Spiced Ground Beef Tacos with Fresh Tomato Salsa and Chipotle Lime Crema

There’s nothing quite like taco night to bring everyone to the table. These spiced ground beef tacos are packed with bold flavors: seasoned beef and onion, a bright tomato salsa and a creamy chipotle lime crema that adds a smoky kick. Topped with melty Monterey Jack cheese and wrapped in warm flour tortillas, every bite is a fiesta.

This recipe is designed for home cooks who want a delicious, fuss-free meal. Using simple ingredients and one pan, you can have dinner on the table in under 30 minutes. Customize with your favorite toppings and enjoy!

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Ingredients

1 unit Red OnionView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon Chipotle PowderView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Tomato PasteView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 tablespoon Sour CreamView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

10 ounce Ground BeefView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.25 cup Monterey Jack CheeseView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit TomatoView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit LimeView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

6 unit Flour TortillasView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon Southwest Spice BlendView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.25 ounce CilantroView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) SaltView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) Black PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Finely dice the red onion. Cut the tomato into small cubes. Zest and juice the lime. Pick the cilantro leaves from the stems and roughly chop.
2. In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, half the chipotle powder, a squeeze of lime juice and a pinch of salt. Stir until smooth. Set aside.
3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned, about 4-5 minutes. Drain excess fat if desired.
4. Add the diced red onion to the skillet and cook for 1-2 minutes until softened. Stir in the Southwest spice blend, remaining chipotle powder, tomato paste and a splash of water. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
5. Warm the flour tortillas in a dry skillet or microwave until pliable.
6. To assemble, spoon the beef mixture onto each tortilla. Top with diced tomato, a drizzle of chipotle lime crema and a sprinkle of Monterey Jack cheese. Garnish with fresh cilantro. Serve with lime wedges on the side.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef?

Yes, ground turkey or chicken works well. Just adjust cooking time and season similarly.

How do I make the salsa ahead of time?

Dice the tomato and onion, mix with lime juice and cilantro and refrigerate for up to 2 hours. Add salt just before serving.

What can I substitute for Monterey Jack cheese?

Cheddar, pepper jack or a Mexican blend cheese are great substitutes.