This easy taco skillet recipe is the ultimate 30-minute weeknight dinner, loaded with seasoned ground beef, black beans, Rotel, and loads of melted cheese. It brings all your favorite taco flavors together in one pan with minimal cleanup required.
I love quick and easy meals that turn simple ground beef into something the whole family loves. Whether you serve it straight from the skillet with warm flour tortillas (our favorite way to eat it) or scoop it over tortilla chips for loaded nachos, it's always a hit. If your family loves Mexican-inspired meals as much as mine does, be sure to check out my Birria Tacos, Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas, or Easy Chicken Tacos next!
Table of contents
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick 30-Minute Dinner: It comes together in just 30 minutes on the stovetop, making it perfect for an easy weeknight dinner win!
- Super Versatile & Family-Approved: Packed with delicious taco flavor, you can serve it wrapped in warm tortillas, scooped over tortilla chips, or piled into a low-carb bowl with your favorite toppings.
- Great for Meal Prep: It reheats wonderfully, making it a fantastic option for prepping quick lunches or easy dinners ahead of time!
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
- Ground Beef: Lean ground beef works best here so you don't end up with too much excess grease. Ground turkey or ground chicken are also great lighter alternatives.
- Tomato Paste: Adds a rich, deep tomato flavor that binds the meat and spices together.
- Canned Rotel: Diced tomatoes with green chilies give the dish its zesty kick. If you prefer a milder flavor, swap it for regular canned diced tomatoes or your favorite mild salsa.
- Black Beans: Use 2 (15-ounce) cans of black beans, drained and rinsed. If you prefer cooking from scratch, 1 cup of dry black beans (which yields about 3 cups once cooked) gives you the exact same amount as those 2 standard cans! Canned or cooked pinto beans work great here, too.
- Seasonings: I use a simple blend of pantry spices, but you can easily shortcut this step by swapping them for 3 tablespoons of taco seasoning.
- Shredded Cheese: Sharp cheddar melts beautifully over the top, but Colby Jack, Pepper Jack, or a Mexican cheese blend work great too.
See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and measurements.
How To Make Easy Taco Skillet
This easy taco skillet recipe comes together in just 4 simple steps! Follow along with these process photos for a quick visual guide, and find the full, printable instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Brown the ground beef and diced onions, stir in the garlic, and drain excess grease. Return to the heat and stir in the tomato paste.
- Stir in the drained black beans, canned Rotel, and seasonings (or 3 tablespoons of taco seasoning) until fully combined and warm.
- Remove from heat and cover the top evenly with shredded cheddar cheese.
- Broil 3 to 4 minutes until melted and bubbly, garnish with cilantro and green onions, and serve!
See the recipe card below for the full recipe.
👉 Sky's Tips
- Shred Your Own Cheese: Pre-shredded bagged cheese contains anti-caking agents that keep it from melting smoothly. Shredding a block of cheddar fresh takes an extra minute, but gives you that ultra-bubbly, gooey cheese pull!
- Control the Heat Level: Using regular Rotel gives this dish a mild, family-friendly kick. If you want more heat, use "Hot" Rotel and add extra chipotle powder.
- Drain the Meat, but Keep a Little Moisture: Be sure to drain off most of the rendered beef fat so the dish isn't greasy, but leave just a hint in the pan, it helps the tomato paste and spices bloom for maximum flavor.
- Toppings: Serve with your favorite taco toppings! We love scooping this straight from the skillet into warm tortillas and adding sour cream and salsa!
Storage Tips
Store: Place leftovers in an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.
Reheat: Warm individual portions in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes. To reheat on the stovetop, warm the mixture in a skillet over low heat, adding a small splash of water or broth if needed to loosen it up, and top with fresh cheese!
If you give this Easy Taco Skillet a try, I'd love to hear how it turned out for you!
-Sky🩷
More Delicious Recipes
If you tried this Easy Taco Skillet recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟star rating and let me know how it went in the comment section below!
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📖 Recipe
Easy Taco Skillet Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef
- ½ cup onion small diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon chipotle powder or cayenne powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 10 ounces rotel
- 2 (15-oz.) cans black beans drained and rinsed
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
- cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and diced onions, cooking until the meat is browned and onions are tender (about 6-8 minutes). Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Drain off any excess grease, return the skillet to medium-low heat, and stir in the tomato paste until fully incorporated into the beef.
- Stir in the drained black beans, canned Rotel, and taco seasoning. Mix well until everything is evenly combined and heated through (about 3-4 minutes).
- Turn off the stovetop heat and sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
- Place under the oven broiler on high for 3 to 4 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Garnish with chopped cilantro if desired. Enjoy!
Ned says
This was fantastic for taco Tuesday! Our kids gathered round the cast iron skillet and dipped tortilla chips into it. It was perfect and everyone was happy! Thank you!
Sky Pilgreen says
So happy your family liked this recipe!
Farah says
Lovely! Easy meals like this make my day, and love anything in a skillet. Can't wait to try this out!
Sky Pilgreen says
Yes, skillet meals are life savers. I hope you like it!
Suja md says
Outstanding recipe, Thank you so much! tasted so much good!
Sky Pilgreen says
Thank you! So glad you liked it!
Sisley says
Cheesy makes this winner! Love a skillet recipe.
Sky Pilgreen says
Thank you!
Tayler says
I made this taco skillet for dinner last night and it was fantastic! Easy to make and super cheesy and delicious!
Sky Pilgreen says
Glad to hear you liked it!
Lima says
I have been looking for a new variation on a taco recipe - this looks wonderful and I cant wait to try it!