Why this fits a family on a budget
Ground beef, ketchup, and mustard are all in your pantry, so you're really just buying the taco shells and cheese—keeps you well under budget at $21.50.
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 each white onion
• 3 clove garlic
• 1 can canned diced tomatoes
• 1 can canned black beans
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 2 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 0.5 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 8 oz shredded Mexican blend cheese
• 1 package flour tortillas
• 0.5 cup sour cream
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
1. Dice the onion into roughly half-inch pieces. Mince the garlic cloves.
2. Heat 1 tbsp of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, about 1 minute.
3. Add the diced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3–4 minutes until it softens and turns translucent.
4. Add the minced garlic and stir constantly for 30 seconds until fragrant — don't let it brown.
5. Add the ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon or spatula. Cook for 6–8 minutes, stirring and breaking up lumps, until no pink remains.
6. Carefully tilt the skillet and spoon out any excess grease, leaving just a thin film in the pan.
7. Sprinkle in the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir everything together so the beef is evenly coated, about 30 seconds.
8. Pour in the canned diced tomatoes (with their liquid) and drain and rinse the black beans before adding them too. Stir to combine.
9. Add the frozen corn straight from the bag — no need to thaw. Stir everything together.
10. Reduce heat to medium and let the skillet simmer uncovered for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has cooked off and the mixture looks thick and saucy rather than soupy.
11. Scatter the shredded cheese evenly over the top. Place a lid on the skillet (or cover loosely with foil) and let it sit on the lowest heat setting for 2–3 minutes until the cheese is fully melted.
12. Serve straight from the skillet with warm flour tortillas and a dollop of sour cream on the side.
Contains: dairy, gluten. 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.