beef and bean mixture before adding the tortillas and cheese. Thaw, then proceed with adding tortillas, cheese, and broiling. The beef and bean mixture alone can last up to 2-3 months in the freezer in an airtight container.

“`