My husband and I absolutely love tacos. When I first started watching the preservatives in my diet I hit upon another version of this recipe, which mixes up your own homemade seasoning rather than the stuff in the envelopes. We sometimes opt to use ground turkey, but prefer your classic beef tacos in most cases and make it as healthy as we can by using extra lean ground beef. The recipe below is a doubled version of the original, since we usually use the meat for taco salad later in the week, and then freeze the rest for yet another taco salad on a separate busy weeknight.
For a low-carb, or, rather, low-starch version, make the beans an optional topping for other family members instead of mixing it in, and use cauliflower rice as your base in place of a tortilla shell. If your eating plan allows the wiggle room then perhaps sprinkle on a couple crushed tortilla chips instead and enjoy a side of red bell peppers (roasted or fresh). Regardless, definitely serve with plenty of avocado or guacamole. For help creating just as yummy weeknight meals that work with your own prediabetes diagnosis or help with your own customized healthy weight loss program, please contact me today!
Serves 8
Tacos Ingredients
2 lb organic ground beef (93% lean)
1 whole medium to large sweet onion, diced
4 fresh garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp minced onion
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cornstarch
<1/4 tsp ground red pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp ground cumin
Optional: 1 can no-salt added pinto beans, rinsed and drained
Serve with: baked hard taco shells, tortilla chips, or cauliflower rice, fresh diced tomato, fresh diced sweet onion, light cheddar, salsa, avocado or guacamole, and sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
Tacos Directions
- Heat a very small amount of olive oil in a very large skillet on medium-high. Saute the ground beef, onion, and garlic until the beef is no longer pink and the onion is translucent. Drain.
- Mix in a cup or bowl: minced onion, salt, chili powder, cornstarch, ground red pepper, garlic powder, oregano, and cumin.
- Add the seasoning to the cooked ground meat along with beans, if you’re using them in the recipe itself. Stir to combine, add 1 1/2 cups of water and stir again.
- Bring to a simmer and lower the heat to continue simmering for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally to frequently. Add a little more water if you don’t make it to the time to simmer, but finish with nearly all liquid absorbed.
- Serve with all the toppings.
