Savory Spicy Taco Meat (Printer-Friendly)

Ground beef with chile sauce for flavorful tacos, bowls, or nachos. Ready fast for a quick weeknight meal.

# What You’ll Need to Cook:

→ For the Sauce

01 - 6 dried guajillo chiles, stems and seeds removed
02 - 2 dried ancho chiles, stems and seeds removed
03 - 250 ml boiling water (or beef broth) for soaking chiles
04 - 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
05 - 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
06 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ For the Meat

07 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
08 - 900 g lean ground beef
09 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
10 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano (preferably Mexican oregano)
11 - 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
12 - 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
13 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# Steps to Prepare:

01 - Place guajillo and ancho chiles in a heat-proof bowl. Pour boiling water over them until fully submerged. Allow to soak for 10-15 minutes until softened. Strain the chiles and reserve the soaking liquid.
02 - Transfer the softened chiles, chipotle pepper, salt, and black pepper to a blender. Add 120 ml of reserved soaking liquid. Blend until completely smooth. Strain the sauce through a fine sieve and set aside.
03 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook for 8-10 minutes, breaking it apart, until evenly browned.
04 - Stir in cumin, oregano, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix until spices are well incorporated with the meat.
05 - Reduce heat to medium-low. Pour in the strained chile sauce and mix thoroughly with the meat. Simmer uncovered for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens but remains moist. Season with extra salt and pepper to taste if needed.
06 - Remove from heat. Serve immediately in warm tortillas, or as a filling for tacos, burritos, nachos, or taco bowls. Garnish with onions, cilantro, and crumbled cheese if desired.

# Extra Cooking Tips:

01 - Prepare the chile sauce ahead of time and refrigerate for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 6 months to streamline meal preparation.
02 - To reduce spiciness, omit chipotle and decrease guajillo chiles to 5.
03 - Mix in vegetables such as corn, carrots, or peas for a more filling and nutritious dish.

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