By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 14, 2026
Serves 4
438 cal · 25 min
Chipotle and Tomato Beef Taco Filling
Recipe GLPRec66291c19b830
A bold and smoky ground beef taco filling combining caramelized onions with tender, spiced beef, enriched with the heat and depth of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce and fire-roasted tomatoes with green chiles. This quick, flavorful filling comes together in under 25 minutes and delivers restaurant-quality tacos at home.
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Ingredients
1 tbsp Olive oil
1 Medium onion, diced
Kosher salt, to taste
1 lb Lean ground beef
1 can Canned petite-cut tomatoes with green chiles
1 tbsp Chopped chipotle in adobo
Directions
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once shimmering, add the diced onion and a pinch of salt. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens and begins to turn golden at the edges.
Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon as it browns, for 6 to 7 minutes. Stir frequently until no pink remains and the beef is fully cooked through, seasoning with salt as needed.
Stir in the chopped chipotle in adobo, coating the beef and onions well, and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
Pour in the canned tomatoes with green chiles, including all liquid from the can. Stir to combine, then simmer over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the mixture to reduce slightly.
Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt if needed. Remove from heat and serve warm as a taco filling or over rice.
Comments
Ground beef, onion, tomato, and salt are pantry staples at every major Charlotte grocer, but chipotle peppers in adobo sauce will require a second stop—Food Lion and Harris Teeter stock them reliably, but ALDI and Walmart often don't, adding a real errand to a weeknight. At roughly $6 for ground beef, $1 for the onion and tomatoes, and $2–3 for canned chipotles, you're looking at under $2 per serving, which is solid for a protein base. The 25-minute time is honest if you use canned tomatoes and assume pre-cooked ground beef; the filling itself needs minimal attention once the beef browns, making it genuinely family-friendly for a taco night. The biggest strength is leftovers—this reheats perfectly in the microwave or skillet for next-day lunch, and tastes better after a night in the fridge as flavors meld.
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