Why this fits a family on a budget
Beef and black bean tacos bring some Tex-Mex variety to the week and come together in just 30 minutes, which is well inside your time budget., they cost more, but the three cheaper chicken and casserole nights create enough budget headroom to absorb it.
1. Drain and rinse the black beans in a colander and set aside. Shred the romaine lettuce into strips and cut the limes into wedges.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, about 1 minute.
3. Add the ground beef and break it apart with a spoon. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until no pink remains and the meat is well browned.
4. Carefully tilt the skillet and spoon out any excess grease, leaving just a thin coat in the pan.
5. Add the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper directly onto the beef. Stir well to coat, then cook for 1 minute until the spices smell fragrant.
6. Pour in the drained diced tomatoes and stir everything together. Let the mixture simmer on medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes until most of the liquid has cooked off and the beef looks saucy but not soupy.
7. Add the black beans to the skillet and stir gently. Cook for another 2 minutes just to warm the beans through, then turn the heat to low.
8. Warm the flour tortillas one at a time in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 30 seconds per side until soft and lightly toasted with a few brown spots.
9. Squeeze a lime wedge over the beef and bean mixture and give it a final stir.
10. Set out the tortillas, beef mixture, cheese, sour cream, and shredded lettuce so everyone can build their own tacos at the table.
Contains: wheat, dairy. Always double-check labels for your household's allergies.
Cost is a national-average estimate and varies by store and region.
This recipe was generated by Plento Pasto's AI from a library of family-friendly dishes and reviewed for a real photo before publishing. Cooking times, costs, and nutrition are estimates — use your judgment in the kitchen.