Recipes Etc.

If taco night is a regular favorite in your house but your grocery bill is starting to feel the crunch, this hidden veggie taco meat will become your new go-to recipe. By finely chopping up vegetables and mixing them into the ground meat, you will bulk up your dinner without bulking up the price. It is a budget friendly hack that adds fiber, nutrients, and a depth of flavor.

Whether you use ground beef, turkey, or chicken, this veggie-packed taco meat blends seamlessly into your usual routine. Once it is cooked, dress up your tacos like you would any other taco night. Some topping ideas include shredded cheese, avocados, beans, salsa, guacamole, shredded lettuce and sour cream. Your family gets the flavor they love, while you get the satisfaction of sneaking in a few extra veggies!

Why you will love this recipe

• Extra nutrition – The vegetables add extra nutrients and fiber to your meal.
• Depth of flavor – This hidden veggie taco meat adds a depth of flavor by adding in vegetables to the ground taco meat.
• Budget friendly – This recipe is a budget friendly, and delicious, way to stretch a pound of meat.

Ingredients

• 1 pound of ground meat
• 2 cups of finely diced vegetables – I usually do 1 cup of onion, 1/2 cup of carrots and 1/2 cup of celery
• 1 packet of taco seasoning or 2-3 tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning
• 1/4 cup of water

Tips and tricks

• Use a food processor to get all the veggies chopped super small. The smaller the vegetables are, the less noticeable they are. I do a rough chop of the veggies before putting them in the food processor.

How to make hidden veggie taco meat

• Start by browning your ground meat of choice in a skillet or dutch oven.

• While the meat is browning, prepare your vegetables by peeling and chopping them. You can finely dice the vegetables  by hand or you can do a rough chop and add them to your food processor to get them chopped into small pieces.
• Once the meat is browned, add in your vegetables and allow them to cook through.

• Add in your taco seasoning and water and mix thoroughly.
• Allow the taco meat to simmer for 5 to 10 minutes until all the vegetables are soft and the water has evaporated.

How to serve hidden veggie taco meat

• Serve this taco meat exactly like you would any other taco meat. Put it in a tortilla wrap or taco shell and add your favorite toppings. Some topping ideas include shredded cheese, avocados, beans, salsa, guacamole, shredded lettuce and sour cream.

How to store hidden veggie taco meat

• This taco meat can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Hidden Veggie Taco Meat

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

30

minutes

Ingredients

• 1 pound of ground meat

• 2 cups of finely diced vegetables

• 1 packet of taco seasoning or 2-3 tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning

• 1/4 cup of water

Directions

• Brown the ground meat of choice in a skillet or dutch oven.
• Peel and chopping the vegetables.
• Once the meat is browned, add in your vegetables and allow them to cook through.
• Add in the taco seasoning and water and mix thoroughly.
• Allow the taco meat to simmer for 5 to 10 minutes until all the vegetables are soft and the water has evaporated.