Full of warm Mexican spices, pops of sweet corn and savory ground beef, this taco skillet will be your summertime go-to.
This homemade taco skillet has all of your favorite taco night flavors without any of the hassle! Make it all in one pan and customize with all of your favorite toppings.
Enjoy this skillet topped with a dollop of sour cream and fresh veggies as an all in one meal, or serve it alongside a side of homemade refried beans. You can also use it as a filling for burritos, a hearty dip for tortilla chips, or to make a taco salad drizzled with Mexican ranch dressing.
The ways to enjoy this dish are endless. I promise you are going to want to make this craveable skillet again and again!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Quick – This easy dinner is perfect for busy weeknights because it come together in just 35 minutes.
Customizable – This is the kind of meal that can be changed up depending on what you have on hand, or your personal taste preferences. It’s great for fridge clean out night.
Delicious – The flavors in this dish are so warm and comforting, and pair perfectly with fresh toppings.
Ingredients
Ground beef – I love having a collection of ground beef recipes like this one, but feel free to use another type of protein like ground chicken or ground turkey if you prefer.
Salsa – Use any jarred or homemade salsa that you prefer. You can also make a batch of fermented salsa for a probiotic boost to this healthy meal!
Tortillas – If you want to take this recipe to the next level, make a batch of homemade sourdough tortillas or whole wheat tortillas.
A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
How to Make Beef Taco Skillet
Step 1: Add the ground beef and diced onion to a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Cook, breaking up the beef with a spoon, until the beef is browned and the onion is softened, about 8–10 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
Step 2: Stir in the garlic and chopped red bell pepper and cook for 2–3 minutes, until fragrant and slightly softened. Add the paprika, cumin, and chili powder and stir for 30 seconds to toast the spices.
Step 3: Add the black beans, corn, and salsa and stir until well combined. Let the mixture simmer for several minutes, until heated through.
Step 4: Tuck the quartered tortilla pieces evenly throughout the skillet so you get bits of tortilla in every bite.
Step 5: Sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the top and place the skillet under the broiler for 3–5 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Step 6: Serve topped with chopped green onions and sliced jalapeños, if desired.
Topping Variations
- Diced avocado, guacamole, or avocado aioli
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt
- Pickled red onions
- Fresh cilantro
- Crumbled cotija cheese or feta cheese
- Diced fresh tomatoes or pico de gallo
- Fresh, pickled or fermented jalapeños
- Hot sauce or chipotle sauce
- Lime wedges for squeezing over top
- Crushed tortilla chips or strips
Tips
- The salsa adds most of the moisture and flavor to the skillet, so use one you already enjoy eating on its own. A thicker salsa will make the skillet heartier, while a thinner salsa creates a saucier texture.
- This recipe reheats well for lunches the next day. The tortillas soften more as it sits, giving leftovers an almost enchilada-style texture.
- You can leave the tortillas out of the skillet and use the skillet as filling for tortillas if you prefer.
- If you plan to freeze this skillet meal, don’t add the tortilla or the cheese. Otherwise, this filling freezes great!
Recipe FAQs
Ground beef taco skillet is a versatile dish that you can customize with all of your favorite taco toppings. Some of our favorite toppings include green onion, jalapeno, sour cream and fresh avocado.
Seasoning for taco meat is usually added after it has browned and the excess grease has been drained.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
More Dinner Recipes from the Farmhouse
- Easy Greek Tzatziki Chicken Salad
- Creamy Southwest Chicken Soup
- One Pot Ham and Beans Recipe
- The Best Easy Baked Ziti Recipe
- Crockpot Chicken Tacos
If you try this recipe and love it, I would love it if you could come back and give it 5 stars! Tag me on Instagram @farmhouseonboone.
Easy And Delicious Beef Taco Skillet
Video
Equipment
- 1 Cast Iron Skillet or other oven safe skillet or dish
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 14 ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup frozen corn, or canned corn
- 1 14 ounce jar of salsa
- 4 medium flour tortillas, cut into quarters
- ¾ cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- ¾ cup cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Add the ground beef and diced onion to a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Cook, breaking up the beef with a spoon, until the beef is browned and the onion is softened, about 8–10 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Stir in the garlic and chopped red bell pepper and cook for 2–3 minutes, until fragrant and slightly softened. Add the paprika, cumin, and chili powder and stir for 30 seconds to toast the spices.
- Add the black beans, corn, and salsa and stir until well combined. Let the mixture simmer for several minutes, until heated through.
- Tuck the quartered tortilla pieces evenly throughout the skillet so you get bits of tortilla in every bite.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the top and place the skillet under the broiler for 3–5 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve topped with chopped green onions and sliced jalapeños, if desired.
Notes
- The salsa adds most of the moisture and flavor to the skillet, so use one you already enjoy eating on its own. A thicker salsa will make the skillet heartier, while a thinner salsa creates a saucier texture.
- This recipe reheats well for lunches the next day. The tortillas soften more as it sits, giving leftovers an almost enchilada-style texture.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Was a big hit in my home, thank you for all the wonderful ideas! I appreciate all the hard work you do to help other mamas out.
We absolutely love it! Thank you Lisa! Greetings from Vienna, Austria
I’m just wondering if the flour tortillas get too soggy. Has anyone made this recipe with tortilla chips for a bit more texture?
Such a great recipe, Lisa!
Could you please tell me how I would make this using dried black beans?
Thanks so much!
You would need to cook your dried beans before adding them to this recipe.
My husband and I loved this recipe! It was very easy to make and didn’t take a lot of time, which is a big plus. I did add extra of the spices the recipe called for, as we like a bit more flavor in our food. We had leftovers, so a few nights later we made burritos. This will definitely be on my meal rotation.
Looks so good. Will have to try this.
This beef taco casserole was so easy to make; and, so delicious! I like the idea of placing the folded tortillas into it, but also putting the mixture into a tortilla and eating it like a taco. Also, to be able to put it on lettuce for a taco salad…so many possibilities! Thanks Lisa, for a great recipe!
So yummy and simple!
So easy to put together and the kids love it!
Just made this and it’s very good! I’ll be saving this recipe; quick and easy too!