Budget beef tacos
Serve this dish in the middle of the table, sharing-style, so everyone can build thier own tacos. You can swap the soft tortillas for crispy taco shells if you like, but they will cost a few pence more.
This recipe is part of a budget meal plan for six. In November 2023, this recipe was costed at an average of £7.40 when checking prices at four UK supermarkets. It is designed to be made in conjunction with a low-cost store-cupboard.
Ingredients
- 400–500g/14oz–1lb 2oz beef mince
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 large pepper, any colour, deseeded and cut into roughly 15mm/⅝in chunks
- 2 tbsp fajita seasoning from a packet
- 400g tin red kidney beans in water, undrained
- 150g/5½oz frozen sweetcorn
- 2 tbsp tomato ketchup
- 8 soft tortilla wraps
- 1 small iceberg lettuce, shredded
- 200ml/7fl oz soured cream
- ground black pepper, to taste
Method
Put the beef, onion and pepper in a wide-based saucepan, large deep frying pan or sauté pan and fry for 5 minutes over a medium-high heat, stirring and squishing the beef to break up the mince. (There is no need to add oil unless your mince is extra lean.)
Sprinkle over the spices, season with lots of ground black pepper and cook for a minute more, stirring. Add the beans (including the liquid from the tin), sweetcorn and ketchup. Cook together for 3–4 minutes or until hot, stirring regularly.
To serve, heat the tortillas according to the pack instructions (a microwave works well for this). Add lettuce to the warm tortilla wraps, top with mince and some soured cream and roll up to eat.
Recipe Tips
You can swap the beef for minced chicken or turkey if you like. Pack sizes can vary but as long as you use between 400g–500g/14oz–1lb 2oz the recipe will work well.
The remaining seasoning mix will keep well, either in the packet, folded down and sealed, or in a small jar.
If you have a good spice cupboard you can make your own blend of spices instead of buying the fajita mix. Combine 2 tsp ground cumin, 2 tsp ground coriander, 1 tsp dried coriander leaf, 1 tsp smoked paprika and ½ tsp caster sugar, a pinch of salt and some ground black pepper. Use as above.
For extra special tacos, add guacamole, salsa, grated cheddar and some fresh coriander.
Any leftover soured cream can be used to serve alongside the barbecue-style drumsticks if you're following the Budget meal plan for six.