Carne Molida Sazonada is a mildly flavorful seasoned ground beef used in Mexican cuisine, commonly referred to as Taco Meat. It is simple to make, and very versatile. Add it to Tacos, Nachos Compuestos, Tostadas Compuestas, Tex-Mex Enchiladas, Chile Rellenos, or Picadillo.
Carne Molida Sazonada
Equipment
- 1 medium cast-iron skillet
- 1 spatula
- 1 cutting board
- 1 kitchen knife
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ cup onion – finely chopped
- ¼ cup green pepper – finely chopped
- ¼ cup celery – finely chopped
- 1 tbsp Tex-Mex spice blend
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
Instructions
- Gather and prepare the ingredients.
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add Tex-Mex spice blend and chili powder. Cook it in the oil for about 30 seconds.
- Add onions, green pepper and celery.
- Toss thoroughly, and spread out in the skillet.
- Reduce heat to low, add ground beef and cook for 20 minutes.
- Break up the ground beef as it warms up, and spread it out evenly in the pan.
- Toss every few minutes so it browns evenly.
Notes
PRIVATE NOTES
Nutrition
More Information
Seasoning
Carne Molida Sazonada is meant to be seasoned, but not overly spicy or flavorful, It is typically used as an ingredient for other dishes. If it was too spicy, it would distract from the dish it is being added to. The Tex-Mex spice blend gives the ground beef all of the flavor it needs. However, sometimes I will add a Tbsp of mild chili powder for color and a slightly different flavor.
It’s important to toast the spices briefly before adding the vegetables. This will allow for the oils and aromas to emerge from the garlic and cumin before the vegetables start to steam out. The steam from the onions, celery and bell pepper will deglaze the spices from the pan, allowing the flavors to be fully incorporated into the ground beef.
Cooking
Adding frozen ground beef on top of the steamy vegetables over low heat will allow for the meat to thaw. The 20 minute cooking time gives plenty of time for the meat to thaw and cook through. If the ground beef is already thawed prior to starting, that’s ok. The recipe still works perfectly as-is.
Related Recipes
Tex-Mex Spice Blend
Tostadas Compuestas
Nachos Compuestos
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