We’ve all had ground beef tacos, but there’s an easy way to level up this favorite weeknight dinner. Homemade gluten-free tacos recipe uses a little trick to tenderize the meat and avoid overly greasy or a forgettable taco experience, all without break a sweat!
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Improving Ground Beef Taco Meat
Who doesn’t love a hack? Especially when it takes a beloved, go-to ground beef taco recipe and levels it up. Weeknight tacos are an easy gluten-free dinner idea, but there’s an easy way to take an average meal to completely restaurant-worthy.
First, to make robustly flavored gluten free taco meat, the ground beef needs to be infused with some tastebud singing seasoning. Instead of wasting time or money locating an average GF spice packet, there’s a better option – 1-minute, gluten-free homemade taco seasoning mix using the spices you have on hand.
Besides subdued flavor, the other common problem with ground beef tacos comes from the meat’s texture. Taco meat has a short cook time, so it has a tendency to be tough and coarse. Sprinkling on a little baking soda, though, yields a truly velvety taco experience.
Ready for a 2-minute cooking science lesson? Baking soda increases the pH level, helping the meat’s protein bonds maintain moisture loss, essentially acting as a meat tenderizer. That’s a lot of fanciness for an unassuming ingredient everyone has on hand.
Lastly, what’s generally the biggest bummer about a gluten-free taco recipe? The gluten-free tortilla, of course. I wouldn’t do you like that, though. Not only do I provide my favorite cooking method for corn tortillas (I actually prefer them this way over flour now), but other GF tortilla options.
Just because homemade tacos are fast and easy, don’t assume they will be average. Just like 30-minute, one pot Mexican fish, sometimes simple recipes win out as the underdog fave!
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Ingredients Notes and Substitutions
- Ground beef – Choose whatever fits your fancy, from lean, ground chuck, sirloin, or 80/20 beef. I like to use something with some fat to tenderize and flavor the meat. Of course, ground turkey may also be used for a healthier option.
- Taco seasoning – Use a mixture of chili powder, paprika, cumin, oregano, garlic powder (or sub onion powder), salt, and cayenne pepper.
- Liquid – Canned tomato sauce is preferred, but if you don’t have any on hand I’ve swapped out an equal amount of water, chili sauce, ketchup, or GF broth. You can even use a combination of these things to layer on flavor.
- Toppings – Piling on your favorite taco toppings in the best part. There’s standards like, lettuce, cheddar cheese, tomato, sour cream, or salsa. I love, love, love fresh cilantro with minced onion, avocado, sliced radishes, or hot sauce too.
Let’s Make This Together!
(Below shows step-by-step photos and modified instructions. For the complete recipe, along with ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card.)
Step 1 – Next level beef browning technique.
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Heat a large skillet over medium heat, then add a dash of oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Add the ground beef and sprinkle the baking soda over it. Press down into a flat layer, letting it cook 4 minutes to get deeply browned on one side.
Step 2 – Mash it up.
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To get uniformly smooth ground beef, use a wire masher to break up the meat. Continue to cook and stir until no longer pink.
Step 3 – Season and sauce it up.
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Add the taco seasoning spice, tomato sauce, and water (or see other suggestions in recipe card). Simmer, uncovered while scraping up browned bits from the bottom of the pan, for 3 minutes to infuse all that goodness. Serve with your favorite toppings and one of the suggested gluten-free tortillas below.
Gluten-free taco shell options
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Wipe those tears, child. You don’t have to be bummed about forlorn wheat flour tortillas anymore. I have some superior GF options for you!
- Corn tortillas – They get a bad wrap (get it?!) because no one puts the essential love into them. Heat ½ teaspoon of oil in a small non-stick skillet over medium heat. Place a tortilla in the hot pan and cook for 30 seconds. Flip and cook the other side. Wrap in foil while you repeat with other tortillas.
- Homemade gluten-free flour tortillas – It’s true. The ready-made ones will leave you disappointed, but this homemade recipe literally brought on the happy tears (along with quesadilla and burritos back into my life.)
- Almond flour tortillas – These are soft, pliable, and a yummy low carb way to enjoy tacos.
- Lettuce wraps – Nothing wrong with some fresh, crunch wrapped around gooey cheese and meat.
Next Level Variations and ideas
Keep the easy weeknight dinner and raise it to many more options. Below are some other ways I change up this recipe.
- Beans – We have a larger family so sometimes instead of doubling the amount of meat, I stretch the protein by adding canned beans. Drained and rinsed black beans work, but refried beans blends in homogeneously with the ground beef and adds a creaminess.
- Saucier – Add additional tomato sauce or a splash of water. You may have to simmer slightly longer to reduce.
- Additions – Before browning the meat, saute a chopped onion with a couple cloves of minced garlic. If you have limes on hand, I also like to finish off the beef with a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
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Game-Changing Weeknight Gluten-Free Tacos
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon oil any preferred
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 recipe homemade gluten-free taco seasoning
- 8 ounces tomato sauce or see recipe notes for alternatives
- 2-4 tablespoons water
- Taco fixings: corn or gluten-free flour tortillas, lettuce, sour cream, salsa, cheese, avocado
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the oil and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan. Add the ground beef and sprinkle the baking soda over it. Press down into a flat layer, covering the bottom of the skillet.½ tablespoon oil, 1 pound ground beef, ½ teaspoon baking soda
- Cook, undisturbed, until the bottom becomes deeply browned, about 3-4 minutes. Use a wire or meat masher to break up the meat uniformly and continue to cook and stir until no longer pink. Drain grease, if necessary.
- Add the taco seasoning, tomato sauce, and 2 tbsp water (or alternative suggested liquids below). Bring to a simmer and cook, scraping the any browned bits at the bottom of the pan, about 3 minutes to reduce slightly. Add additional water, if needed. Serve immediately with taco fixings.1 recipe homemade gluten-free taco seasoning, 8 ounces tomato sauce, 2-4 tablespoons water
Notes
Alternative Liquids
Canned tomato sauce is preferred, but if you don’t have any on hand I’ve swapped out an equal amount of water, chili sauce, ketchup, or GF broth. You can even use a combination of these things to layer on flavor.Nutrition
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