Beef Tacos

Tuesday Night Royalty

Beef tacos are the undisputed king of weeknight dinners in my house. I can have these on the table in under 20 minutes, and the flavor beats any fast food drive-through by a mile. After years of testing, this seasoning blend is the one I keep coming back to.

The Sizzle and the Spice

Brown your ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain most of the fat, then add the taco seasoning blend -- cumin, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and a pinch of cayenne. Stir in a splash of water and let it simmer until the sauce thickens and coats every bit of meat.

Warm your tortillas directly over a gas flame or in a dry skillet for about 30 seconds per side. That little bit of char makes all the difference.

Build Your Masterpiece

Set up a taco bar with all the fixings: shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, shredded cheese, salsa, and plenty of fresh cilantro and lime wedges. Let everyone build their own.

Tina's Tips

• Don't drain all the fat -- a little bit keeps the meat juicy and helps the seasoning stick
• Char your tortillas over an open flame for that authentic taqueria flavor
• Warm corn tortillas in a stack wrapped in damp paper towels and microwaved for 30 seconds
• Double up on corn tortillas -- street taco style with two per taco prevents breakage
• Squeeze lime over everything -- it brightens every single topping