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Home » Recipes » Easy Dinners

Taco Skillet Dinner: 30 Minute Recipe

Published: Mar 29, 2020 · Updated: May 23, 2023 by Marye

A quick and easy beef taco skillet dinner that goes from stovetop to table top in less than 30 minutes. Hearty and satisfying, it's definitely a family favorite. Simple beginner recipe.
Total time for the recipe to be finished.Total Time 20 minutes minutes
Jump to Recipe
Closeup of beef taco skillet dinner
Taco skillet dinner with text overlay for Pinterest.

If you are looking for quick and easy you'll love this beef taco skillet dinner. Ground beef is simmered with fresh vegetables, corn tortillas, and seasonings to give you big Tex-Mex flavor in less than 30 minutes. No ground beef? Check the substitution suggestions!

Recipe illustration. A serving spoon in a skillet with the finished recipe.
Table of Contents
  • Shopping list
  • Variations
  • Equipment
  • Related recipes
  • Kaffeeklatch
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

Shopping list

The ingredients in this easy skillet dinner are simple. Be sure to check out the variations to find great substitutions for the items you may not have on hand.

  • Ground beef
  • Pinto beans, cooked
  • Tomatoes with chiles (I use Ro*Tel)
  • Onion
  • Green Bell pepper
  • Jalapenos,
  • Cilantro
  • Corn tortillas
  • Cumin
  • Garlic powder
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Black Olives
  • Limes
  • Cheddar cheese

Variations

I love this dish because it's very forgiving. Here are some variations on the recipe -

Ground beef

No ground beef? No problem!

  • Leftover shredded beef from pot roast
  • Cooked stew meat
  • Cooked brisket
  • Chicken
  • Game
  • Turkey
  • Use all beans
  • Tempeh

Pinto beans

You can use any kind of cooked, dried bean, or even lentils, for the pinto beans. Refried beans work well, too.

Vegetables

Use any vegetables you have on hand. If you don't have tomatoes use salsa or tomato sauce.

  • Broccoli
  • Cauliflower
  • Green beans
  • Corn

Corn tortillas

  • Tortilla chips
  • Flour tortillas
  • Rice
  • Potatoes
  • Fritos
  • Pasta

Equipment

What’s new? Check out my Restless Chipotle & Co. Store on Amazon where you'll find all kinds of nostalgic goodness!  Thanks so much for being a part of Restless Chipotle!

If you don't have an iron skillet you can't go wrong with a Lodge 12" Cast Iron Skillet!

Related recipes

Here are some more reader favorites from the quick and easy category!

  • King Ranch Chicken is so simple. Chicken, Ro*Tel, and onion are mixed with a creamy sauce and layered with corn tortillas and gooey cheese.
  • Frito Chicken Casserole is made with chicken, corn chips, and cheese. It's so simple that the kids can get dinner started before you even get home.
  • Frito Pie is a classic Texas recipe that’s found at nearly every high football concession stand as well as in many high end restaurants. It’s quick and easy, has many variations, and is addictively good.
Closeup of beef taco skillet dinner

Kaffeeklatch

If you have two hours every night to fix dinner raise your hand... :::looks around:::: crickets:::::

I thought so. We live in a busy society and if you're anything like me you barely have time to get a shower let alone spend hours on dinner most nights of the week!

Oh, there are times when I have some extra time, or I carve out extra time for something special but most days I get dinner on the table in less than an hour -- and a lot of the time I have less than 30 minutes.

Sound familiar?

It's times like that when ground beef and an iron skillet are your best friends!

This skillet dinner is one dish -- goes from stovetop to table easily. If you prep  your onions and green peppers on the weekend (or buy them precut at the store) there is hardly any preparation time.

Add a salad and maybe this microwave Mexican Chocolate Cobbler and you've got a real dinner on the table in less time than it takes you to pick out a pair of shoes.

You can add corn if you want to, top it with avocado, or just use beans rather than the beef and make it vegetarian. I've done that and I promise it's yummy no matter how you make it!

📖 Recipe

Closeup of beef taco skillet dinner

Beef Taco Skillet Dinner

4.10 from 11 votes
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A quick and easy beef taco skillet dinner that goes from stovetop to table top in less than 30 minutes. Hearty and satisfying, it's definitely a family favorite. Simple beginner recipe.
Course Dinner (quick and easy)
Cuisine Quick and Easy,Tex-Mex
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
Servings:6
Calories:475
Author:Marye Audet-White

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • 1 cup onion, diced
  • 1 cup bell peppers, diced
  • 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and diced (optional)
  • 1 cup sliced black olives
  • 20 ounces diced tomatoes with green chilis
  • 14 ounces pinto beans, cooked and rinsed
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ⅓ cup cilantro, chopped
  • 8 corn tortillas, cut in small squares
  • 1-½ cup cheddar, shredded. May substitute Pepper Jack
  • 1 lime, cut into 6 wedges

Instructions

  • Add the ground beef to a large (12") iron skillet that has been heated for about 3 minutes.
  • Add salt and pepper to the meat and cook it for about two minutes.
  • Add the onion, bell peppers, and jalapenos.
  • Saute until the beef is cooked through and the vegetables have softened.
  • Add the olives, tomatoes, pinto beans, cumin, garlic powder, cilantro, and tortillas.
  • Simmer, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes or until the tortillas have softened and the dish is heated through.
  • Taste and adjust seasonings.
  • Top with the shredded cheese, cover and turn off the heat.
  • Leave on the stove for a few minutes until the cheese melts.
  • Top with chopped cilantro.
  • Serve with lime wedges to squeeze over the top.

Notes

Storage
May make up to 2 days ahead. Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days. Freeze for longer storage.
Substitutions
I love this dish because it's very forgiving. Here are some variations on the recipe -
Ground beef
No ground beef? No problem!
  • Leftover shredded beef from pot roast
  • Cooked stew meat
  • Cooked brisket
  • Chicken
  • Game
  • Turkey
  • Use all beans
  • Tempeh
Pinto beans
You can use any kind of cooked, dried bean, or even lentils, for the pinto beans. Refried beans work well, too.
Vegetables
Use any vegetables you have on hand. If you don't have tomatoes use salsa or tomato sauce.
  • Broccoli
  • Cauliflower
  • Green beans
  • Corn
Corn tortillas
  • Tortilla chips
  • Flour tortillas
  • Rice
  • Potatoes
  • Fritos
  • Pasta
You'll find more helpful tips and variations in the body of the post.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 475kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 876mg | Potassium: 880mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1181IU | Vitamin C: 52mg | Calcium: 196mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.

First published March 6, 2016. Last updated March 29, 2020 for better readability.

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About Marye

Meet Marye Audet, a wizard in the kitchen and a storyteller at heart. Marye is like your eccentric but fun aunt who knows all the secret recipes and isn't afraid to spill them.

Comments

    4.10 from 11 votes (11 ratings without comment)

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  1. Marye Audet says

    March 09, 2016 at 6:07 pm

    LOL! Right?

    Reply
  2. Sara says

    March 08, 2016 at 12:41 am

    My kids are pretty much obsessed with tacos but I've never had a taco skillet before, from the looks of this recipe I must be missing out!

    Reply
    • Marye Audet says

      March 09, 2016 at 6:07 pm

      You really are! I love them.

      Reply
  3. Alida // Alida's Kitchen says

    March 07, 2016 at 8:04 pm

    What a great weeknight dinner. My family will love this!!

    Reply
    • Marye Audet says

      March 09, 2016 at 6:06 pm

      It really works for a quick dinner! My family loves it.

      Reply
  4. Marlynn @ UrbanBlissLife says

    March 07, 2016 at 11:01 am

    Marye, I love this recipe. I'm on a big comfort food kick (eagerly awaiting warmer weather!) and this looks perfect to add to our week's menu line-up. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Marye Audet says

      March 09, 2016 at 5:57 pm

      Let me know what you think!

      Reply
  5. Catherine says

    March 07, 2016 at 10:58 am

    Dear Marye, what a delicious weeknight meal or the family...perfect even for the weekend! xo, Catherine

    Reply
    • Marye Audet says

      March 09, 2016 at 5:56 pm

      Thanks Catherine!

      Reply
  6. Citra Kale @Citra's Home Diary says

    March 07, 2016 at 9:48 am

    Hi Merye.... I always love your exotic recipe ideas.. It's so healthy yet yummy one!

    Reply
    • Marye Audet says

      March 09, 2016 at 5:56 pm

      LOL! I don't know about exotic... but thank you!

      Reply
  7. Kellie @ The Suburban Soapbox says

    March 07, 2016 at 8:45 am

    I make a pasta taco skillet that's similar but I love your version without pasta and added beans. So healthy! 🙂

    Reply
    • Marye Audet says

      March 09, 2016 at 5:55 pm

      I like it with pasta too 🙂

      Reply
Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

Hey Y'all, I'm Marye

Welcome to my kitchen! ☕

NY Times bestselling author. 10 cookbooks. Mom of 8 kids. Homeschooling mom for 22 years. Addicted to Hallmark Christmas Movies. Collector of old cookbooks.

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