My husband is probably sick of how often I make tacos. Mexican food in general is so amazing. You take the same few ingredients and mix them up in different ways, and it’s a whole new meal! I won’t pretend that the way I make tacos is authentic – I just don’t have that kind of time or patience when it comes to cooking. Old El Paso is my Food Bae, as the kids might say (okay, the kids would NEVER say that… I’m so old…El Paso…) But I’m always open to better ways of doing things, and that even includes how I cook my old standbys. So here are some of my best tips for you – Taco Night just got healthier and easier!
‘Tis the season(ing)
Awhile back, I realized just how much sodium is packed into those little packets of taco seasoning you buy at the grocery store. Depending on your dietary needs, the ingredients can be problematic as well. Enter, this amazing recipe for homemade taco seasoning I found on Pinterest! Here’s what you mix together:
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1 part chili powder
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1 part ground cumin
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1 part garlic powder
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1 part onion powder
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¼ – ½ part crushed red pepper
Just pre-mix those spices, store them in an airtight container and then add a couple of tablespoonfuls and a little water to whatever meat or veggies you’re cooking! Yum!
A little game of chicken
If my husband is tired of tacos, then he’s DEFINITELY tired of how often I serve chicken for dinner. It’s just so versatile. And I’m lazy. I buy several skinless chicken breasts and cook them in my slow-cooker for four hours on high. Once that’s done, I take two forks, shred the chicken and freeze it. When I want to use it, I just thaw the portion that I want, cook it and call it good! It makes AMAZING chicken tacos! A word to the wise – your chicken can get a bit dry if you aren’t careful. But, you know, you’re not having the Queen over for Taco Tuesday – if your chicken is a little dry, it’s okay. Better than being under-cooked!
The leftovers
As I said before, Mexican cuisine is so flexible already. It’s easy to take any leftovers from Taco Night and re-purpose them into new dishes. One of my favorite ways is by making burrito bowls! Cook some rice (I get REAL lazy and use the “microwave-in-bag” variety), add your leftover meat and veggies, microwave and then add your toppings! This is a super easy meal to take to work for lunch!
There you have it! So now, what are your favorite tips to make Taco Night healthier and easier?
