{Less} Beef Tacos

Here is my very first recipe for #lessmeatmonday! Beef Tacos!

Ok, I know what you’re thinking. How can beef tacos be on the menu for #lessmeatmonday? Its simple, this isn’t about eliminating meat all together, although there will certainly be 100% meatless meals in the coming weeks. My goal is to give you recipes that kids will love, that you will feel good about serving, and that are full of tasty veggies.

My tacos have all the meaty goodness of traditional tacos but with half the beef. My secret weapon? Mushrooms

I’m a native Texan with two teenagers at home, tacos are serious business. When I started looking for a healthier option to ground beef, I tried the usual lineup: ground turkey, ground chicken, even TVP (textured vegetable protein). While I make a mean chicken fajita taco, that’s not the same thing. I love mushrooms, especially beefy portobellos, and thought mushrooms might be the perfect way to cut back on the red meat without cutting any of the flavor.

mushrooms, onions, and peppers are the foundation of this meaty taco

The key is finely dicing the mushrooms and browning them low and slow. Add a diced onion and some julienned red and orange bell peppers and you have a winning veggie combination. If your family likes it spicy, toss in some jalapenos or smoked adobo sauce. Once the mushroom and onions are a deep brown, add a pound of extra lean ground beef, a dash of tomato paste, and spices and watch the mushrooms disappear. I promise your kids won’t even notice that their taco is half filled with mushrooms and veggies.

Even up close, it’s hard to find the mushrooms in this tasty taco filling, but its half veggies!

I like to serve my tacos with fresh sliced avocados, shredded romaine lettuce, and sharp cheddar cheese. I love using La Tiara taco shells. Their small size makes them kid friendly and at only 40 calories per shell they are big appetite friendly too.

https://www.heb.com/product-detail/la-tiara-taco-shells/1738808

If you take the time to make a better taco filling, shouldn’t you use a better taco seasoning? Commercial seasoning blends are easy, but they are often loaded with sodium and chemical preservatives. Making your own spice blend is quick and easy. It allows you to control the quality of the ingredients and adjust the spice level for the perfect taco. I love mason jars and have a few blends on hand to make weeknight dinners easy.