Description
These Cheesy Rotel Beef Soft Tortilla Tacos are loaded with juicy seasoned beef, creamy cheese sauce, and zesty Rotel flavor — the ultimate Tex-Mex comfort food for any night of the week.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2½ pounds ground beef (80/20 blend for flavor)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for browning)
- 1 medium onion, finely diced
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning (plus extra to taste)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2½ cups whole milk (room temperature)
- 2 cans (10 oz each) Rotel (diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained)
- 2½ cups freshly shredded cheddar cheese (sharp or medium)
- ⅓ cup sour cream
- A few dashes of hot sauce (optional, for heat and color)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Soft flour tortillas, warmed (6–8 medium size)
- Diced tomatoes and chopped cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
- Brown the Beef
- In a large skillet or pot, heat olive oil over medium heat.
- Add the diced onion and sauté until translucent (about 3 minutes).
- Add the ground beef, sprinkle with taco seasoning, and cook until fully browned, breaking it into crumbles.
- Once cooked, drain any excess grease and set the beef aside, leaving a thin layer of drippings in the pan.
- Make the Cheesy Rotel Sauce
- In the same pan, melt butter over medium heat.
- Whisk in flour and cook for 1–2 minutes to form a light roux.
- Slowly pour in milk, whisking constantly until smooth and slightly thickened.
- Stir in both cans of Rotel (with their juices) and mix well.
- Reduce heat to low and gradually add shredded cheddar, stirring until melted and creamy.
- Mix in sour cream, hot sauce, salt, and pepper. Adjust seasoning and spice level to taste.
- Combine & Simmer
- Add the cooked beef and onions back into the cheesy Rotel sauce.
- Stir thoroughly to coat the meat.
- Let it simmer for 8–10 minutes over low heat until thick, smooth, and glossy — the consistency should be creamy but scoopable.
- Warm the Tortillas
- Heat the flour tortillas in a dry skillet or microwave until soft and pliable.
- Assemble the Tacos
- Spoon a generous amount of the cheesy beef mixture into each tortilla.
- Allow the sauce to slightly spill over for that luscious, melty look.
- Garnish with diced tomatoes and a sprinkle of cilantro for freshness.
Notes
Serve immediately while warm and creamy — these tacos pair perfectly with Spanish rice, tortilla chips, or a crisp salad.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 taco
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: cheesy tacos, Rotel beef, Tex-Mex, soft tortilla tacos, ground beef recipe