Beef tacos
Spiced minced beef with soft tortillas, served with shredded lettuce, grated cheese and salsa.
Allergens: contains cereals containing gluten, milk. Brands differ, so always check the labels on what you buy.
Per serving (approx.): 32g carbs · 3g sugars · 4g fibre. Estimates for carb counting, not medical advice. If you have diabetes, follow your GP or dietitian's advice.
Not every ingredient has a checked price at Aldi, Lidl, Asda, Morrisons, Iceland, so they aren't compared here.
Ingredients and prices
Swipe the table to see every supermarket.
| Ingredient | Tesco | Sainsbury's |
|---|---|---|
| Beef minceuse 500g | £6.75500g · £1.35 per 100g | 2 × £2.55250g · £1.02 per 100g |
| Tortilla wrapsnot compared | £1.40 | – |
| Iceberg lettuceuse half | £0.64200g · £0.32 per 100g | £0.64200g · £0.32 per 100g |
| Cheddar cheeseuse 100g | £2.50220g · £1.14 per 100g | £2.85200g · £1.43 per 100g |
| Cherry tomatoesuse 100g | £1.00300g · £0.33 per 100g | £0.89200g |
| Red onionpack 1kg · use half | £0.95£0.10 per 100g | £0.95£0.10 per 100g |
| Basket total (full packs) | £11.84 | £10.43 |
| Cost of what this recipe uses | £8.94 | £7.69 |
| Per serving | £2.23 | £1.92 |
Not compared (a price wasn't found at every shop, so it isn't in the totals): Tortilla wraps.
From your cupboard
Not in the prices above. Check you have these before you start.
Prices checked on 4 October 2026 from each supermarket's own listing or a price-comparison site. Each shop's unit price (or pack size) is shown under its price, and "cost of what this recipe uses" compares like with like (tap a price to see its source). Cheapest in each row is ticked. Prices, offers and pack sizes change; loyalty-card prices are not included unless stated.
Method
The method is written for 4. For a different number, use the amounts in the table above.
- Shred half an iceberg lettuce into thin strips, halve 100g cherry tomatoes, finely dice half a red onion, and grate 100g cheddar cheese. Set each in separate small bowls. This prep takes about 5 minutes and ensures everything is ready for quick assembly.
- Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large 28cm frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the diced red onion and cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent at the edges.
- Add 500g beef mince to the pan, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook for 6–8 minutes over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until browned all over and no pink remains.
- Stir in 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon chilli powder (or to taste), ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant, then taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Reduce heat to low, cover the pan, and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring once, until the mince is cooked through and the flavours have melded. The mixture should look glossy and smell aromatic.
- While the mince simmers, warm 8 tortilla wraps: heat a dry 24cm frying pan over medium heat and toast each wrap for 30 seconds per side until pliable and lightly charred. Stack and cover with a clean tea towel to keep warm.
- To serve, place 2 warm tortillas per plate. Spoon a quarter of the beef mixture down the centre of each, then top with shredded lettuce, tomato halves, and a generous sprinkle of grated cheddar. Serve immediately with lime wedges if using.
Tips
- Swap 500g beef mince for 500g turkey mince or a 400g tin of drained black beans to reduce cost; both work well with the same spices.
- Batch-cook the mince mixture, cool within 1–2 hours, portion into 4 airtight containers and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat once until steaming hot throughout.
- Store tortillas, lettuce, tomatoes and cheese separately from the mince to keep textures fresh; assemble tacos just before eating.
Nothing wasted: your leftover ingredients
Supermarkets sell set pack sizes, so you'll have some ingredients left. Here's how to keep them, and other recipes here that use them up.
- Beef mince · about 500g left
Freeze the raw meat you don't use, well wrapped and labelled, before its use-by date. Defrost in the fridge and cook within 24 hours. Use it in: Chilli con carne, Beef and Bean Chili, Beef & Potato. - Cheddar cheese · about 300g left
Keep wrapped in the fridge. Grate any extra and freeze it: it melts straight from frozen on pasta bakes and toasties. Use it in: Creamy Tomato & Hidden Veg Pasta Bake, Tuna and Sweetcorn Pasta Bake, Cheesy Bean & Rice Casserole. - Cherry tomatoes · about 100g left
Check the label: most raw ingredients can be frozen before their use-by date, and cupboard staples keep for months. Use it in: Chilli con carne, Lentil and vegetable soup, Creamy Tomato & Hidden Veg Pasta Bake. - Red onion · about 925g left
Chop the rest and freeze it flat in a bag: it cooks straight from frozen in soups, curries and sauces. Whole onions keep for weeks somewhere cool, dark and dry. Use it in: Chilli con carne, Egg fried rice, Creamy Tomato & Hidden Veg Pasta Bake.
Storing leftovers
Cool leftovers and put them in the fridge or freezer within 1–2 hours. Eat fridge leftovers within 2 days, or freeze them. Defrost in the fridge and reheat only once, until steaming hot all the way through (Food Standards Agency guidance).