Healthy real food made simple and a kid favorite!! 20 Minute Meal: Beef and Veggie Taco Lettuce Cups

Today, I bring you a meal that says, “I get it!”

Life is busy. Even when attempting to simplify, life often creeps up on me, grabs me by the hand and talks me into riding some wild and crazy roller coaster called, “busy.” Because I’m a “yes” person, the roller coaster rides happen more than I’d like to admit, and I know I’m not alone.

I hear from fellow Live Simplians ( I like that, maybe a future Dr. Seuss book?) often about the busyness of life.  Even if we aren’t busy outside the home, life within the walls our house can take on their own form of busy: tending a garden, chickens, cleaning, being a mom, cooking, and laundry. Somewhere in the middle of riding the busy coaster, we need to find a way to feed our families nourishing, enjoyable meals.

Healthy real food made simple and a kid favorite!! 20 Minute Meal: Beef and Veggie Taco Lettuce Cups

Let me just state the obvious for a moment. Have you ever witnessed a rider scramble an egg while riding a roller coaster? I’m banking on your answer being, “No!”  Why not? Well, there’s simply no room, time, or speed that welcomes cooking. It’s simply not possible. Okay, too far with the whole roller coaster analogy? Maybe so, but you get it. A busy life often leaves little room for cooking.

Depressing, right? Well, I have a couple solutions. Ready?

Healthy real food made simple and a kid favorite!! 20 Minute Meal: Beef and Veggie Taco Lettuce Cups

How to Cook Nourishing, Enjoyable Food When Life is Busy

First, get rid of busy.

I realize that’s not the first solution you may be looking for, but I truly believe that we are way too busy and need to learn the art of the word “No!” Not in a rude way, of course, but in a way that keeps us sane and allows time for caring for ourselves and family.

Think about all of the activities we can say “yes” to: soccer, church meetings, school activities, playdates, ballet, football, gymnastics, swimming lessons, the gym. There’s nothing wrong with any of those, but limiting the large amount of activities we participate in on a daily basis is healthy. Having down time teaches our children to rest and be imaginative at home, and allows us time to care for some of the needs of a household, including preparing nourishing meals.

Second, learn to cook meals that are delicious and simple! I’m in love with simple, hence the name of the blog.

My meal plans are filled with simple and delicious meals: homemade soups from the freezer, crockpot meals, homemade pizza (with homemade dough from the freezer), salads, and tacos. Learning how to meal plan and prepare simple meals is essential for a busy household.

Healthy real food made simple and a kid favorite!! 20 Minute Meal: Beef and Veggie Taco Lettuce Cups

I get it. I know we’re all busy, even when limiting outside activities, and simple meals can get rather boring. Today, I have a solution for both “problems.” A solution that takes twenty minutes to make, and combines healthy ingredients that can be prepared even in the busiest of times.

Healthy real food made simple and a kid favorite!! 20 Minute Meal: Beef and Veggie Taco Lettuce Cups

Friend, I bring you Beef and Veggie Taco Lettuce Cups. A simple way to change-up taco night without spending hours in the kitchen. Taco lettuce cups start with grass-fed beef, homemade taco seasoning, and veggies which come together in one single pot. Who has time for millions of dishes, right? The beef and veggies are met in a flavor-packed grand finale hosted by butter or bibb lettuce leaves and finally glorious toppings. Tacos that are so fun to eat, you’ll forget they only took twenty minutes to make.

Let’s embrace simple and “no” (in a polite way) with a big plate of Beef and Veggie Taco Lettuce Cups.

beef and veggie taco cups
5 from 4 votes

Beef and Veggie Taco Lettuce Cups

Friend, I bring you Beef and Veggie Taco Lettuce Cups. A simple way to change-up taco night without spending hours in the kitchen. Taco lettuce cups start with grass-fed beef, homemade taco seasoning, and veggies which come together in one single pot.
Kristin Marr
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 4 People
Calories 591 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 TB extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil
  • 1 lb ground beef grass-fed
  • 1/2 onion thinly sliced
  • 1/2 bell pepper thinly sliced
  • 1 TB chili powder
  • 1 TB ground cumin
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp oregano
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup corn kernels fresh or frozen
  • 1 medium tomato diced
  • 1 head lettuce butter or bibb lettuce

Toppings of choice:

  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/4 cup cilantro
  • 1 avocado sliced
  • 1/4 cup lime juice fresh-squeezed
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup salsa

Instructions

  • Wash the lettuce and carefully remove the leaves to dry. Set aside.
  • In a small bowl, mix together the taco spices. Set aside.
  • In a large skillet over medium-high heat (I use my cast iron), heat the oil. Add the ground beef and spices. Cook until the meat is slightly brown with a little pink. Drain the extra fat (grease) from the pan. Return the pan to the heat and add the onion, pepper slices, and corn kernels. Cook until soft and meat is fully brown (5 minutes.)
  • Turn off the heat. Add the diced tomato, gently stirring the tomato into the taco filing.
  • To assemble the taco cups, fill the lettuce leaves with the taco beef and veggies and any desired toppings.
  • For leftovers, store the meat mixture and lettuce separately until needed.

Nutrition

Calories: 591kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 27gFat: 45gSaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 110mgSodium: 774mgPotassium: 1042mgFiber: 7gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 2455IUVitamin C: 36.3mgCalcium: 208mgIron: 4.7mg
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

Healthy real food made simple and a kid favorite!! 20 Minute Meal: Beef and Veggie Taco Lettuce Cups

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10 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    SO SO Good! The “20 minutes” is what drew me in, not only were they so easy, but super tasty. Thank you!! I made a spread with all the suggested toppings except the salsa because I didn’t have it and everything was so yummy. The lime really makes it!

  2. 5 stars
    Thank you so much for this recipe! Simple delicious ingredients with a great flavor. I just made these for dinner and used ground turkey instead of the beef. I also forgot to pick up lettuce but I ate this with some rice and black beans like a burrito bowl. So good! I just found your blog and I love it!

  3. 5 stars
    These are so awesome! I love tacos and this eliminates having to layer everything on. My husband doesn’t like spices, like any, so I just pressed some fresh garlic into it. So delicious, thanks.

  4. 5 stars
    I love simple, yet delicious recipes like this! Your taco wraps look so scrumptious! I’m sharing a link to this recipe in my GF meal plan over at The Better Mom this week. I hope it brings some new friends your way! Blessings to you and your family for a Happy Thanksgiving! xo