Ground Beef or Chicken Tacos
The recipe below is for making basic ground beef or chicken tacos using a taco seasoning packet from the grocery store. Measurements are approximate!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 taco shells (hard corn, soft flour or soft corn)
- 1 pound ground beef or cooked chicken (about 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts)
- 1 taco seasoning packet
- 3/4 cup water (if using ground beef; water measurement may be different for your taco seasoning packet – be sure to read the instructions on the back)
- 1 tomato, chopped
- 2 handfuls chopped lettuce
- 2 sliced avocado
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- 1/2 cup salsa
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Instructions
- If using chicken: Cook 1 pound of chicken (you can follow our instructions for sauteed chicken breasts here on Alpha Mom). Cut the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces, place in a bowl and sprinkle evenly with taco seasoning until all the chicken pieces are generously coated. You will use anywhere from half of the packet to the entire packet, depending on how flavorful you want the meat. Add 1 tablespoons hot water and stir well. I like to heat the chicken in the microwave for 30-60 seconds after mixing if the chicken is no longer hot.
- If using ground beef: cook ground beef in a large skillet on the stove over medium heat, until ground beef is brown all the way through, stirring and breaking the meat up as it cooks. Carefully push all the meat to one side of the pan and then tip the pan up so that the meat side of the pan is raised. Once all the fat has drained down, use a large wad of paper towels to carefully soak up the grease. Place the paper towels on a plate and let the grease cool before throwing the paper towels in the garbage. Follow the taco seasoning packet instructions, adding the measured water and taco seasoning to the meat. Stir well and cook according to package instructions.
- Follow package instructions for heating hard taco shells. If your soft taco shells are already cooked, you can heat them on the stove in a frying pan over medium heat, using a pancake flipper to flip the tortilla. Cook until warmed up, about 30 seconds per side. If your soft taco shells are uncooked, follow package instructions for cooking the tortillas on the stove.
- Serve the meat in the taco shells and add whatever toppings you like!