Beef Taco Lettuce Wraps

Guys, I totally know what you're thinking. What the heck is she posting a freaking taco recipe for? I get it. Tacos are easy. But dang it, they're a staple in our house. Recently, though, we decided to skip the tortilla, and throw that taco goodness in a wrap. 

Tacos reminds me of my big brother Matty more than anything. When I was in middle school, and he was in high school, he could have easily written me off as the brace-face punk little sister. He didn't, though, and a couple Saturdays a month, he would go to Taco Time with me. Just him and I. We'd order anywhere from 8-10 tacos, and pound those babies down like it was going to be the last meal we had. We were taco addicts, and thought we were so rad calling them "tocas," It made me feel really special that he'd hang out with me. He had a girlfriend, he had a ton of friends, he had piles of homework from his AP classes, he had his music, he had a car he'd like to wash incessantly, but he'd take the time here and there and have tacos with me. Still to this day, whenever we're making tacos (Taco Tuesday, as my Mom would call it), I think of my crazy big brother. 

This recipe would probably be something he'd laugh at (then again, I don't know! He's on a health kick lately. Haha), but I just had to try making our usual tacos in a lettuce wrap. It turned out awesome! I mean, look at that juicy goodness. I'm a huge beef taco lover, and I love how seriously easy and low maintenance it is to throw them together. Seriously. Meat, seasoning, cheese, lettuce. Bam. Tacos are done. The other stuff is nice, but not really essential if you're keeping things painfully simple for a low budget week. However, there's nothing like a soft bite of avocado and the juicy explosion of a tomato in a taco lettuce wrap! If you're looking to lighten things up, but still keep your love affair with beef alive and well, grab some romaine or butter lettuce. You'll be surprised how filling it still is, and how much your family will actually buy into it. Haha. :) Hope you're having a beautiful week! See you soon with more recipes! 

Beef Taco Lettuce Wrap

makes 4 servings

ingredients:

1 lb ground beef

1 packet of taco mix*

romaine hearts or butter lettuce, rinsed and broken into serving pieces 

shredded Monterrey jack cheese

1 ripe avocado, cubed

cherry tomatoes, sliced in quarters

sprinkle of chopped cilantro

method:

1. In a medium pan, cook ground beef until completely cooked through and browned, about 6 minutes. Tip pan on its side and drain excess juices. Add in taco mix (and water if directions ask for it). Cover, and simmer for about 2 minutes. 

2. Serve ground beef on the butter lettuce or romaine hearts. Top with cheese, cherry tomatoes, ripe avocado, and sprinkle of cilantro. Serve immediately, and enjoy! 

*You can make your own Taco Mix by mixing together the following spices:

1 T chili powder

1/4 t garlic powder

1/4 t onion powder

1/2 t paprika

1 1/2 t ground cinnamon

1 t sea salt

1/4 t crushed red pepper flakes

1 t black pepper

1/4 t dried oregano. 

recipe adapted: Baking with Blondie