Tacos de Alambre
Is there anything better than taco night? Whether it’s the designated Tuesday or a Monday funday, Tacos de Alambre are destined to become your new favorite way to stuff tortillas. Meaty, hugged in molten cheese, and packed with flavor, this taco skillet is as easy as it is delicious.
Whatever the question, tacos are always the right answer. They’re a food group unto themselves and the universal sign of happiness. Whether it’s Sheet Pan Flank Steak Fajitas, or this sizzling skillet of flavor, it’s a meal that instantly turns the evening into a fiesta!
What is Alambre?
Move over crispy, crunchy, ground beef tacos. Tacos de Alambre are a sizzling skillet begging for you to dive in. Alambre refers to the way some versions of this is prepared, meaning wire in Spanish as the meat is skewered and grilled. However, it is equally as popular to be quickly stir fried such as this version.
It’s popular in Mexico City and Oaxaca and combines bacon with traditionally beef. Other versions will include chicken or even shrimp. It’s usually topped with bell peppers, onions, melted cheese, and some form of avocado.
Ingredients
As soon as the bacon hits the skillet, you family will be flocking to the kitchen to see what smells so good. The sizzling chorizo will clinch the deal and have them asking when is.
- Bacon – Nothing bad ever starts with bacon including the Mexican beef recipe. Provides a layer of smokiness and also the fat that the meat and vegetables cook in.
- Chorizo – Deeply spiced and aromatic, this often pork sausage will bring bold flavor to every bite.
- Beef Shaved Steak – No need to hand shave steak yourself. You can find this already prepared for you in the meat department. Skip the hoagies, stuff tortillas.
- Bell Peppers – Both red and yellow bell peppers were used for both color and sweetness.
- Onion – Adds savory flavor but also a little sweetness as it cooks.
- Jalapeno – Echoes the spice in the chorizo while also adding a little kick. You can remove the seeds for less heat if desired.
- Mozzarella Cheese – The perfect melting cheese that won’t overpower the other flavors.
- Spice Mix – Onion and garlic powder give a savory note while cumin and chili powder add earthiness. Paprika adds a little sweetness with oregano giving an herbaceous brightness. Don’t forget the salt!
- Tortillas – Either corn or flour tortillas will work well with these tacos.
- Toppings – Tacos are as much about the toppings as the fillings. A squeeze of lime and sprinkle of cilantro are classic but have fun adding your favorites.
How to Make Tacos de Alambre
There is nothing complicated about this sizzling loaded skillet. Skip going out and get out your favorite sauté pan or cast iron skillet. With just a little chopping at the beginning, this fast-cooking skillet dinner comes together in no time.
Time needed: 40 minutes
Beef, bacon, and chorizo are combined with a trio of peppers, sweet onions, and molten cheese.
- Bacon
Add your bacon to a sauté pan over medium heat. Allow it to cook until the fat has rendered and the bacon is crispy. Remove the bacon from the pan and transfer it to a paper towel lined plate.
- Chorizo
Add the chorizo to the pan. Use your spoon to break it up and allow it to cook through.
- Veggies
Add your peppers and onions to the pan and continue to cook them until the onions are translucent and cooked about halfway through, about 10-15 minutes. Add your seasoning mixture and stir to combine.
- Beef
Add the beef into the pan and continue to cook until the beef is cooked through, about five minutes.
- Cheese Please
Add the bacon back into the pan and top with the cheese. Cover up your pan and allow the mixture to cook until the cheese is melted.
Variations on Tacos de Alambre
This same recipe can also be made with either sliced chicken or shrimp. If making this with chicken, brown the chicken in the bacon fat before adding the chorizo. It will take slightly longer to cook.
If making this recipe with shrimp, sauté the shrimp in the bacon fat and then remove it from the pan before adding the chorizo. Add the shrimp in at the very end when adding your bacon and cheese back to the pan.
Substitutions
Don’t feel like making up your own spice mix? No problem! You can make this same recipe with your favorite taco seasoning, fajita seasoning, or carne asada seasoning. Look for one that doesn’t have any thickening agents in in.
You can also use a different cheese other than mozzarella. Quesadilla and Oaxaca cheese would work as well as Monterey Jack or pepper-Jack cheese. You want a mild melting cheese for this recipe.
Storage
Because of the melted cheese, this is one of those dishes that is better eaten and served immediately. However, if you don’t plan on eating it all, you can transfer the meat and vegetable mixture to an airtight container. Keep it refrigerated and it will keep for up to four days. When you’re ready to serve it reheat it in the microwave until it is warmed through and the cheese has remelted.
Top Tip for Tacos de Alambre
There are two types of chorizo. Spanish style chorizo which is a dried sausage, and Mexican chorizo which is a fresh sausage and required being cooked through. This recipe uses Mexican style fresh chorizo.
Tacos de Alambre
Equipment
- 1 skillet or sauté pan with lid
- 1 spoon
Ingredients
- 6 strips bacon
- 3 chorizo sausage links
- 1 lbs beef shaved steak
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
- 1 sweet onion, sliced
- 1 jalapeno, chopped, remove seeds for less heat if desired
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded can use other melting cheese
- tortillas for serving
- lime and fresh cilantro for serving, or other favorite toppings
Spice Mix
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- You can also use your favorite taco, fajita, or carne asada seasoning
Instructions
- Mix together your spice mix and set aside.
- Add the bacon to a skillet over medium heat. Allow the bacon to cook until the fat has rendered and the bacon is crispy. Remove from the pan and allow to drain on a paper towel lined plate.
- Add the chorizo into the pan. Use your spoon to break it up as it cooks. Let it cook until it's cooked through, 5-7 minutes.
- Add the peppers and onions into the pan and continue to cook. Allow them to cook until the onions are translucent, and they are halfway cooked through, about 10-15 minutes.
- Add the spice mix and stir to combine.
- Add the beef and let it cook until cooked through, about five minutes.
- Add the bacon back into the pan along with the cheese. Cover the skillet and let the mixture cook until the cheese is melted.
- Serve with tortillas, li, or your favorite toppings.
