Spiced El Paso Street Tacos
Tender marinated beef tacos infused with smoky spices, topped with fresh pico de gallo and served on warm corn tortillas, inspired by the vibrant flavors of El Paso. This Mexican-inspired taco and burrito recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs beef skirt steak, olive oil, ground cumin for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 lb beef skirt steak
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 8 small corn tortillas
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 medium, diced tomato
- 1 small, finely chopped white onion
- 1 small, seeded and minced jalapeño
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a medium bowl, combine 1 lb beef skirt steak cut into thin strips with 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp chili powder, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 2 tbsp lime juice. Toss well and marinate for at least 30 minutes.
- Step 2: While the beef marinates, prepare the pico de gallo by mixing 2 diced medium tomatoes, 1 finely chopped small white onion, 1 minced small jalapeño (seeded for less heat), and 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro in a bowl. Set aside to let flavors meld.
- Step 3: Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until hot, then add the marinated beef strips. Sear for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through with a smoky aroma.
- Step 4: Warm 8 small corn tortillas on a dry skillet for 30 seconds each side until soft and pliable.
- Step 5: Assemble tacos by dividing the cooked beef evenly among the tortillas, topping with generous spoonfuls of pico de gallo. Serve immediately with lime wedges if desired.






