Who loves taco night? Umm… everyone! Tacos (in some form) are a go-to in our meal rotation. I love that you can do Mexican food in SO many ways. You’ve got burritos, taco salads, all the meat options- (ground beef, turkey, pork, shredded chicken…) There are literally so many things you can do with the taco theme!
Sometimes, everyone in my family is eating them a different way too. Joey’s a burrito fan, Emmett likes a taco salad, and Nick and I will just do what we’re in the mood for, and in some cases, that’s piling it all high on top of a delicious baked sweet potato! You can’t beat the sweetness from the potato mixed with the savory-ness from the meat.
Tips-
Baking potatoes is something I always try to put into my weekly meal prep. It’s something that doesn’t take a lot of time. I usually wrap them in foil, place them on a cookie sheet and let them bake for about an hour at 380-400 degrees. I keep them all in their foil wrapping in a large bowl in the fridge, and they are ready whenever I need them throughout the week. This is easy to do on a Sunday afternoon or morning- whenever you have the time.
Meat-
I suggest making at least 2 lbs. of meat, or even more if you like. Leftovers are always a good thing. We incorporate a “hodgepodge” or leftover night into our weakly dinner plans and this busy mama LOVES IT! Kind of like a ‘see who’s in the mood for what’ and clean out the fridge night!
Taco Seasoning-
You can make this seasoning in bulk and keep in a jar in your pantry or just whip it up whenever you need it. I have gotten to the point that I can just eyeball what I need to sprinkle in, but if you’re a hardcore recipe follower and measurer, here is what you’ll need per 1 lb. of meat:
1 tbsp. chili powder
¼ tsp. garlic powder
¼ tsp onion powder
½ tsp paprika
1 ½ tsp. cumin
1 tsp. salt and pepper
(sometimes I throw a pinch of oregano in, but not necessary)
Directions-
Brown 1-2 lbs. of ground beef (grass fed if possible) *Can also sub ground turkey or chicken.
When the meat is cooked through, drain off excess fat, if any, and return to low heat.
Add your taco seasoning to the meat and mix well. Every minute or so, add a bit of water to keep it moist and to get a bit of juices going.
Let simmer for about 5-10 minutes, keeping it moist.
Possible add-ins for your meat-
Diced bell pepper, diced onion, shredded zucchini (if you’d like to add these in, do so at the beginning so they can cook with the meat)
Create your masterpiece-
When your meat is finished, the rest is up to you! Cut a sweet potato open for your base and add the taco meat on top. Possible toppings include- avocado/guacamole, black beans, Greek yogurt or sour cream, shredded lettuce, sprinkle of cheese, whatever you like! (We kept it simple for this particular meal pictured... and sometimes the groceries just get thin too!) Either way, still a healthy, delicious meal. Enjoy!
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