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Ground Beef Quesatacos

These crispy, cheesy quesatacos fill golden corn tortillas with saucy ground beef simmered in taco simmer sauce and a melted layer of mozzarella that gets crispy and caramelized right on the tortilla. They come together in 35 minutes, make a huge batch, and are the kind of easy weeknight dinner that the whole family fights over!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Dinner, Lunch, main, Main Course, Main Dish, Tacos
Cuisine: Latin American, Mexican
Keyword: Beef, easy, easy dinner, easy Mexican meals, meal prep, tacos, tortillas, weeknight meals
Servings: 10 tacos

Equipment

Ingredients

For the Ground Beef:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 packet 8 oz SOMOS Taco Simmer Sauce
  • ¼ white onion finely diced
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp salt plus more to taste
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp neutral oil

For the Quesatacos:

  • 12 small corn tortillas
  • 3 cups shredded low-moisture mozzarella freshly grated from a block
  • Neutral oil or cooking spray for the pan

For Topping:

  • Diced white onion
  • Fresh cilantro leaves
  • Salsa of choice

Instructions

  • Heat the neutral oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened and slightly caramelized. Add the minced garlic and cook 30 seconds more until deeply fragrant.
  • Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, for 8–10 minutes until fully browned. Season with the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper and stir to combine.
  • Pour the entire packet of SOMOS Taco Simmer Sauce over the browned beef and stir until every piece of meat is completely coated. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally. If it reduces too quickly, add a splash of water to loosen. Taste and adjust salt as needed.
  • Heat a large nonstick skillet or comal over medium heat and brush lightly with neutral oil or cooking spray. Place a corn tortilla flat on the pan and immediately scatter a generous amount of freshly grated mozzarella directly onto the tortilla, covering the surface completely. Spoon a generous amount of the ground beef filling onto one half of the tortilla.
  • Fold the tortilla in half over the filling and press lightly. Cook for 1–2 minutes per side until deeply golden. Repeat with the remaining tortillas, cheese, and filling.
  • Serve immediately topped with diced white onion, fresh cilantro, and salsa.

Notes

  • Grate the mozzarella from a block yourself, pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking starch that prevents it from melting into that crispy, golden layer on the tortilla.
  • Scatter the cheese on the tortilla the second it hits the pan so it has time to melt and crisp while the tortilla warms through.
  • Don't rush the beef browning step. Letting it cook undisturbed for a few minutes before breaking it apart gives you better texture and deeper flavor.
  • Work in batches and keep finished quesatacos on a wire rack in a warm oven so the first ones stay crispy while you cook the rest.