The Secret of Beef Tacos
These tacos have a secret.
A tasty, tasty secret.
A simple secret.
A surprising secret.
A “I-can’t-believe-I-never-thought-of that secret!”
Is it the cheese? A hidden spice? Homemade hard shells?
Well, let’s see. 
Brown up some ground beef with your favorite package of seasoning…
Add some beef and beans (if you like) in those nifty tacos shells with the flat bottoms…
And lots of tasty cheese…
And broil into cheesy, beefy, beany, crunchy, melty goodness.
Well, hmm.
There’s nothing much secret about that.
But wait! We forgot!
Ketchup. We forgot to talk about the ketchup.
You see, the secret to these delightful beef tacos is that after you ground the beef, you add your favorite seasoning packet ( I use Lawry’s Taco Seasoning) and add in about 1/4- 1/3 cup of ketchup, depending on how much beef you cooked. Most taco recipes call for tomato sauce or paste, but ketchup just adds an extra zing that turns a good taco into a great taco.
A secret taco.
A secret cheesy, beefy, beany, melty, crunchy, tasty taco.
But rememeber–
it’s a secret.
So share!
Stay tuned, Invisible Friends! Tomorrow we have more Dallas Jean and Saturday, a new Creative Person of the Pond!
October 1st, 2009 at 3:27 am
Oh wow those look totally delish!
thank you for coming by Duckie, so nice of you to leave a comment.
xoxo
October 1st, 2009 at 3:42 am
Ketchup!!! Wow, most certainly will give that a try.
Thanks for the tip.
October 1st, 2009 at 4:30 am
Yep I’m back in Florida, it’s good to be home! I see you’re still cooking up a storm-and still making me hungry whenever I stop by!!
October 1st, 2009 at 4:33 am
Thank you so much for sharing your story with me. I was really happy to read about yours and your husband’s relationship with each other. Sounds a lot like me and my boyfriend. It encouraging to hear that you guys are still happy and you enjoy the simpler things in life. It sounds like a beautiful relationship and it’s great that you have found happiness in someone wonderful. I hope your marriage continues to grow with love and happiness in the years to come! I can’t wait to be where you are
Also, thank you for the well wishes. It really meant a lot to me!
All the best,
Carrie
October 1st, 2009 at 4:45 am
I’ll have to try that next time I make them!
October 1st, 2009 at 5:03 am
Ducki, here in England, whenever I make tacos, I always add a dash of Worcestershire sauce to the tomato sauce for an extra bit of kick…and loads of cheese !!
October 1st, 2009 at 5:15 am
MMMMMMMMMMMM – tacos!!!!!!!!!!
October 1st, 2009 at 5:15 am
I love tacos from a true Texan. They look decadent and delicious. Thank you so much for sharing!
October 1st, 2009 at 5:16 am
Love the tip and I also never thought about melting the cheese either. Those flat bottom taco shells are going to be one of greatest inventions. Right up there next to light bread.
Ramona
October 1st, 2009 at 5:30 am
Those look so delicious! Yum. My family would love ketchup added…they love ketchup added to anything!
October 1st, 2009 at 5:44 am
YUM! I know what is for dinner tonight
And I am LOVING your new story!
October 1st, 2009 at 5:49 am
Oh sounds delicious. I will give that a try the next time I make tacos!
October 1st, 2009 at 5:53 am
I would have never guessed Ketchup. I’ll give this a try on our next taco night and I wont tell the family.
October 1st, 2009 at 5:57 am
Great tip! I’ll have to give it a try!
October 1st, 2009 at 6:10 am
Well, Damn! I never thought of adding tomato sauce to my beef, let alone ketchup. I’ll have to try that, although I must confess that I only use the soft taco shells, not the hard ones.
October 1st, 2009 at 6:11 am
those look soo good and I never crave salty! who knew that ketchup would be the secret sauce for tacos?!
kHm
October 1st, 2009 at 6:12 am
I think baking them till the cheese melts would be a great secret, sugar! I like that idea and we’re having tacos for dinner tonight so I’ll try it!
xoxo,
Connie
October 1st, 2009 at 6:13 am
I have been obssessed with beef tacos lately. Not shredded beef, the crappy, Taco Bell ground beef tacos. Delicious!
October 1st, 2009 at 6:17 am
Ketchup…now that’s a new one on me. My secret is i put ketchup on just about anything including scrambled eggs, so i would not be afraid to try this.
P.S. Are you kidding, no way did she eat the soup. She also decided she doesn’t like the word “miso” and politely asked me to quit saying it. Seriously, where did she come from?
October 1st, 2009 at 6:18 am
Yes!! We swear by ketchup for tons of stuff too. It does give food that extra zing!
October 1st, 2009 at 6:34 am
I see lots of tips beside ketchup – flat bottoms, lots of cheese, under the broiler and beans too!
October 1st, 2009 at 7:00 am
LOL Hey! You forgot the jalapenos! LOL FIRE!!!
October 1st, 2009 at 7:10 am
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM,…the beef tacos look splendid!!
I so want to eat at least3!!
October 1st, 2009 at 7:15 am
Awesome zingy secret. Will have to try that sometime.
October 1st, 2009 at 7:22 am
I love dipping my bean and cheese burritos in ketchup so I am certain I would dig your tacos.
October 1st, 2009 at 7:24 am
Oh, those look soooooooooo good!
October 1st, 2009 at 7:57 am
Well arent you a smart one, I would have never thought of that! Great idea!
October 1st, 2009 at 8:04 am
I really need to stop visiting A Duck In Her Pond in the morning…it simply leaves me hungry. These look downright divine – I imagine I could eat one hundred right about now; or at least fifty!
October 1st, 2009 at 8:14 am
Hmmm… this looks much better than what I had for dinner tonight
I’d much rather have had these delicious looking tacos. This is what happens when you try out a new recipe lol.
October 1st, 2009 at 8:30 am
What a yummy secret!
Those tacos really look delicius!
Thanks for visiting my blog. The dish you see in the picture is called Mozzarella In Carrozza (something like mozzarella in a carriege and if you want I’ll give you the recipe.
My favorite country music singer is George Jones, but I really like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Mel Tillis, Tammy Wynette, Dwight Yoakam, George Strait too and many many more.
October 1st, 2009 at 9:00 am
yum! i will ask my husband how to do it – if i remember!
October 1st, 2009 at 9:06 am
Never, ever have I heard such a thing. It makes sense but it sounds wacky.
October 1st, 2009 at 9:24 am
You’re sort of like Giada DeLaurentis who swears by putting ketchup in her meatballs.
October 1st, 2009 at 9:33 am
Great idea, I’ll have to try that instead of tomato paste next time! Also, I’ll have to start broiling my tacos to melt the cheese, yours look great!
October 1st, 2009 at 9:38 am
I would never have even thought of using ketchup. Great tip!
October 1st, 2009 at 9:49 am
I’m making this for my son for lunch today. I think he’ll enjoy the ketchup better than tom sauce or salsa. Great broiling tip, too! Ole!
October 1st, 2009 at 9:52 am
Any tomato based sauce, when tweaking, seems to need a little more sweetness or tartness- ketchup works like no other.It’s the corn syrup and vinegar in it.. It’s what a lot of cooks use, but don’t admit to!
October 1st, 2009 at 10:17 am
That sounds/looks delicious! I have to wait until all my vegetarian friends have gone home and then make it in secret!
October 1st, 2009 at 10:26 am
Good heaven! I am drooling over your secret ingredient tacos. I agree- the ketchup would give just the right amount of sweetness and I love the way the cheese melted.
October 1st, 2009 at 10:34 am
Those look soooooooooooooooooo delish!!
October 1st, 2009 at 11:34 am
Hey Ducky,
Visit my blog in about an hour, I’ve got something for you!
Loads of love and big hugs!
October 1st, 2009 at 11:53 am
I’ll try that next time but just for you. You see, I have a secret too. I do not like ketchup. There I said it. They sure look yumm-ee though:)
October 1st, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Oooh thankyou for sharing your beef taco secrets. I don’t eat tacos nearly often enough but I love them
October 1st, 2009 at 12:56 pm
oh what a great idea, and the tacos looks SO good, i love all that cheese!
October 1st, 2009 at 1:08 pm
That looks really good!!
October 1st, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Tacos are so hard to beat! I love the idea of ketcup in yours
October 1st, 2009 at 2:34 pm
For the first time, I only looked at your pictures and did not read the post…yet. But thought I would say….”rumbling in my tummy with thoughts of hoah lee cow, that is one massively thick taco and I bet you can totally down that thing!” Now I will actually read your post that goes with those super massive tacos!
October 1st, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Okay, I read the post, and now I know we are kin when it comes to eating. I add Ketchup to anything that says, add tomato, tomato sauce, or spaghetti sauce. People love it when they taste it. I keep it secret because they usually think its gross if I tell them I added ketchup……crazy?! I think Yum!
October 1st, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Oh my gosh, they look wonderful!!
October 1st, 2009 at 3:11 pm
I LOVE the sound of “secret tacos”! I’m not a fan of ketchup but I could totally try this recipe. Thanks for sharing the secret! ;o)
p.s. & thanks so much for stopping by on my SITS day!
October 1st, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Those look SO good!!
October 1st, 2009 at 4:36 pm
We love making tacos, and this is a secret we are definitely trying with the next batch – thank you!
May your weekend be wonderful,
tp
October 1st, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Mmmmm…tacos!
October 1st, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Ketchup? You genius. These look so yummy!! I want some!
October 1st, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Can you come over my house and cooke it for me? LOL – looks really yummy.
October 1st, 2009 at 7:25 pm
wow, totally never thought about ketchup! So sorry I have been mia recently, hehe. I have been a bad bloggy friend!
October 1st, 2009 at 8:04 pm
OHhhhhh, I’ll have to try this. Brilliant!
October 1st, 2009 at 8:42 pm
I’m twitching with excitement! Just ketchup? That’s IT? Awesome!
October 1st, 2009 at 8:56 pm
You won’t believe this, but I can tell how proud I am… and I made taco tonight for supper. It was fish taco, and also made ground turkey taco. You were right it was good. Can’t believe that I never made it. How embarasshing is that?????
Thanks to you for all of your tacos post!!!!!
Will post it maybe next week in my cooking site.
Thanks pretty ducky!
elra
October 1st, 2009 at 9:22 pm
I think I just gained a dress size looking at those things! YUM
October 1st, 2009 at 10:45 pm
Oh Duckie – That is exactly what I need right now. I am so hungry looking at those delicious, cheesy, delightful beef tacos. I can’t think of anything I would like more. Yum
XOOX
Jen
October 1st, 2009 at 10:48 pm
WHY must you tease me like this. Okay, that’s it! Tacos this weekend!! With lots of cheese. Lol!
October 1st, 2009 at 10:50 pm
Now I am Starvin’ marvin!
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:28 am
You always have some of the tastiest treats. I’m sure I gain weight with each visit to your blog! I love it!
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:39 am
AHA – maybe this is what I need to add to get my kids to eat tacos!!
October 2nd, 2009 at 9:25 am
yum- look at all that melty cheese! Ketchup huh? I prefer taco sauce or salsa but anything tomato works for me! Heaven! Have a good weekend
October 2nd, 2009 at 10:03 am
That sounds like a really good secret ingredient.
Yummy! The melted cheese is making me hungry.
Many Blessings and Happy Fall! ~Melissa
October 2nd, 2009 at 10:21 am
Very very good! These tacos are much better than the risotto of my today’s dinner!
October 2nd, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Mmm, I’m just happy to see that they are generously covered in cheese. No skimping on ooey gooey good stuff!
October 2nd, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Well, rat! I’m reading this eating the tacos that Joe made for dinner! Bummer! I’ll let Joe know for next time! Thanks for sharing your secret to killer tacos!
~ingrid
October 2nd, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Oh wow, they look fantastic! I love all that melted cheese on top – yum!
October 2nd, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Oh, now you have gone too far! I’ve been eating some taco-esque things all week that now, I don’t have anything left to make your tacos with! Boooo! I want tacos!
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Secrets are always meant for sharing:)
October 4th, 2009 at 2:45 am
i must applaud your plentiful use of cheese here. normally i can put away at least three tacos, but i might be hard-pressed to do that when they’re stuffed so full of goodness. ketchup is an interesting addition and one that i’m willing to try!
October 4th, 2009 at 3:11 am
Jesus woman those look amazing! Thanks for sharing the secret! That amount of melted cheese did it for me!
October 4th, 2009 at 6:23 am
yummm!! hand me over some of that tacos pls!! add some more extra cheese
hehe.. interesting story behind the tacos. hehe thanx for sharing!
cheers!
October 4th, 2009 at 7:56 am
I never would have thought to use ketchup! Yum I will have to give this a try!
October 4th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Yum! I oddly want these for breakfast …
October 6th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
I love, Love, LOVE tacos and will have to try your secret ingredient the next time I make some! Who’d a thunk of ketchup!! Why YOU of course! xxoo
October 7th, 2009 at 10:27 am
YAY, another Taco!!!!!!
I post my taco today, check it out and give me critique since this is my first taco I’v ever made. Glad you encourage me to try to make TACO. YUMMY! Thanks Miranda, you are the Taco Queen!
January 16th, 2010 at 6:11 pm
Well those niffty flat bottom taco shells are too wide for most of us to wrap our lips around. Also the two seams on the shell bottom crack when you bite them. Your recipe is fine and the melting of the cheese is the best!!! We do that all the time. Check out my way at my site!
If you want the traditional taco shape without all the problems associated with them… Come see what I have developed…
Once you go rack you will not go back!
Nicolas at TacoRack.com
November 30th, 2011 at 6:39 pm
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