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Quick One-Pan Tacos

Prep 10 min Cook 10 min Difficulty 1/5

Quick one-pan tacos: seasoned ground meat in 30 minutes, with tortillas and toppings.

Why this recipe works

A quick, one-pan taco recipe that uses simple ground meat, pantry spices, and store-bought tortillas. It’s ideal for weeknight dinners, feeding a small crowd, or quick lunches.

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Key takeaways

One-pan cooking saves cleanup time
Customize with toppings you like
Prep and cook in under 30 minutes

Recipe guide

A quick, one-pan taco recipe that uses simple ground meat, pantry spices, and store-bought tortillas. It’s ideal for weeknight dinners, feeding a small crowd, or quick lunches.

One-pan taco dinner ready in about 30 minutes.

  • One-pan cooking saves cleanup time
  • Customize with toppings you like
  • Prep and cook in under 30 minutes

Ingredients you’ll need

Ground meat, oil, onion, garlic, spices (chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika), salt, pepper, tomato passata (or crushed tomatoes), tortillas, toppings (cheddar, lettuce, tomato, sour cream, cilantro), lime.

How to cook

Sauté onion and garlic in oil. Add meat and brown. Stir in spices, add passata and simmer 5 minutes. Warm tortillas. Assemble with meat and toppings.

Serving ideas

Keep toppings separate for customizable tacos. Serve with lime wedges and extra salsa or hot sauce as desired.

Ingredients

  • 250 g ground beef (or turkey)
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 100 ml tomato passata (or crushed tomatoes)
  • 6 small corn or flour tortillas
  • 50 g shredded cheddar or Mexican blend
  • 50 g shredded lettuce
  • 1 small tomato, diced
  • 2 tbsp sour cream
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
  • Lime wedges for serving

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  2. Add chopped onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes.
  3. Add minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Add ground beef, break up with a spoon, and brown until no pink remains.
  5. Stir in chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper and cook 1 minute to toast spices.
  6. Pour in tomato passata, reduce heat to medium, and simmer until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
  7. Warm tortillas in a dry skillet or wrap in foil and heat in the oven for a few minutes.
  8. Spoon seasoned meat mixture onto each tortilla.
  9. Top with shredded cheese so it melts slightly from the hot meat.
  10. Add shredded lettuce, diced tomato, a dollop of sour cream, and cilantro if using.
  11. Serve with lime wedges for squeezing over the tacos.

FAQs

Can I use chicken or turkey instead of beef? Yes, substitute with ground chicken or turkey keeping the same amount.
Can I make this dairy-free? Omit cheese or use a dairy-free alternative.
How long will leftovers keep? Store refrigerated up to 2 days; reheat in a skillet.