Description
Craving Mexican-inspired comfort? Hearty Taco Bell Meat Blend brings restaurant-style flavor home with perfectly seasoned ground beef that satisfies late-night cravings and delivers authentic taste you’ll devour in minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (453.6 g) ground beef (80/20 blend works best)
- ½ cup (120 ml) water
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) chili powder
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) beef bouillon powder (or ½ bouillon cube, crushed)
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) soy sauce (for umami flavor)
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) onion powder
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) cumin
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) paprika
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) salt (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) black pepper
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) smoked paprika (optional)
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) oregano
- ¼ teaspoon (1.25 ml) cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Heat a large skillet over medium flame and crumble ground beef into fine particles, cooking until the meat loses its pink hue while retaining its natural juices.
- Seasoning Blend: Whisk together flour, chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, oregano, and cayenne pepper in a separate container to create a robust spice mixture.
- Flavor Infusion: Generously dust the cooked beef with the prepared seasoning blend, thoroughly mixing to ensure each meat particle is evenly coated with the aromatic spices.
- Liquid Enhancement: Pour water, beef bouillon, and soy sauce into the skillet, reducing heat to low and allowing the mixture to gently simmer for 7-8 minutes, stirring intermittently until the liquid condenses and creates a rich, clinging sauce.
- Final Texture Adjustment: Evaluate the meat’s moisture level, adding minimal water if too dry or extending simmering time if excessive liquid remains, aiming for a perfectly consistent, sauce-embraced protein.
- Serving Preparation: The seasoned beef is now ready to be incorporated into tacos, burritos, or any Mexican-inspired culinary creation, delivering an authentic Taco Bell-style flavor profile.
Notes
- Break ground beef into ultra-fine crumbles for authentic Taco Bell-style consistency, using a potato masher or wooden spoon to achieve small, uniform pieces.
- Toast dry spices briefly before mixing to intensify flavors and create a more robust seasoning profile that mimics fast-food restaurant taste.
- Retain some beef fat during cooking for richer flavor, but avoid excessive greasiness by stirring frequently and controlling heat levels.
- Adjust liquid carefully during simmering stage – add water gradually to prevent dry meat or overly soupy consistency, ensuring perfect sauce-to-meat ratio.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg