Old-School Taco Filling

Remember those simple ground beef tacos from your childhood? Relive that classic taste with this recipe for taco filling, now made easily in the microwave. This method allows you to focus on assembling toppings and toasting tortilla shells while the beef cooks to perfection. We enhance the ground beef with stock and a little bit of cornstarch, creating a velvety, lump-free texture. Use the meat to fill your choice of crispy shells or flour tortillas. A nostalgic craving made convenient!
All of Anyday’s recipes are tested (and retested!) in many different microwaves and home kitchens to make sure they work — and work well.
What You’ll Need
What You’ll Need
Ingredients
- 4oz (115g) lean ground beef
- 2 tablespoons chopped yellow onion
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons chicken broth
- 3-4 taco shells or flour tortillas
- Shredded Monterey-jack cheese, sliced jalapeños, chopped tomatoes, shredded lettuce, sour cream, for topping (optional)
Preparation
- Add the onion, beef, cornstarch, and taco seasoning to the Anyday dish and stir to combine. Drizzle in the stock, making sure it is well incorporated into the meat mixture. This step will help prevent the meat from lumping, creating a crumbly filling for tacos.
- Cover with lid (knob lifted). Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the meat is almost fully cooked. Stir to break the meat into small crumbles.
- Use the meat to fill tortilla shells or flour tortillas and serve with your favorite toppings.
Serving suggestions & tips
- Add some fire-roasted corn and black beans to the filling for extra texture and flavor.
- Use the filling as a topping for taco salad.
- Add chopped jalapeños for a spicy kick.
- Add some kidney, black, or pinto beans for extra protein.
Recipe notes
- Freeze the taco filling in Anytime Freezer Trays and reheat as needed.
- Make it vegetarian by opting for your favorite plant-based protein and vegetable stock.
- Microwave ovens vary, even with the same wattages. Adjust cooking times as needed.