Queso Ground Beef Tacos Recipe Combines Two Foods We Love (6 Ingredients, 20 Minutes) by Donna John

Every night could be taco night at my house. Tacos make everyone happy! Another thing that makes people happy is that famous queso dip recipe on the box of processed cheese. That Tex-Mex recipe has been a staple at my house, and served at almost every family get-together. What if you combined the two into a cheesy ground beef taco recipe? You get delicious!

Photo credit (all photos): Donna John

This quick and easy taco recipe is a bit different than standard tacos because the meat is rich, creamy and cheesy. The high-protein recipe is on the table in about 20 minutes, too. (Check out the health benefits of protein in our diets.)

Here is your short shopping list for this Mexican-inspired taco recipe: ground beef, onion, a can of tomatoes with green chiles, a packet of taco seasoning (or make homemade taco seasoning), processed cheese and either crunchy taco shells or tortillas. And don't forget any taco toppings you like (shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, chopped onions, jalapenos, sour cream, pico de gallo, guacamole, etc.).

You won't have trouble calling the family to the table when you make these savory tacos. The shortcut recipe does make quite a bit of taco meat, so it's ideal for freezing for a quick dinner later. I opted to use half the cheesy taco meat for tacos and the other half for enchiladas.

Serve the tacos with your favorite side dishes. Check out this refried beans recipe and making cilantro lime rice is never a bad idea.

Cuisine: American / Mexican / Tex-Mex
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 10 ounces (1 can) tomatoes with green chiles (I used Rotel)
• 1 ounce (1 packet) taco seasoning (I used Old El Paso)
• 8 ounces processed cheese (I used Velveeta)
• taco shells, corn tortillas or flour tortillas

Here's how to make it: 

1. Cook the ground beef and onion in a large skillet until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Break up the meat with a wooden spoon as you stir. (You could use ground turkey instead of beef.) Drain off any fat.
   
2. Add the can of tomatoes with green chiles (undrained) and taco seasoning. Stir. (For even more flavor, use two taco packets or sprinkle in some chili powder and/or ground cumin. For a gluten-free dinner, use gluten-free taco seasoning.)
   
3. Add the cheese. (I used the shreds but you can use the loaf. Be sure to cut it up before adding it to the pan so it melts faster.)
   
4. Stir until cheese is thoroughly melted into the meat.
   
5. Spoon into crunchy taco shells or tortillas and add your favorite taco toppings. Store any leftover meat in an airtight container in the fridge and reheat in the microwave.
   

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. Any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

Take 30 seconds and join the 30Seconds community, and follow us on Facebook to get recipes in your newsfeed daily. Food, fun, health, happiness.