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Del Taco's Seasoned Ground Beef

Del Taco has the best Mexican Fast Food Taco Meat out there an this is the recipe for getting that exact taste and texture. See the Recipe Notes for info about removing the TVP from the recipe. It's super easy. Enjoy!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb Ground Beef
  • ½ cup TVP plus ½ cup Boiling Water mixed well
  • 1 TBSP Chili Powder
  • 1 tsp Paprika
  • 1 tsp Granulated Garlic
  • 1/2 tsp Dried Minced Onions
  • 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
  • 1 tsp Cumin
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Mexican Oregano
  • 1/4 tsp Ground Coriander
  • 1/2 tsp Sugar
  • 1 TBSP Tomato Paste
  • 1 cup Water
  • 1/2 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp Lime Juice
  • 1 tsp Oat Flour
  • 1 tsp Corn Starch

Instructions
 

  • Measure out all the spices and corn starch into a small bowl and set aside
  • Mix TVP and boiling water in a bowl and stir well to combine. Set aside for now.
  • Brown up 1 pound of ground beef in a 12" frying pan. When it's about 1/2 way done, add the TVP and continue cooking as normal
  • When the beef is no longer pink transfer the mixture to a food processor and pulse to get a fine texture. It will take 5 to 10 pulses. Stir and course meat remaining and pulse again 1 more times.
  • Place the frying pan back on the heat and add the oat flour to the pan to soak up any grease remaining in the pan.
  • When the pan is now dry add the spice mixture to the pan and toast the spices for about 1 minute.
  • Add tomato paste and mix well with the spices.
  • When the tomato paste is mostly broken up and mixed into the spices, add the water, apple cider vinegar and lime juice to the pan. Stir well to combine
  • Heat the mixture up to 204F to activate the corn starch and thicken the sauce. When a spatula dragged across the pan leaves a clean path it is ready.
  • Return the meat mixture from the food processor to the pan and mix it all up really well. When it is fully combined it is ready to serve.

Video

Notes

If you are like most people, the TVP is outta here! That is super simple to do. Just omit it and up the oat flour to 1/2 tablespoon. Everything else remains the same. 
If you have no idea where to get oat flour you can just grind up some oatmeal (quick oats or 'plain instant' works) to make your own oat flour at home. A spice grinder or mortar and pestle will get the job done. If you use a coffee grinder, just make sure it's REALLY clean or it will taste too much like coffee.