Author Adam Rubin and illustrator Daniel Salmieri know that Dragons Love Tacos! If you love tacos, too, you’ll want to try this Ground Beef Tacos recipe with Homemade Taco Seasoning. Mix up a big batch of the seasoning, and you’ll be ready for a taco party (with or without dragons) any time!
I'm a proud "Auntie Afton" to all of my friends' kids, and love being a guest bedtime story reader for them. I get to do fun voices and find out about the coolest, newest children's books on the block!
That's how I was introduced to Dragons Love Tacos. It came out just after my little buddy Oliver was born (not so little now!), and we read this book together a lot when he was a toddler. It's funny, it's clever, and it's a perfect book for a recipe!
About Dragons Love Tacos
Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri are a powerhouse author/illustrator team in the modern picture book world. They published Dragons Love Tacos together in 2012, followed by other acclaimed titles such as Secret Pizza Party (2013; definitely also on my list!), Robo-Sauce (2015), and Dragons Love Tacos 2: The Sequel (2017).
Rubin also recently published two acclaimed collections of short stories for middle grade readers, The Ice Cream Machine (2022) and The Human Kaboom (2023). An enthusiast of tricks, illusions, and puzzles, he is also the Director of Puzzles & Games at the Art of Play (where does he find the time?!).
Dragons Love Tacos is a simple explainer telling you what I'm sure you already know: Dragons love tacos! And parties! And most of all: taco parties! But they hate spicy salsa. The book will give you all the reasons why, and what disaster might be in store if you don't read the fine print on your jar of "totally mild salsa*" (*now with spicy jalapeño peppers). If you can't guess, the hilarious illustrations will tell you everything you need to know.
Recipe Inspiration
Why do dragons love tacos? Maybe it's the smell from the sizzling pan. Maybe it's the crunch of the crispy tortillas. Maybe it's a secret.
Adam Rubin, Dragons Love Tacos
Throughout the book, Salmieri's delightful illustrations depict a classic yellow hard shell taco topped with lettuce, tomatoes, and shredded cheese. And though dragons love all sorts of tacos, a Tex-Mex style ground beef filling looked the closest to the pictures to me, so that's what I chose to develop. Plus, it has major nostalgia factor!
When I was growing up in the 80's and 90's, taco night at the family dinner table definitely meant this style of taco, straight from a kit from the grocery store. Only later did I learn about the wide world of more authentic Mexican tacos made with soft corn tortillas filled with marinated, shredded meats or vegetables and a sprinkle of onion or cilantro (so delicious), with no lettuce or tomato in sight.
But, like dragons, I have room in my heart for tacos of all kinds, including the ground beef version adapted for American tastes by Mexican immigrants and later commercialized by chains like Taco Bell. To learn more about the fascinating evolution of this dish in American cuisine, check out this interview with historian Jeffrey M. Pilcher in Smithsonian Magazine.
For my version of a ground beef taco filling, I wanted to capture the nostalgic flavors of a packet of taco seasoning, but make it homemade (and sans preservatives). Luckily, my friend and former colleague at America's Test Kitchen Matthew Fairman recently worked on a recipe to crack that particular code for an issue of Cook's Country Magazine. With his recipe as a starting point, I made a few tweaks and decided to scale it up to make a big batch so I could have taco seasoning on hand all the time for a quick and easy dinner (or impromptu taco party!).
With my homemade taco seasoning set, I turned my attention to the beef filling. Using a pound of 85% lean ground beef offered a luscious fattiness, and seasoning it with a generous ¼ cup of the spice mix infused it with that classic ground beef taco flavor. Since the seasoning mix includes some cornstarch, I added broth to the skillet as the meat cooked, which created a silky, velvety sauce to bind the filling together. Spooned into toasted taco shells, it offered the perfect juicy balance to the tortillas' crunch. And topped with a pile of shredded lettuce, a sprinkle of tomatoes and cheese, and a spoonful of (mild!) salsa, I had a taco fit for a dragon-style taco party.
Ingredients You'll Need
To make this Ground Beef Tacos recipe with Homemade Taco Seasoning, you'll need:
- Your favorite taco toppings!
- Chili powder, ground cumin, cornstarch, paprika, table salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried oregano for the homemade taco seasoning
- Vegetable oil
- Finely chopped onions
- Tomato paste
- 85% lean ground beef (or plant-based ground beef works, too!)
- Beef, chicken, or vegetable broth
- Hard taco shells
How to Make This Ground Beef Tacos Recipe with Homemade Taco Seasoning
The full recipe with detailed timing and instructions is below, but here are some key moments to look out for along the way:
- Set up your taco bar: Prepare your diners' favorite taco toppings and set them out in bowls with spoons for serving. (Dragons only like mild toppings, but you can top your tacos with whatever you like best!)
- Make your homemade taco seasoning: Measure all of the spices into a pint jar. Put on the lid and shake it up to blend up a big batch of taco seasoning that you can use any time a taco craving strikes!
- Cook the onions, then add the ground beef: Cook the onions in a 12-inch nonstick skillet and season them with the taco seasoning and tomato paste. Add the ground beef, breaking it up into smaller pieces.
- Finish: Add the broth and cook the beef taco filling until it's thickened but still juicy. While it cooks, you can toast your taco shells in the oven (the package will include directions for how to do that).
Why This Recipe Is Great for Kids
I've spent years writing cookbooks and creating recipes that are safe, fun, and engaging for kids and home cooks of all ages. Here are some key features of this recipe that make it perfect for kids and families to make together at home:
- Making a big batch of homemade taco seasoning is fun for kids to measure and shake up in a jar, and will be ready and waiting for you the next time you need a quick-turnaround dinner on the table.
- Tacos are a great meal for picky eaters, as everyone at the table can make their tacos exactly to their liking with their toppings of choice. Kids can take control of their meal, and might be inspired to try a new flavor combination if they see it modeled by others.
- If you've got leftovers (or your kiddo isn't a taco fan), this ground beef filling is super versatile. You can spoon it over nachos, dollop it onto a baked potato, serve it over a rice bowl with veggies, or use it as a filling for quesadillas. You can also use plant-based ground beef from brands like Impossible Foods or Beyond if you prefer to keep things vegetarian!
Let's Cook!
Gather your equipment, measure your ingredients, and get cooking with this kid-friendly recipe! If you loved making it together, please leave five stars and share your stories in the comments.
Ground Beef Tacos with Homemade Taco Seasoning
Good To Know
- The toppings suggested below are the ones that dragons love, but you can top your tacos with whatever you like best! Sour cream, taco sauce, chopped avocado, and/or chopped cilantro would all be delicious, and if you like things spicy (unlike dragons!), add a dash of hot sauce or some pickled jalapeños.
- Chili powder (ending in an i) is different from chile powder (ending with an e)! Chili powder is a blend of dried, ground chile peppers, spices, and seasonings, and has a mild spiciness. Chile powder, on the other hand, is made from only ground chile peppers, and can be very hot! Make sure to use mild chili powder (with an i!) in this dish.
- This recipe makes a big batch of homemade taco seasoning that you can use to make tacos easily any time! Just use a heaping ¼ cup of the seasoning per pound of meat (this recipe makes enough for 3 batches total).
Equipment You'll Need
- Small serving bowls and spoons (for taco toppings)
- Pint jar with lid (or other similar-sized container with lid)
- ¼-cup dry measuring cup
- 12-inch nonstick skillet
- Wooden spoon
Measure Your Ingredients
Toppings (choose from these or use others that you like!)
- chopped tomatoes
- shredded iceberg or romaine lettuce
- shredded cheese
- mild salsa
- other toppings of your choice
Homemade Taco Seasoning
- 6 tablespoons chili powder (see note)
- 2 tablespoons ground cumin
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon table salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons onion powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
Ground Beef Taco Filling
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 small onion, peeled and chopped fine
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ¼ cup taco seasoning
- 1 pound 85% lean ground beef or plant-based ground beef
- ½ cup beef, chicken, or vegetable broth
- 12 hard taco shells, toasted
Let's Cook!
Set up your taco bar:
- chopped tomatoes, shredded iceberg or romaine lettuce, shredded cheese, mild salsa, other toppings of your choicePrepare everyone’s favorite taco toppings. Set them out in small bowls with spoons on a countertop or at the table.
Make the taco seasoning:
- 6 tablespoons chili powder, 2 tablespoons ground cumin, 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 tablespoon paprika, 1 tablespoon table salt, 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder, 1 ½ teaspoons onion powder, 1 ½ teaspoons dried oreganoIn a pint jar or other container with a lid, combine all of the taco seasoning ingredients. Put the lid on the jar or container and shake the mixture until it’s well combined.
- Measure out a generous ¼ cup of the taco seasoning to use with the taco filling. Save the rest in the jar for the next time you want to make tacos. (It will make 2 more batches! Make sure to label the jar or container so you remember what it’s for.)
Make the taco filling and assemble your tacos:
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, 1 small onion, peeled and chopped fineIn a 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium heat until it’s shimmering, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until it’s softened, about 5 minutes.
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste, ¼ cup taco seasoningAdd the tomato paste and the heaping ¼ cup taco seasoning mixture and cook, stirring often, until the onions are coated and the spices are fragrant, about 1 minute.
- 1 pound 85% lean ground beef or plant-based ground beefCarefully add the beef to the skillet. Use the wooden spoon to break the meat into small pieces and mix it with the onions. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the beef is no longer pink, about 5 minutes.
- ½ cup beef, chicken, or vegetable brothStir in the broth and bring the mixture to a simmer (small bubbles will gently break all over the surface). Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring often, until the liquid has thickened and mostly evaporated but the mixture is still juicy, 8 to 10 minutes. (This is a good time to toast your taco shells! The package will have directions.) Turn off the stove.
- 12 hard taco shells, toastedTaste a spoonful of the filling (make sure to cool it down first!) and season the filling with a little extra salt, if desired. Spoon the taco filling into the taco shells and top with your favorite toppings. Just look out for any dragons that might have tried the spicy salsa!
Conversation Starters
As you enjoy your ground beef tacos, talk about Dragons Love Tacos and what it was like to make the recipe together. You can help young readers make connections to the book and share your own answers, ideas, and stories with them with the following prompts:
- Why do you think dragons love tacos so much? What's the very best part of eating tacos?
- What do you imagine having a taco party with dragons would be like? Would you be nervous or excited to host them?
- Do you like eating spicy foods? What's the spiciest thing you've ever eaten, and how did it make you feel?
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