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Everybody loves Taco Tuesday, but even the most dedicated to the unofficial holiday can grow weary of the same-old, same-old without ample Mexican ground beef recipes. It’s easy to get wrapped up in semantics, especially with a meal night name like taco Tuesday; however, the term “taco” is really more of a loose guideline than a hard and fast rule. In fact, any Mexican-esque dish with ground beef will work just fine, which opens up a whole new world of impeccably spiced Americanized Mexican-style foods.
You might be surprised to learn just how many varieties of recipes containing Mexican seasoned ground beef there are, but we’ve got you covered. This list is chock-full of meal courses that fit the Mexican ground beef bill. Some have a more traditional leaning while others offer a contemporary take on the classics, and then there are recipes that combine styles in a mashup of savory Southwest superiority.
From long-established Mexican cuisine to new-age Tex Mex to Americana with a Southwest spin, we have them all. And just in case that’s not enough, we’ve also thrown in some recipes that marry cultures in perfectly blended harmony. Done are the days of your average taco Tuesdays—the nights of enchilada tater tot casserole, taco pizza, taco crescent rings, and sheet pan nachos have arrived.
Beef Enchiladas
These homemade beef enchiladas are full of flavor and actually easy to make. You can prep these in 15 minutes, which makes them a perfect Tuesday night dinner or a weekend treat.
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Taco Casserole
A taco casserole is essentially a deconstructed taco. This casserole has cooked ground beef with sauteed onions and garlic.
Enchilada Tater Tot Casserole
My Enchilada Tater Tot Casserole is packed with savory ground beef, seasoned with taco spices, and mixed with black beans, corn, green chiles, and a rich red enchilada sauce. All that goodness is topped with crispy tater tots and a generous layer of melted cheese.
Easy Mexican Tortilla Casserole
This Mexican Tortilla Casserole is a beautifully layered casserole, nearly cake-like—stacked to the heavens with a combination of corn, rice, ground beef, and cheese. Except for the ground beef, everything in this casserole is pre-cooked or pre-packaged to make assembly fast and easy.
Sheet Pan Tex Mex Quesadillas
Sheet Pan Tex Mex Quesadillas bake into one large, bronzed slab of crispy tortillas with a filling that stays hearty and well-seasoned: browned beef, softened onion, sweet bell peppers, earthy black beans, and pockets of melty cheese.
Sheet Pan Ground Beef Nachos
Sheet pan nachos come out of the oven ready to feed a crowd with just a handful of easy ingredients. With melted Colby Jack layered over everything and protein-rich refried beans anchoring the layers, this comfort food makes a hearty and satisfying dinner.
Taco Pizza With Ground Beef
Can’t decide between pizza night or taco Tuesday? You can mix and match toppings so the entire family can have their perfect slice.
Taco Soup
Nearly a one-pot dish, just brown the ground beef and then let the soup ingredients simmer for 30 minutes. Taco soup is what it sounds like—all of the ingredients of a taco but in a soup instead of a taco shell.
Beef Taco Salad
This hearty salad is made with all your favorite taco ingredients, including ground beef, beans, corn, tomatoes, sturdy lettuce, and shredded cheese. Beef taco salad is a great way to use up leftover taco meat, and it’s also a great meal to make for a crowd.
Taco Crescent Ring
This Taco Crescent Ring recipe is a crowd-pleaser that combines the bold flavors of seasoned taco beef with buttery, flaky crescent rolls. Serve this beauty with your favorite toppings—from fresh guacamole to tangy salsa—so everyone can make it their own.
Easy Taco Cups
These quick taco cups—made with tortillas in a muffin tin—cook up fast and hold all the flavor. They are a really fun appetizer you can put together quickly.
Cheddar Cheese Nacho Cups
These nacho cups are a great bite-size party-appetizer that’s both easy to make and keto friendly. Serve these mini nacho cups as a keto-friendly appetizer or the crunchy, satisfying highlight of your next taco night spread.
The bottom line
Preparing ground beef for a Mexican meal doesn’t have to mean tacos. This list proves that there is a whole world out there filled with super scrumptious Mexican, Tex Mex, Southwest, and Americanized Mexican-inspired dishes just waiting for you to prepare them. Trust us when we tell you the general consensus will be fully satisfied.
We highly recommend this tasty Mexican Martini—it goes great with all of these recipes!
