Spicy Beef Tacos with Salsa Verde (Printable Version)
Tender spiced beef served in warm tortillas with vibrant homemade salsa verde, fresh toppings, and bright lime. Ready in 40 minutes.
# What You Need:
→ Spicy Beef
01 - 1.1 lb ground beef
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 1 jalapeño, finely diced with seeds removed
06 - 1½ tsp ground cumin
07 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
08 - 1 tsp chili powder
09 - ½ tsp dried oregano
10 - ½ tsp salt
11 - ¼ tsp black pepper
12 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
13 - ¼ cup beef broth or water
→ Salsa Verde
14 - 6 tomatillos, husked and rinsed
15 - 1 small white onion, quartered
16 - 2 garlic cloves
17 - 1 to 2 jalapeños, stemmed with seeds removed
18 - ½ cup fresh cilantro leaves
19 - 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
20 - ½ tsp salt
→ Assembly
21 - 8 small corn or flour tortillas, warmed
22 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
23 - 1 avocado, sliced
24 - Fresh cilantro leaves for garnish
25 - Lime wedges for serving
# Directions:
01 - Preheat broiler. Place tomatillos, onion, garlic, and jalapeños on a baking sheet. Broil for 5 to 7 minutes, turning once, until blistered and slightly charred. Transfer roasted vegetables to a blender. Add cilantro, lime juice, and salt. Blend until smooth and set aside.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for 3 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and jalapeño; cook for 1 minute. Add ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon, and cook until browned, approximately 5 to 6 minutes. Sprinkle in cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir thoroughly to coat meat. Add tomato paste and beef broth; simmer for 3 to 4 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat.
03 - Spoon spicy beef mixture onto warm tortillas. Top each taco with salsa verde, sliced red onion, avocado slices, and fresh cilantro. Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The homemade salsa verde has this bright, tangy kick that bottled versions simply cant touch, and watching dinner guests swipe up every last drop is tremendously satisfying.
- These tacos strike that perfect balance between quick weeknight cooking and feeling like youve created something truly special, transforming an ordinary Tuesday into a mini celebration.
02 -
- The first time I made this salsa, I skipped broiling the vegetables and the flavor was flat and underwhelming, so dont rush past that critical charring step.
- Adding the spices directly to the cooking beef rather than to the oil creates a more evenly seasoned result, a technique I stumbled upon after accidentally doing it in reverse order numerous times.
03 -
- After much experimentation, I discovered that adding a splash of the tomatillo roasting juices from the baking sheet into your salsa verde adds an incredible depth that cant be achieved any other way.
- For next-level flavor, toast your spices in a dry pan for 30 seconds before adding them to the beef, a simple step that awakens their essential oils and transforms the entire dish.