Name: Hearty Beef & Lentil Tacos
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1 pound lean ground beef; 1 small onion (diced); 2 cloves garlic (minced); 2 tablespoons taco seasoning (or 1 packet); ½ cup dried brown or green lentils (rinsed); 1½ cups water or low-sodium beef broth; 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce; 12 small corn or flour tortillas (warmed); Toppings (shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, salsa, cilantro)

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These tacos stretch a pound of ground beef with lentils. The lentils simmer right in the taco-seasoned meat until tender, and they blend in so well that most people don’t notice them.

Half a cup of dried lentils costs very little and turns four servings of taco meat into six. It’s one of the easiest ways to make beef go further.

The filling takes about 35 minutes and freezes well.

Ingredients and Swaps

Ground beef: Lean ground beef or ground turkey.
Lentils: Brown or green, rinsed. Red lentils turn mushy. For a shortcut, use 1½ cups of cooked lentils and simmer for only 5 minutes with ½ cup of water.
Taco seasoning and tomato sauce: Season the filling and make it saucy.
Tortillas: Corn or flour, warmed.
Toppings: Lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, salsa and cilantro.

Tips for Beef and Lentil Taco Filling

Rinse and check the lentils. Pick out any small stones.
Keep it covered. The lentils need the steam to cook through.
Check the liquid. If the pan dries out before the lentils are tender, add a splash of water.
Simmer uncovered at the end. A few minutes thickens the filling so it doesn’t run out of the tacos.

Prices are from Walmart’s and ALDI’s websites for stores in Columbus, Ohio, checked in October 2026. Ohio’s grocery prices are within about 1% of the national average, so you may pay more or less depending on where you live, and prices change often. Here’s how we price our recipes.

Cost: Ingredients – $9.79 from Walmart, $8.76 from ALDI · Per Serving – $1.46 to $1.63

Beef and lentil tacos topped with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and cilantro

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Hearty Beef & Lentil Tacos

Seasoned ground beef and tender lentils simmered together into a hearty taco filling that doubles the servings without anyone noticing. Protein-packed and budget-friendly.

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 25

Total Time 35

Servings: 6 servings

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef
1 small onion diced
2 cloves garlic minced
2 tablespoons taco seasoning or 1 packet
½ cup dried brown or green lentils rinsed
1½ cups water or low-sodium beef broth
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
12 small corn or flour tortillas warmed
Toppings shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, salsa, cilantro

Method

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the beef and onion for 6–7 minutes, breaking up the meat, until browned. Drain excess fat.
Add the garlic and taco seasoning and cook 1 minute.
Stir in the lentils, water or broth, and tomato sauce. Bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer 20–25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are tender and the liquid is mostly absorbed. Add a splash of water if it gets too dry.
Mash lightly with a spoon to blend the lentils into the beef. Taste and adjust seasoning.
Spoon into warm tortillas and top as desired.

Notes

Shortcut: use 1½ cups pre-cooked lentils and simmer only 5 minutes with ½ cup water.
Use ground turkey instead of beef.
The filling is great for burrito bowls and nachos.
Add a diced chipotle pepper for smoky heat.

Other Ways to Use the Filling

Spoon it over rice for bowls, onto chips for Loaded Nachos, or into burritos and quesadillas. More ideas for stretching beef are in 10 Ways to Stretch Ground Beef into Multiple Meals.