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This quick and easy Chipotle Ground Beef is packed with smoky, spicy flavor using pantry spices, tomato paste, and fresh lime juice—no blender or special tools required. Perfect for tacos, bowls, or meal prep, it’s a weeknight-friendly recipe the whole family will love.
Fast, Spicy, and Weeknight-Ready
Some nights, I just need dinner to happen. No chopping, no blenders, no sauce-splattered walls. Just a skillet, some ground beef, and big flavor that makes it seem like I put in way more effort than I did. That’s exactly what this Chipotle Ground Beef delivers.
It’s smoky, a little spicy, and done in 20 minutes. No adobo sauce, no blending peppers—just pantry spices, tomato paste, and a squeeze of fresh lime for that fresh finish. My kids love it in tacos with cheese and sour cream, my husband piles it into a bowl with all the toppings, and I usually sneak a spoonful straight from the pan before dinner even hits the table.
It’s one of those recipes that quietly works its way into your weekly rotation—and before you know it, you’re buying chipotle chili powder in bulk.
How to Use It
This beef is your weeknight blank slate:
- Make nachos and call it dinner (no one’s complaining)
- Pile it into taco shells with cheese and lettuce
- Wrap it up in a warm tortilla with rice, beans, and avocado
- Scoop it over a baked sweet potato for a spicy-sweet combo
- Toss it into a salad for a smoky taco bowl
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Chipotle Ground Beef
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon oregano
- ½ lime juiced
Instructions
- Heat a medium size skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef. Break up the beef with a wooden spoon while cooking. Cook the ground beef until browned and no longer pink.
- Drain any excess grease from the skillet. Then return to the stove and reduce the heat to low. Stir to combine all together and allow to cook for an additional 2-3 minutes. Squeeze the lime juice over the meat.
- Serve as taco meat, in burritos, or in bowls.
Equipment
Notes
- Taco salads 🥗
- Burrito bowls 🌯
- Scrambled eggs + tortillas for breakfast tacos 🍳
- Nachos or quick taquitos for a “fun dinner” night 🎉
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
