Homemade Mighty Taco Beef Copycat Recipe
Learn how easy it is to make saucy, perfectly seasoned ground beef (aka taco meat) with this copycat recipe inspired by popular taco joint Mighty Taco in Buffalo, New York!
Servings 12 servings
Calories 196kcal
Ingredients
- 3 pounds lean ground beef look for 93 to 95% lean
- 9 cups water divided into 8 cups + 1 cup
- 14.5 ounce can no-salt-added diced tomatoes with juices
- 3 medium-large onions diced
- 2 medium cloves garlic minced
- 1 fresh jalapeno pepper de-seeded and minced (or 1 tablespoon dried diced jalapeno pepper)
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon coarse kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Cooking Period 1:
- Add the beef and 8 cups water to a 5.5-quart pot over high heat. Bring to a boil, and then once it boils, turn the heat down so it doesn’t boil over. Cook (uncovered) for 45 minutes, skimming off the fat as it rises to the top, and stirring occasionally. (Most of the water will cook off in this step.)
Cooking Period 2:
- Stir in all remaining ingredients (including the remaining 1 cup water). Turn the heat back up to high, and let it come to a boil. Once boiling, turn the heat down so the mixture stays at a steady simmer. Cover the pot, and cook until the liquid is evaporated out, about 3 hours, stirring occasionally. (During this step, you basically want it just under boiling to let the liquid evaporate off as quickly as possible without burning the meat.)
Serve:
- Use the beef to make tacos, taco salads, rice bowls, burritos, etc.
Notes
- Serving Size: Each serving is about 3/4 cup.
- Storage and Freezing: After it's cooked and cooled, you can store taco meat covered in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. I like to divide the meat into 3/4-cup portions per serving, and freeze the servings in individual containers or plastic bags so I can thaw as many servings as I need. You can also make tacos or burritos and freeze them so you have a full meal ready.
- Making This Seasoned Beef Into Mighty Tacos at Home: You’ll need soft tortillas, shredded lettuce (iceberg), sliced tomatoes, and Swiss/American cheese. Salsa, sour cream, guacamole, hot sauce, etc. are also delicious options – make it how you like it!
- Preheat the oven to 375F.
- Unwrap your soft tacos and wrap each individually in aluminum foil.
- Place the foil-wrapped tacos directly onto the oven rack and bake until warm, about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Use potholders to remove them from the oven. Cool slightly, and then carefully unwrap and enjoy!
Nutrition
Calories: 196kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 735mg | Potassium: 598mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 709IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 4mg