You can make copycat Taco Bell at home!
We love a good Taco Bell run as much as the next girl, but for when you don’t want to go through the drive thru, this Taco Bell beef copycat is spot on! You’ll swear it came in that brown paper bag.
Echo Blickenstaff brought the iconic Taco Bell flavor right into our kitchen with this surprisingly simple recipe. The secret ingredient? Cocoa powder! Don’t worry, it’s not there for flavor, but rather to give the beef that signature Taco Bell color we all know and love.
This Taco Bell beef copycat isn’t just about color though—it’s about texture and flavor too. The meat comes out perfectly moist and full of umami, unlike other ground beef taco recipes that can be dry and crumbly. The result is a taco filling that’s juicy and flavorful. You won’t even miss the drive thru!
Taco Bell Ground Beef Copycat
PREP TIME: 15 minutes
COOK TIME: 20 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 35 minutes
Serves 16
INGREDIENTS
- 2 pounds ground beef (85% lean 15% fat)
- 2 1/3 cups water or beef broth divided
- 5 tablespoons taco seasoning (homemade or store-bought), or to taste
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon unsweetened dark cocoa powder, for color (optional)
- Salt, to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
- Combine ground beef, 1 ⅔ cups water, taco seasoning, cornstarch, and cocoa powder in a mixing bowl.
- Mix by hand or with a mixer until all the ingredients are fully incorporated. It should be sticky and almost like a thick batter.
- Grease a large nonstick skillet or Dutch oven with cooking oil. Add the meat mixture. Pour the remaining ⅔ cup water in, cover, and cook on medium-high heat for 5 minutes.
- Using a spatula to break up the meat completely. Allow to simmer on low heat, uncovered, until the water evaporates and the meat mixture thickens, 20-30 minutes. Taste along the way and season with salt if needed.
- Serve with hard or soft taco shells, or use it to create your favorite Taco Bell item!
Notes
You can also easily cook the Taco Bell meat in a pressure cooker. Place 2/3 cup water in the pressure cooker and then add the meat mixture. Seal and cook on high pressure for 7 minutes, then allow for a 10-minute natural release. Release the rest of the pressure with a quick release and use a metal spatula to break up the meat. Switch the setting to sauté and cook until the meat mixture thickens.
Find more copycat recipe from Echo in her cookbook, ‘Most Requested Copycat Dishes,’ found on Amazon or on her website.
Find more recipes from Echo and her sisters on Instagram, @favoritefamilyrecipes, or on her website, favfamilyrecipes.com.
Studio 5 has affiliate relationships, so we may get a small share of the revenue from your purchases. Items are sold by the retailer, not by KSL. All prices are subject to change.
Add comment