Quick Answer
You do not need to drain ground beef for tacos. The fat from the ground beef adds flavor and moisture that is desirable in tacos. Draining the fat would make the tacos drier and less flavorful.
Overview
Tacos are a popular Tex-Mex dish that typically consist of a corn or flour tortilla filled with seasoned ground beef, lettuce, cheese, and other toppings. Ground beef is often used as the protein filling, and whether or not to drain the fat after cooking is a common question.
The fat in ground beef provides important moisture and flavor for tacos. Draining the fat can make the beef overly dry and less flavorful. The fat also helps the taco filling be more cohesive. For best results, it is not recommended to drain the fat from ground beef for tacos.
Here is a more detailed look at why you should not drain ground beef for tacos:
Fat Provides Moisture
One of the main reasons not to drain ground beef for tacos is that the fat provides moisture. Ground beef has a high fat content, anywhere from 15-27% depending on the leanness. This fat melts as the beef cooks, helping to keep the texture juicy and moist.
Draining the fat will remove this source of moisture, resulting in drier beef. Since tacos often contain drier ingredients like tortillas, lettuce, and cheese, retaining moisture in the ground beef is important for good texture.
Fat Enhances Flavor
In addition to moisture, the fat in ground beef provides a significant amount of flavor. As the fat cooks, it provides beefy, savory notes that enhance the overall taste of the taco filling.
The flavors imparted by the fat give depth and richness to simple seasonings like salt, pepper, onions, and garlic. Without the fat, the ground beef filling can end up quite bland and lacking the robust flavors you expect in tacos.
Fat Helps the Filling Stick Together
The fat in ground beef also helps the taco filling stick together in a more cohesive mixture. This gives a pleasant, hearty texture to each bite of your taco.
If the fat is drained away, the remaining beef can become overly crumbly and dry. This makes it more difficult to eat the tacos neatly. The fat acts as a binder to bring all the seasoned beef flavors together into a cohesive filling.
You Can Use a Spoon to Skim Excess Fat
While you don’t want to drain away all the fat, some people may find a large amount of grease unpleasant in their tacos. A good compromise is to simply use a spoon to skim off some of the excess surface fat after browning the beef.
This removes the thin layer of pure grease without draining away the moisture and flavor that gets infused into the meat as the fat cooks. Skimming just the surface fat striking a balance between flavor and excess grease.
When You Should Drain Ground Beef
While draining ground beef is not ideal for tacos, there are some cases where you will want to drain away some or all of the fat:
Making a Low-Fat or Low-Calorie Version
If you are looking to make a healthier version of tacos, you may want to partially or fully drain the grease from the ground beef. This significantly cuts down the amount of fat and calories per serving. Just keep in mind that the tacos may be drier and less flavorful.
Using Lean Ground Beef
If you are using a very lean ground beef with only 5-10% fat content, draining away a little grease can prevent the beef from being overly greasy. Lean ground beef has less flavorful fat than higher fat options.
Cooking for Children or Elderly
Some people, like children or the elderly, may be more sensitive to fatty foods. Draining some of the grease may help avoid upset stomach issues.
Making a Sauce from the Drippings
If you do drain your ground beef, you can use the fat drippings to make a flavorful sauce. Cook the drippings with onions, garlic, spices, and broth to make a gravy-like sauce for tacos.
How to Cook Ground Beef for Tacos
Here is a simple process for cooking juicy, flavorful ground beef for tacos:
Use 80/20 Ground Beef
Choose 80% lean / 20% fat ground beef. This provides a good balance of fat for moisture and flavor. Leaner beef can become dry and bland in tacos.
Heat a Skillet Over Medium-High Heat
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Use a heavy pan like cast iron or stainless steel for best browning.
Add Beef and Break into Small Crumbles
When the pan is hot, add the ground beef to the skillet. Use a spoon or spatula to break up the beef into tiny crumbles as it cooks.
Season with Onion, Garlic, Spices
As the beef cooks, season it with minced onion, garlic, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Mix the seasoning into the beef.
Cook Until Browned
Continue cooking and stirring the beef until it is fully browned with a little crispness around the edges. This adds great texture and beefy flavor.
Optional: Skim Off Excess Surface Fat
If desired, use a spoon to skim off and discard any thin layer of pure grease on the surface. Be careful not to drain away any fat below the surface.
Add Fresh Lime Juice and Cilantro
When the beef is cooked, remove it from heat. Add a squirt of lime juice and chopped cilantro. Mix well before using in tacos.
Tips for Making the Best Tacos
Use these extra tips for tacos that are irresistibly delicious:
Double Up on Tortillas
For a more hearty and stable taco, double up the tortillas by using two per taco. The extra tortilla prevents tearing and helps hold in fillings.
Warm the Tortillas
Warm your tortillas before assembling tacos so they are soft and pliable. Store bought tortillas can be warmed in the microwave. Fresh tortillas can go right on the skillet.
Load Up All the Toppings
Fill your tacos with plenty of fresh toppings like shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, sliced avocado, shredded cheese, and sour cream. This adds delicious flavors and textures.
Finish with Hot Sauce
Drizzle your tacos with some spicy hot sauce for a kick. Cholula, Tapatio, and Valentina are all excellent choices.
Keep Components Separate
For best texture, keep wet ingredients like ground beef and lettuce separate from dry ones like tortillas. Assemble tacos right before serving.
Common Questions
Should I use lean or higher fat ground beef?
Choose a higher fat ground beef in the 80/20 ratio for ideal moisture and flavor. Super lean beef will be drier and less tasty in tacos.
What if I accidentally drain the fat, can I add it back?
Unfortunately once drained away, the fat can’t be added back in. For best results, cook a new batch being careful not to drain the fat.
Do I have to use ground beef? What are some alternatives?
Ground turkey, chicken, pork or chorizo can sub for beef as the protein. Vegetarian options include beans, lentils, mushrooms, or soy-based crumbles.
Can I prepare the ground beef ahead of time?
Browned ground beef for tacos is best cooked fresh the same day. For later use, keep raw beef refrigerated 1-2 days max. Freeze for longer storage.
Conclusion
Draining the fat from ground beef is not necessary for tacos, and can result in drier, less flavorful beef. The fat provides important moisture and beefy flavor. Cook the ground beef crumbles without draining, seasoning well with spices. At most, skim away just a thin layer of grease on top. Follow the rest of the steps for cooking and assembling irresistible tacos. What are you waiting for? Go enjoy some juicy, flavor-packed tacos today!