35min prep: 12min cook: 23min
Nothing brings family together for dinner like taco night. But don’t settle for those packaged mixes. You can just as easily prepare delicious tacos using simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.Notes:
- Add any of your favorite ingredients like salsa, jalapenos or avocado.
Corn taco shells should be gluten free, but it’s always a good idea to check the label to be sure.
Ingredients
Produce
- Garlic — 1 Clove
- Iceberg Lettuce — 1 Cup
- Jalapeños — 1 Tablespoon
- Onions — 2 Tablespoons
Meat & Seafood
- Ground Beef — 1 Pound
Cheese & Lunchmeat
- Cheddar Cheese, Shredded — 1 Cup
Dairy & Eggs
- Sour Cream — 1⁄4 Cup
Dry Goods & Packaged Goods
- Taco Shells — 8
Canned Goods, Soups & Mixes
- Black Olives, Sliced — 1⁄3 Cup
- Crushed Tomatoes, Canned — 1 Cup
Spice & Baking
- Black Pepper
- Cayenne Pepper — 1⁄2 Teaspoon
- Chili Powder — 1 Teaspoon
- Cumin — 1 1⁄2 Teaspoons
- Dried Oregano — 1 Teaspoon
- Kosher Salt
- Paprika — 1 Teaspoon
Condiments, Oils & Dressings
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil — 1 Tablespoon
Equipment
Appliances
- Stove Top
Cooking Equipment
- Can Opener
- Chef’s Knife
- Cutting Board
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Saute Pan, Large
Prep Steps
- Cut an onion into 1/4 inch dice to measure the indicated amount.
- Cut the stem end off the jalapeño, then cut in half lengthwise. Remove the seeds and ribbing. Cut into a small dice to measure the indicated amount. Add to the onion. Avoid touching your face when handling peppers, and wash hands immediately after.
- Smash the garlic under the side of your chef’s knife to remove the peel. Mince the garlic, then add to the onion and jalapeno.
- Remove the core from the head of lettuce and discard any damaged or bruised outer leaves. Then, thinly slice the lettuce into ribbons to measure the indicated amount.
Cook Steps
- Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and warm.
- Once oil is warm, add the onion, garlic and jalapeno. Saute until onions are softened and translucent. Do not brown.
- Add the ground beef. Season with the chili powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, cumin, dried oregano and salt and pepper. Crush the dried oregano between your fingertips as you add it to the pan. Stir to combine well, then cook the ground beef until nicely browned, about 7-10 minutes. Stir often.
- Once beef is nicely browned, strain the excess fat out of the pan. Stir in the crushed tomatoes and cook another 2-3 minutes until mixture is well combined and heated through. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then remove from heat.
- To build the tacos, scoop some of the beef filling into each shell, top with shredded lettuce, cheddar cheese, black olives, sour cream and any other favorite toppings. Serve warm!