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This is it. THE guide to leveling up your weeknight taco dinner.
No more boring, Plain Jane meals for you and your family.
The ideas listed below will take your weekly taco game to the next level!!
This list assumes that you are using a store bought “taco kit” for your dinner. Contrary to popular belief, there is no shame in using pre-packaged meal kits to feed your family. Huge food brands became huge by producing food that tastes good and is easy to prepare. Not everyone has time to mix their own seasoning blend and grind corn to make hand stretched tortillas. Nobody got time for that! At my house, we’re cooking a meal after working all day before we go back out for more family and kids activities. Â
What’s so special about the ideas in this post? I though you would never ask!
The taco renovations contained herein are the culmination of my personal experiences eating in outstanding Mexican restaurants across the country and culinary influences from friends when I lived in Arizona. These experiences helped me learn to make the most out of taco meal kits when time is at a premium. Restaurants essentially use the same ingredients that you can find at any grocery store (unless they are a large chain). The biggest difference is the technique, ratio, and combination of ingredients used.
The techniques are simple, but adding small improvements in flavor to multiple aspects of a dish can have a profound effect in the finished product. It’s all about synergy when cooking.
So, without any further ado, here is the list!!
- Fry your soft tortillas – you can use soft corn or flour, but do not bake or microwave your soft tortillas. Get your pan hot over medium heat, add a little vegetable oil, and brown on both sides.
- Heat up your crunchy tortillas just until warm. I use the microwave for this and the results from simply heating up the crunchy tortillas are astounding.
- Spoon on the refried beans – spread a thin layer of smooth “restaurant style” or well mashed refried beans to your soft tortilla. This will add a classic flavor and help glue your crunchy and soft tortillas together.
- Actually brown your beef – I’ve never seen a recipe say “gray” your beef. Browning takes lots of heat, some experience, and patience. Cook until you have a nice dark sear on your protein, then start to break things up. This can only be accomplished by using higher heat, otherwise your beef will steam in it’s own juices and just “gray out.” 🤢
- Use fresh tomatoes and lettuce – We use Roma tomatoes and then thinly slice up a single leaf of lettuce for our toppings. Fresh brightens everything up and takes literally two minutes!
- Layer Up Correctly – After you spread some refried beans on your soft taco, slip a crunchy taco in for some contained crunchiness. Add some shredded cheese, then your beef, and top with lettuce, tomato and sour cream, in that order.
“Restaurants essentially use the same ingredients that you can find at any grocery store (unless they are a large chain). The biggest difference is the technique, ratio, and combination of ingredients used.”
– Gerard, 2022
Bonus Tips!!
- Add in a little Cayenne Pepper – Who said you have to use only the spice pack that comes with the Taco Kit?! Add in some cayenne for a little or lot of kick!
- Top it Off – Sour cream in a squeeze bottle is really convenient, but when used as the final topping for Tacos, helps to keep all the players in check.
- Cheese then Beef – Sprinkle your cheese on the bottom, then add your beef. This way your cheese gets melty and your beef is directly in the middle of the bite zone!
