Description
Savory ground beef cooked with onions, Rotel tomatoes, and melted cheeses to create a creamy, flavorful taco filling served in crispy shells or soft tortillas with fresh toppings.
Ingredients
- 3 pounds ground beef
- 1–2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cans (10 ounces each) Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 16 taco shells or small flour tortillas
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the chopped onion and cook for 4–5 minutes until softened.
- Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add ground beef and cook while breaking it apart until browned and fully cooked.
- Drain any excess fat if needed.
- Stir in chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and black pepper and mix well.
- Add the Rotel diced tomatoes with their juices and simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Add the softened cream cheese and stir until fully melted and combined.
- Mix in shredded cheddar cheese and continue stirring until melted and creamy.
- Warm taco shells or tortillas according to package instructions.
- Spoon the cheesy beef mixture into each taco shell.
- Top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, additional cheese, and cilantro if desired.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use mild Rotel for a less spicy flavor.
- If the mixture becomes too thick, add a splash of broth or milk.
- Ground turkey or chicken can replace ground beef for a lighter option.
- The cheesy beef mixture also works well as a dip with tortilla chips.
- Warm taco shells before filling to prevent cracking.
- Extra toppings like avocado or jalapeños add additional flavor and texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tacos
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
