Try this easy air fryer taco meat recipe with ground beef for quick, flavorful tacos! Perfectly seasoned and cooked in minutes, it’s a simple way to spice up taco night.

Cooked ground beef in the basket of an air fryer, lined with a red silicone basket.

Taco night, or some variation of it, is a staple in a lot of families when it comes to meal planning. There are so many options to choose from and, at least from my experience, the build-your-own format is the easiest way to accommodate pickier eaters.

Everyone can add their own favorite toppings and leave the rest. That is a major win in my book.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Unless I am looking at making a meatless version of our favorite tacos, I start by cooking ground beef.

Today I am sharing an air fryer method for making taco meat that I love! It is so quick and easy! The best part is how little clean up I have to do afterwards.

Not only is this easy recipe a great option for busy weeknights, it is also perfect for meal planning. I like to buy the big packages of ground beef at Costco and use it for several meals.

I can cook up a big batch of taco meat, divide it, and freeze it. Then, I just pull out as much as I want to use, heat it, and serve. I have a quick meal that the entire family loves.

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Supplies

Ninja Air Fryer – this is a great all-around air fryer in my experience!
Silicone liner – these are the ones I use. They are super easy to clean and re-use.
Air Fryer Paper Liners – these disposable air fryer liners work great too!
Meat masher – a must for this recipe!

Air Fryer Taco Meat

Ingredients

You only need a few simple ingredients from the grocery store.

Lean ground beef
Homemade taco seasoning – this homemade taco seasoning is my to-go. A packet of store bought seasoning will work too!

Raw taco meat in the basket of an air fryer.

Instructions

1. Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper or a silicone basket liner.

2. Place raw ground beef in the basket, using a meat masher to help break apart the beef before cooking.

Meat masher resting in the basket of an air fryer with cooked taco meat.

3. Cook for 5 mins at 390 degrees F. Open the air fryer and use the meat masher to help crumble the beef some more.

4. Add taco seasoning to the meat and give it a toss.

5. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes or until cooked through.

Close up of nachos with all the toppings, sour cream in the center with diced green onions.

Use the cooked beef with these easy air fryer nachos, a simple tortilla bake, or this beef burrito bowl.

Some of Our Favorite Taco Fixings

Flour tortillas, corn tortillas, tortilla or corn chips, taco salad bowls.
Black, pinto, and refried beans
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Chopped bell pepper
Red onion
Black olives
Jalapenos
Banana peppers
Cheddar cheese, pepper jack, Tex Mex, or a Mexican cheese blend
Sour cream, salsa, homemade pico de gallo, guacamole or lime crema
Fresh cilantro, green onions

Tips and Tricks

The exact cooking time for this recipe will vary depending on the size of your air fryer. Keep a close eye on things to avoid burning.
I love how easy clean up is when I use parchment paper, but if you don’t have any, you can also use nonstick cooking spray on the basket.
Try this air fryer method with ground turkey or ground chicken.
Using a meat thermometer is the best way to be sure the taco meat is fully cooked and has reached a safe internal temperature.
Store leftover ground beef in an airtight container in the fridge.
We have a ton of yummy homemade salsa variations that you could try, like this fresh salsa, the best homemade canned salsa, and a yummy mango salsa.

Whip up this delicious air fryer taco meat for Taco Tuesday this week. Your taste buds will thank you!

Ground beef seasoned with taco spices and cooked in the basket of an air fryer with a red liner.

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