Ground Beef Fajitas (15 Minute Meal!) - Slender Kitchen (2024)

Ground Beef Fajitas Recipe

Ground Beef Fajitas are a delicious combination of everyone’s beloved ground beef tacos and classic fajitas. Seasoned ground beef, bell peppers, and onions, all piled high in flour tortillas with all your favorite fajita toppings.

While I will always love classic steak fajitas and chicken fajitas, sometimes I just don’t have the time or patience to slice up the protein. That’s when these ground beef fajitas are the answer!

Saute some peppers and onions, brown the ground beef, sprinkle in fajita seasoning, and dinner is done. This meal takes no time to prepare and is something everyone loves.

Why You’ll Love Ground Beef Fajitas

• 15-Minute Meal: Have dinner on the table in just 15 minutes! Easy to find ingredients, minimal prep work, and easy cooking techniques.
• Family Favorite: If your family loves ground beef tacos and fajitas, this is the perfect mash-up! Everyone can add their favorite toppings for a meal everyone loves.
• Versatile: Make these tasty fajitas with ground beef, chicken, or turkey. Swap in different veggies. Switch up how you serve them - bowls, tacos, lettuce wraps, quesadillas, nachos, and more.

Looking for more delicious fajita recipes? Try these Veggie Fajitas,Baked Chicken Fajitas, and Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas.

Ingredients and Easy Substitutions

Here is everything you need to make these tasty fajitas.

• Ground beef: Any type of ground beef or ground meat can be used in this recipe. Swap in ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground vegetarian crumbles.
• Onions and peppers: It’s not fajitas without onions and peppers. I like to use red, yellow, and green bell peppers and red onion for lots of color and flavor. Swap in any combination of peppers and onions you like.
• Fajita seasoning: I always have homemade fajita seasoning in my spice cabinet made with chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Swap in store-bought seasoning or use taco seasoning. Add some cayenne pepper or hot sauce for extra spice.
• Tortillas: Fajitas are traditionally served in flour tortillas but corn tortillas also work great. For a more Tex-Mex feel, serve them in crispy baked taco shells. Or swap in an alternative tortilla or lettuce wraps for something lighter.
• Toppings: Add all your favorite fajita toppings including shredded cheese, sour cream, cilantro, lime juice, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, salsa, and more.
• Shortcuts: For an extra fast meal, grab some pre-sliced peppers and onions from the salad bar or swap in frozen. Serve it with canned beans or precooked rice for a 10-minute, protein-packed dinner.

How to Make Fajitas with Ground Beef

These ground beef fajitas couldn’t be easier to make!

1. Saute the onions and peppers

Start by heating up olive oil in a large skillet or cast-iron pan. Once hot, add the sliced peppers and onions to the pan. Cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are beginning to char. They should be tender-crisp, not soggy. Set aside.

If the vegetables begin to burn at all, add a splash of water to the pan.

2. Brown the ground beef

Add the ground beef and fajita seasoning to the skillet. Break it up using a wooden spoon and brown for 6-8 minutes until it is fully cooked and no longer pink.

Add the peppers and onions back to the skillet and stir together. Taste and season as needed.

3. Assemble the fajitas and add toppings

Start by warming the flour tortillas. Then fill them with ground beef and fajita vegetables. Add your favorite toppings and serve.

Side Dish and Serving Ideas

From classic side dishes like rice and beans to creative salads and serving ideas, these ground beef fajitas are super versatile.

• Rice and beans: For a classic preparation, serve these fajitas with black beans or refried beans. Then add rice, quinoa, or Mexican cauliflower rice.
• Veggies and more: Lighten things up and serve this with a Mexican Chopped Salad, Street Corn Salad, or some creamy Mexican coleslaw.
• Fajita bowls: Turn this into a delicious fajita bowl with brown rice, pickled onions, avocado, corn, black beans, and your favorite salsa.
• Fajita quesadillas: Add some shredded Mexican cheese and turn this into a cheesy quesadilla.
• Fajita pasta: Believe it or not, you can make a super satisfying fajita pasta dish by combining this with cooked pasta and veggies. It’s almost like a chili mac.

Best Fajita Toppings

Just like tacos, one of the best things about eating fajitas is all the toppings you can pile on.

Here are some favorites:

• Avocado or guacamole
• Pico de gallo
• Salsa verde
• Pickled red onions
• Cilantro
• Shredded lettuce
• Sour cream (or Greek yogurt)
• Shredded cheese
• Fresh lime juice
• Corn or corn salsa

Recipe Ideas and Variations

There are lots of ways to customize this recipe based on what you have at home or your preferences.

• Change the protein: Use ground turkey or ground chicken for a lighter option.
• Add beans: Add a can of drained black beans or pinto beans to the meat for extra fiber and protein.
• Make it low carb: Serve these over a bed of cauliflower rice, wrapped in low-carb tortillas, or served as a salad for a low-carb meal.
• Use taco seasoning: If you don’t have any fajita seasoning on hand, swap in taco seasoning for a slightly different flavor.
• Skillet meal: Turn this into a tasty skillet meal by adding a package of precooked rice or a can of beans. Then top the fajitas with shredded cheese, cilantro, black olives, tomatoes, and green onions. Melt the cheese and serve it with warm tortillas or chips.

Leftovers, Meal Prep, and Storage

This is an excellent option for meal prep since it keeps well in the fridge and freezer.

• Fridge: Let it fully cool and store it in the fridge (tortillas packed separately) for 4-5 days in an airtight container. Reheat in the microwave or a hot skillet.
• Freezer: Once the ground beef fajitas have fully cooled, they can be frozen for up to 3 months. Let defrost overnight in the fridge and then reheat in a skillet.
• Meal prep: Pack these fajitas with tortillas on the side or serve as a rice bowl for easy meal prep.

The Recipe

Ground Beef Fajitas

PREP TIME: 5 Min

COOK TIME: 15 Min

TOTAL TIME: 20 Min

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Notes

Optional toppings: shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, salsa, sour cream, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, etc

This recipe works great with ground beef, ground chicken, ground turkey, or vegetarian crumbles.

For a lighter meal, use lean ground turkey breast and low-carb or thin corn tortillas.