Learn how to brown ground beef for use in so many recipes from tacos to casseroles!
Ingredients
- ▢1 pound lean ground beef 80/20
- ▢1 tablespoon olive oil optional
- ▢salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place oil in a skillet if using and heat over medium-high heat.
- Add beef and cook 4-5 minutes without stirring or until a crust forms on one side.
- Season with salt & pepper. Cook over medium-high heat, breaking up meat stirring only occasionally. Don’t stir too much.
- Continue cooking until no pink remains. Drain any fat.
Notes
Olive oil (or vegetable oil) is optional but helps the beef to brown better. Don’t stir too much, cooking the beef without stirring allows it to actually ‘brown’ which adds great flavor!
- Preheat the pan for the best results and do not stir the beef until it’s browned on one side.
- Avoid over-stirring the beef as it cooks in order to develop a crust that adds flavor.
- Onion or garlic can be added to the beef as it browns.
- Remove the ground beef from the heat as soon as it’s cooked through to keep it from drying out.
- Drain fat but do not rinse the beef or it will lose flavor.
- Cook beef ahead of time and freeze. Add it to recipes right from frozen.
