Our hamburger comes in 2 lb frozen logs. It barely feeds my family of 7 for a meal of tacos. Once a week we add 4 extra mouths to our table and I knew it wouldn’t stretch. I added 2 cups of cooked brown rice to our meat once it was browned and then added my taco spices to flavor it all together. I loved the flavors and the children ate it well. We had enough for lunch the next day.
3 Ingredient Taco Seasoning
1 teaspoon garlic salt
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1-2 Tablespoons chili powder
Mix spices and sprinkle on 2 lb cooked meat with 1/4 cup water. Cook and and stir until most of the water has evaporated.
We’re a family of 8 and have the same problem. A simple meal of tacos can quickly become an expensive meal b/c of the amount of meat that’s required to fill all those bellies. What a great way to stretch the meat and make the meal more affordable, but still enjoyable and nutritious! Thanks for the tip!
I have 3 boys and found that adding a can of black beans also helps to stretch taco meat!
Clever. I have always used refreid bean as my Taco meat extender and had the rice on the side. Might have to switch things up next time. Thanks for the idea.
Great ideas from you and the other ladies commenting!!! Thanks!!
We are a family of 8 and add 3 cups of black beans to our 2lbs. of taco meat. This really helps fill my 3 teenage boys.
Blessings,
We like refried beans on the side so I usually stretch the meat with lentils if we need to stretch it. I also put refried beans on the tacos themselves, under the meat. I’ve also made them with just beans or lentils and rice but we definitely prefer meat. The kids are having nachos tonight. Taco salad for me.
My grandmother always stretched her taco meat with frozen peas. It is a tradition we have continued through the generations! My husband was a bit confused when he saw the peas at his first “taco sunday” at grandma’s! (She also used to fry her own taco shells – 13 dozen when the whole family gathered together!)
I grew up with peas AND potatoes in my taco meat. ;o)
We also had a sort of salad of cottage cheese and corn- anybody else ever have that?