Air Fryer Taco Meat
Description
Seasoned air fryer taco meat made with lean ground beef in about 10 minutes. The fat drains away while it cooks, so it's great for tacos, nachos, bowls, and meal prep.
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef, 90/10
- 2-3 tablespoons taco seasoning, 1 packet or homemade blend below
- 1 teaspoon olive oil, optional
Homemade Taco Seasoning (optional)
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For Serving:
- 8 small tortillas or taco shells
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- 1 cup shredded lettuce
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- salsa, for topping
- sour cream, for topping
- 1 avocado, diced
- chopped cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 to 5 minutes.
- In a bowl, mix the ground beef, taco seasoning, and olive oil until evenly combined.
- Press the beef into an even layer directly in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 8 to 10 minutes. Halfway through, break the meat into crumbles with a spoon or meat masher.
- Cook until browned with no pink remaining (160°F internal temperature).
- Transfer to a bowl. If you like saucier meat, stir in 2 to 3 tablespoons of warm water or salsa.
- Serve in tacos, bowls, salads, or nachos.
Equipment
- Cooking Spray
- Parchment Paper, optional
- Baking Pan, must be oven safe
Notes
- Seasoning: Use 2 to 3 tablespoons of seasoning per pound of meat.
- Other meats: Cook ground turkey or chicken to 165°F, and ground pork to 160°F.
- Batch size: Cook more than 1½ pounds in batches for even browning.
- Storage: Refrigerate up to 4 days, or freeze up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Serving: 1ServingCalories: 356kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 33gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 92mgSodium: 687mgPotassium: 873mgFiber: 6gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 2325IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 199mgIron: 5mg