• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

This Vivacious Life logo

  • Welcome
    • About the vivacious girl…
    • Privacy Policy
  • Mocktails
  • Recipes
  • Entertaining
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
  • Charcuterie
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Welcome
    • About the Vivacious Girl…
    • Privacy Policy
  • Mocktails
  • Recipes
  • Entertaining
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
  • Charcuterie
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Beef » Tacos for a Crowd (60 year old recipe)

    Tacos for a Crowd (60 year old recipe)

    June 27, 2022 By Chandice | 1 Comment | Updated January 24, 2023

    this post may contain affiliate links

    JUMP TO RECIPE
    the BEST tacos pin

    These ground beef tacos have been enjoyed by our family for over 60 years! This recipe is simple but delicious and is part of our weekly family meal traditions for our family and extended family too.

    These are the best tacos for large gatherings and can easily be double or even tripled. I love making extra meat and using it for other great dishes like our taco salad recipe, gluten free tacos, nachos in the oven, and tater tot casserole.

    ground beef tacos

    Tacos with a legacy…

    My mom’s mom passed away when she was only 11 years old of breast cancer. She was left with her younger sister and five older siblings all under the age of 20. My grandpa was a cattle rancher so he was gone on the mountain a lot but that first year after grandma died, my mom remembers getting a whole cow made into ground beef.

    My mom said they only knew how to cook these tacos so they made them every night. Grandpa was shocked that ALL the beef was gone after just one winter.

    You’d think my mom and her siblings would have gotten sick of tacos but instead, it became one of their favorite meals and they went on to make it for all their kids weekly.

    Subscribe to This Vivacious Life

    Receive a free e-book of Instant Pot recipes!

    Now that us kids are all parents, we do the same in our own house. It’s become a real family tradition to eat these tacos…

    Everyone makes them a little differently. My mom and dad like just salt and pepper while my aunt Heidi loves to jazz them up with our 1-minute gluten free taco seasoning like I do here in my own recipe. No matter how you choose to make them, they will be a winner for your family as well.

    ground beef tacos

    What’s in homemade tacos?

    Feel free to get creative with your toppings and spices but here are my favorite taco ingredients. And if you want vegetarian tacos, these potato tacos are a great option especially when served with our vegan chocolate sauce and vegan nachos on the size.

    Good Quality Ground Beef

    As I mentioned, my grandpa was a cattle rancher and now so is my father-in-law so good quality beef is what makes these tacos really fantastic. I recommend organic or locally raised if you can.

    Soft Corn Tortillas

    The key here is to keep the corn tortillas soft and pliable but nice and cooked with just a bit of butter on both sides. This taco shell is the perfect carrier for your ground beef and toppings.

    corn tortillas in a warmer

    Ranch

    Our family LOVES ranch and not the Hidden Valley kind, ew. We love real, homemade ranch. I have even made this Whole 30 ranch for my dairy free boys and we all enjoy it. While not necessary, I really think it makes the taco better.

    Fresh Grated Cheddar Cheese

    Cheese is optional but freshly grated cheese is so much better than store bought bagged cheese. I like adding the cheese while the meat is still hot so my tacos have melted cheese.

    Spices

    Using a variety of spices gives these tacos a ton of flavor. Onion powder, cumin, chili powder, etc. are some of my favorite spices in this recipe. You can use taco seasoning if desired.

    Toppings

    I like to add a variety of toppings onto my beef tacos. Red onion, sour cream, bell peppers, fresh cilantro, tomato sauce, hot sauce, and even sweet corn taste delicious on a taco. Using only the freshest ingredients will make sure your taco is a crowd pleaser.

    How do you make homemade tacos?

    These street tacos are so easy to make. They’re made with simple ingredients in under 30 minutes. No need to make anything fancy like homemade tortillas for authentic Mexican food.

    Step 1: In a large frying pan, cook the ground beef with all seasonings until no longer pink and slightly crispy making sure to stir and break up meat often

    ground beef in a large frying pan

    Step 2: Meanwhile, cut up veggies you will be topping your tacos with and start frying the tortillas

    Cut veggies for tacos

    Step 3: Preheat a large griddle to 350 degrees and grease with butter then start cooking taco shells in batches making sure not to overcrowd the taco shells (they should all lie flat on the griddle)

    Step 4: Cook for 1 minute and butter the top side then flip and cook 1 more minute

    corn tortillas frying on the griddle

    Step 5: Add cooked tortillas to a plate covered with tinfoil or a tortilla warmer to keep them warm while you continue cooking the remaining tortillas

    Step 6: When you are ready to assemble your taco, add meat to the cooked tortilla and top with lettuce, cheese, pico de gallo, salsa roja, pinto beans, hot sauce and anything else you desire…enjoy!

    Pro tip: For hard taco shells, cook your tortillas a little longer but be careful not to burn them.

    ground beef tacos

    Expert tips and FAQs

    How do you keep taco meat moist?

    To keep taco meat really moist, you can add canned tomato sauce. You only need a few tablespoons but it makes a huge difference. Really good Mexican tacos have a saucy tomato base.

    What are the best meats for tacos?

    Ground beef tacos are classic but you can also make a chicken taco, fish tacos, ground turkey tacos, or even salmon tacos. Feel free to swap the meat if some of your guests have dietary restrictions.

    How long are leftover tacos good for?

    Taco meat is usually good for 3-4 days in the fridge. I do not recommend storing whole tacos in the fridge as the shell and toppings will get soggy. Store ingredients separately to preserve freshness.

    Need an EASY and delicious breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert?
    Take a look at my Sheet Pan Meals and More!

    NEED MORE GOODNESS? Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter for great recipes, entertaining ideas and more!

    Tacos for a Tacos for a Crowd (60 year old recipe)

    Three tacos on a taco holder
    5 from 1 vote
    These ground beef tacos have been enjoyed by our family for over 60 years! This recipe is simple but delicious and is part of our weekly family meal traditions for our family and extended family too.
    PRINT RECIPE SAVE RECIPESaved!
    Prep Time: 5 mins
    Cook Time: 25 mins
    Total Time: 30 mins
    Course: Beef
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Keyword: for a crowd, tacos
    Servings: 24 tacos
    Calories: 174kcal

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds ground beef
    • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
    • 1 teaspoon minced dried onion
    • 1/2 tsp chili powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
    • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
    • 24 soft shell corn tortillas
    • 5 tablespoons butter
    • Optional but delicious: fresh shredded cheddar cheese, lettuce, ranch, hot sauce, etc.

    Instructions

    • In a large frying pan, cook the ground beef with all seasonings until no longer pink and slightly crispy making sure to stir and break up meat often
    • Meanwhile, cut up veggies you will be topping your tacos with and start frying the tortillas
    • Preheat a large griddle to 350 degrees and grease with butter then start cooking taco shells in batches making sure not to overcrowd the taco shells (they should all lie flat on the griddle)
    • Cook for 1 minute and butter the top side then flip and cook 1 more minute
    • Add cooked tortillas to a plate covered with tinfoil or a tortilla warmer to keep them warm while you continue cooking the remaining tortillas
    • When you are ready to assemble your taco, add meat to the cooked tortilla and top with lettuce, cheese, ranch, salsa, hot sauce and anything else you desire…enjoy!

    Notes

    How long are leftover tacos good for? Taco meat is usually good for 3-4 days in the fridge. I do not recommend storing whole tacos in the fridge as the shell and toppings will get soggy. Store ingredients separately to preserve freshness.
    How do you keep taco meat moist? To keep taco meat really moist, you can add canned tomato sauce. You only need a few tablespoons but it makes a huge difference. Really good Mexican tacos have a saucy tomato base.
    Pro tip: For hard taco shells, cook your tortillas a little longer but be careful not to burn them.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 3tacos | Calories: 174kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 202mg | Potassium: 153mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 87IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg

    Share:

    Filed Under: Beef Tagged With: beef, tacos

    Chandice of This Vivacious Life

    Hi, I'm Chandice!

    Parties, gatherings, gorgeous food and ESPECIALLY holidays with my people are what make my heart pitter patter. Having a place to share our favorite traditions, recipes and celebrations is very important to me. I live each day with unapologetic, authentic happiness and hope to help others do the same. More About Chandice

    FREEBIES

    Subscribe to receive a FREE e-book of Instant Pot Dinner Recipes!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Elizabeth says

      June 30, 2022 at 1:15 pm

      5 stars
      10/10 would recommend. Best tacos ever

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Chandice of This Vivacious Life

    Hi there, I’m Chandice!

    I love sharing ways to live more vivaciously! Celebrate life with us through unforgettable gluten-free recipes, easy mocktails and everyday entertaining ideas…

    Read More

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Freebies

    Subscribe to receive a FREE e-book of Instant Pot Dinner Recipes!

    Seasonal Recipes & Entertaining

    What is a mocktail? Hand pouring drink ingredient into a cup.

    What is a mocktail?

    Whole30 Ranch Dressing in a glass pitcher

    Whole30 Ranch Dressing (Dairy-Free)

    Three whole30 crab cakes on a white plate

    Whole30 Gluten-Free Crab Cakes

    Featured Posts

    Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls (the BEST) on a plate

    Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls (The BEST & Fluffiest!)

    Grazing Table on butcher paper

    Grazing Table (Easy & Delicious!)

    Gluten-free crescent rolls on a plate

    Gluten-Free Crescent Rolls (The BEST Ever!)

    Easy Tater Tot Casserole on a spoon

    Easy Tater Tot Casserole (Grandma’s Recipe)

    Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese in a bowl

    Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese (Instant Pot)

    gluten free ramen in a white bowl

    Gluten Free Ramen (the BEST!)

    Check out my e-book!

    Sheet Pan Meals and More gluten-free e-book

    Gluten Free on a Budget

    Our cookbook is now available right here!

    Footer

    As seen on

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • Check out my web stories

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 This Vivacious Life