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10 Irresistible Ground Beef Mexican Recipes to Spice Up Your Dinner Tonight

10 Irresistible Ground Beef Mexican Recipes to Spice Up Your Dinner Tonight - Featured Image
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Learn how to make delicious ground beef mexican recipes. Easy recipe with step-by-step instructions.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 pound lean ground beef (85% lean works well)
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium bell pepper, diced (red or green)
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
  • 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
  • 1 cup cooked black beans (or canned, drained and rinsed)
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
  • Juice of half a lime
  • Shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese (optional)

Substitution tips: If you want to lighten it up, ground turkey or chicken works beautifully here. For a vegetarian twist, swap the beef with crumbled tofu or cooked lentils. If fresh peppers aren’t handy, frozen diced peppers do the trick just fine.

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and bell pepper, sautéing until softened and fragrant—about 5 minutes. This step always takes me back to those mornings on Mama Lu’s porch, when the smell of onions cooking meant something good was on the way.
  2. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute, stirring frequently so it doesn’t burn.
  3. Increase the heat to medium-high and add the ground beef. Break it apart with a wooden spoon, cooking until browned and no longer pink, around 7-8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed to keep the dish from getting greasy, but don’t toss all the flavor away—Mama Lu always said a little fat holds the soul of the dish.
  4. Sprinkle in the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne (if using), salt, and pepper. Stir well to coat the meat and vegetables evenly with the spices, letting them toast lightly in the pan for about 2 minutes. You’ll start to smell that deep, earthy aroma that makes your mouth water.
  5. Pour in the diced tomatoes and tomato sauce, stirring everything together. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer gently for 15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld. If the mixture looks dry, add a splash of water or beef broth. This slow simmering step reminds me of how Mama Lu would let her pot roasts sit low and slow for hours, coaxing tenderness and depth from humble ingredients.
  6. Stir in the black beans and lime juice, cooking for another 5 minutes until warmed through. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
  7. If you’re feeling indulgent, sprinkle shredded cheese over the top, cover the skillet, and let it melt for a couple of minutes before serving.

Find it online: https://claracooking.com/ground-beef-mexican-recipes/