Description
These flavorful Beef Tacos with Peach Vinegar Slaw combine savory spiced ground beef with a fresh, tangy slaw made from a crisp coleslaw mix and peach cider vinegar. Ready in just 30 minutes, this easy recipe offers a perfect balance of smoky, spicy, and sweet notes, making it a crowd-pleasing meal for any taco night.
Ingredients
For the Beef Tacos
- 8 soft shell tacos
- 1 to 1.5 lbs ground beef
- 1/2 large yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 2 tomatoes, grated (or substitute 2 tbsp tomato paste mixed with 1/4 cup water)
- Olive oil, for sautéing
For the Peach Vinegar Slaw
- 1 bag (16 oz) coleslaw mix
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 diced jalapeño pepper
- 2 tbsp peach cider vinegar (or apple cider vinegar as substitute)
- Handful of cilantro, finely chopped
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Heat Skillet: Place a large skillet over medium heat and add a drizzle of olive oil, allowing it to heat up before adding ingredients.
- Sauté Onions: Add the diced yellow onion to the skillet and sauté for about 5-6 minutes until softened and translucent, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Cook Ground Beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon or spatula, and cook until it starts to brown, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add Tomatoes and Spices: Stir in the grated tomatoes (or tomato paste mixture) along with paprika, cumin, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Mix well and continue cooking over medium heat for 8-10 minutes until the meat is thoroughly cooked and flavors meld. Adjust salt to taste.
- Prepare Slaw: In a large bowl, combine the coleslaw mix, mayonnaise, diced jalapeño, peach cider vinegar, chopped cilantro, and salt and pepper. Use your hands to massage the dressing into the slaw until well incorporated and slightly softened.
- Warm Tortillas and Assemble: Warm the soft shell tacos by heating them briefly over a flame or on a dry skillet until pliable and slightly charred. Fill each tortilla with a portion of the seasoned beef mixture and top with a generous helping of the peach vinegar slaw. Serve immediately with optional hot sauce and fresh lime wedges for squeezing over the tacos.
Notes
- Grated fresh tomatoes provide a fresher taste, but tomato paste mixed with water is a convenient substitute that still adds depth.
- Adjust cayenne pepper based on your preferred spice level for milder or spicier tacos.
- Use peach cider vinegar for a subtly sweet and fruity tang; apple cider vinegar works well as a substitute if unavailable.
- Warming tortillas over a flame gives them a nice smoky char and enhances flavor and pliability.
- Customize the slaw by adding extra herbs like parsley or a squeeze of lime juice for brightness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
