Ground Beef Tacos

Ingredients

• 1 large white or yellow onion (¼-inch diced (about 1 ½ cups))
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic (minced (about 4 teaspoons))
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional; add more if you like a lot of spice)
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 large beefsteak or similar tomato (finely chopped (about 1 cup))
• ¼ cup water
• Hard or soft taco shells (warmed)
• Shredded cheese
• Avocado or guacamole
• Plain greek yogurt or sour cream
• Shredded lettuce
• Diced tomatoes or salsa

Steps

1. 1

   Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the oil. Once the oil is hot and shimmering, add the onion. Cook for 6-8 minutes, until the onion is translucent and softened.

2. 2

   Add the garlic and cook just until fragrant, about 1 minute, stirring frequently to avoid burning. Add the chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, cayenne (if using), salt, and pepper. Stir well to coat the onions with the spices.

3. 3

   Add the tomato paste and stir until super fragrant, about 30 seconds.

4. 4

   Increase the heat to medium high. Add the beef, breaking it into small pieces with a sturdy spoon or spatula. Cook, stirring frequently, until the beef is browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Stir in the tomato and let cook 1 minute.

5. 5

   Stir in the water. Reduce the heat to low. Let simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. This allows the flavors to deepen.

6. 6

   To serve, pile the ground beef into taco shells or tortillas and add your favorite toppings.