More often than not, taco meat is gone long before shells and toppings. Some people overfill their tacos with meat, and others are left without. My family had many taco fights over the years, and I had to start preparing at least three pounds of meat instead of the usual pound and a half. These days I occasionally end up with leftover meat, but I find creative ways to use it up. Use my delicious ways to use up leftover taco meat, and enjoy something other than tacos the following day.
Prepare Easy Taco Soup
One of the most delicious ways to use leftover taco meat is in thick and zesty homemade soup. Most taco soup recipes call for multiple ingredients, and they take hours to prepare. My taco soup is by far one of the easiest, and it takes just a few minutes to prepare. Even though it contains condensed cream soup, it tastes just as good as or better than homemade varieties.
To use up one pound of leftover taco meat, prepare condensed southwestern style cheddar cheese soup according to label directions. Drain and add one can of whole kernel corn, one can of drained diced tomatoes and one can of chili beans. Do not drain the chili beans. It includes delicious sauce that will greatly enhance the flavor of the soup. Stir in the leftover taco meat. Heat the soup while stirring occasionally to prevent scorching. Serve each bowl with a few crushed tortilla chips on top. A dollop of sour cream and/or guacamole is optional.
Make a Platter of Nachos with the Leftover Taco Meat
Kids usually love nachos even more than they love tacos. It is fun finger food that can include a variety of toppings. Buy or prepare tortilla chips, and arrange them on a baking sheet. Top the chips with the leftover taco meat, shredded cheddar cheese and any other desired toppings. If family members are finicky, serve the toppings on the side. Although nachos are similar to tacos, they are much more fun.
Use the Leftover Taco Meat in Chili
Does your family love chili? Consider making a pot of chili when looking for ways to use up leftover taco meat. If necessary, prepare additional ground beef. Use your favorite recipe, or doctor up a few cans of the store bought variety. Serve it with shredded cheddar cheese, crackers and sour cream on the side.
Prepare Southwestern Style Omelets
Another easy and delicious way to use up leftover taco meat is in southwestern style omelets. Scramble enough eggs to prepare an omelet of the appropriate size, and top it with leftover taco meat, finely diced green peppers, sliced black olives, finely diced onions and a mound of shredded cheddar cheese. Serve the southwestern style omelets with salsa, sour cream and guacamole on the side. They are perfect for breakfast, brunch, dinner or lunch, and you will use up leftover taco meat that might have otherwise ended up in the trash.
Source: Personal Food Preparation Experience and Experimentation
