Tacos, Tacos, Tacos: Ground Beef Alternatives

The majority of Americans eat tacos the same way; ground beef cooked with a packet of taco seasoning, served in a tortilla with cheese. But is that the best way? Mexico is the birthplace of tacos. But tacos, or variations of tacos, are made in many different ways in different parts of the world. It’s not hard to make tacos using different meats and ingredients. It takes the same amount of time and effort in most cases. If you are looking to expand your culinary palette with an easy meal like tacos, try using one of the ground beef alternatives mentioned below to spice up your family dinners.

Turkey

If you enjoy traditional tacos, try making them with ground turkey instead of beef. Ground turkey is mild and can be seasoned any way that you want. Your kids may not even know the difference.

Ground turkey will generally contain less saturated fat than ground beef, which may make it the perfect choice for those concerned with long-time heart health.

You can make these even healthier by serving them in a lettuce boat instead of a tortilla. Don’t worry, you can still pair these turkey tacos with an ice-cold margarita.

Birria

Birria, also known as quesabirria, makes for incredible tacos. Birria is usually made from goat marinated in spicy chili broth. It is cooked as meat stew

You can find quesabirria tacos all over Guadalajara and the surrounding areas in Mexico. But for those looking to recreate this at home, you can make it with beef short ribs if you don’t have extra goat meat laying around.

Tempeh

Tempeh is a popular taco “meat” option for vegetarians and vegans. Tempeh is similar to tofu in that it is made from soybeans. But it is fermented into a firm pattie as opposed to soft, mushy tofu.

The consistency makes it a great choice as a taco meat substitute. The mild flavor of tempeh will readily absorb any flavor from your desired seasonings.

Chickpea and Avocado

Another vegetarian option is to combine chickpeas and avocados for an easy, no-cook taco. Simply mash drained chickpeas with ripe avocados and serve on a tortilla.

Add pico de gallo, cilantro, jalapenos, and maybe even a little feta cheese. Or you can always try fried avocado tacos, which even the most diehard meat-eaters would enjoy.

Chorizo

We usually thank Mexico for chorizo, but it was introduced to Mexico by Spain. Nonetheless, chorizo is a popular meat used for burritos and tacos. Chorizo is a minced sausage spiced with chili peppers.

In America, we often associate chorizo with breakfast burritos. While it is excellent breakfast meat, you can enjoy chorizo tacos at any time of the day. Chorizo is now often found in local grocery stores. If you can’t find it there, head to your nearest carniceria.

Beef Alternatives Are Plentiful

Tacos aren’t boring. If you ever feel that they are, the problem is how you make them. There are far too many ways to cook and enjoy tacos. It’s time to think outside the box and use one of the many ground beef alternatives we have available.

And if you need more inspiration for your time in the kitchen, make sure to read some other recipe posts on our blog today.