Grain-Free Crunchy Beef Tacos (Gluten, Dairy & Corn-Free)
The BEST crunchy beef tacos you have ever tasted...gluten, dairy & corn-free!
If you have followed my recipes for a while, you know one of my passions is to recreate dishes that I remember and loved growing up. I mention my grandmother a lot when talking about food because we were together almost every day. She lived right beside me and I was always with her. Her favorite thing to do was going to restaurants and eating out. Most of the time it was just the two of us. We went EVERYWHERE together. She loved a good sit-down restaurant, but every now and then, she'd get a craving for a taco...and that usually meant Taco Bell. Of course, I was always excited when she would say, "Let's go get a taco". I knew what that meant and where we were going.
The two of us loved many items on the menu, but the crunchy beef tacos were my favorite. There is just something about a simple beef taco with a crunchy shell. Wouldn't you agree? The food and memories with my grandmother were such a special time, and oh how I miss her!
Well, that was over twenty years ago and I have since learned a few things and have not been to Taco Bell for quite some time. There are certain ingredients that don't make my body feel so good after consuming them. So, the only solution is to recreate all of my favorite dishes that I love and crave, but with a healthier spin.
In my early twenties, I began studying up on certain foods and how they affect our body. After much research, corn was one of the first foods I eliminated from my diet. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't just thrilled about it because one of my favorite things in the world is tortilla chips and salsa. But after learning so much about this grain, it wasn't worth the risk. The bad thing is, corn is in a lot of products under many different names. You really have to read your labels and know your ingredients.
What's The Problem With Corn?
- GMOs (genetically modified organisms)
- contaminated with mycotoxins (mold)
- raises blood sugar
- causes weight gain/bloating
- promotes inflammation
- increases Omega 6
Corn is often considered a vegetable, but in fact it is a grain. Grains promote inflammation in the body and many are surprised at how much better they feel after eliminating grains such as: corn, wheat, barley, rye, oats and soy. I am a living testimony to this. I dealt with many health issues, the most troublesome being neck, knee and back pain. Praise The Lord, I am living pain-free today. Eliminating corn was a big part of the healing process for me.
There are several facts that must be mentioned here and is more than enough reason why I choose to keep this food out of my diet as much as possible. For one, like I mentioned above, corn promotes inflammation, as well as raises blood sugar and causes weight gain. Diabetes is prevalent in my family so I knew I had to definitely keep this grain out of our bodies. I want to do everything I can to prevent diabetes because I've seen the people I love suffer from this disease, and what they have to deal with on a daily basis is no fun for sure. You can ask any diabetic and they will tell you corn will shoot their blood sugar up just as fast as a candy bar. Oh and in case you didn't know, corn is also used to fatten cattle up and that is exactly what it does to humans as well...um, no thanks!
What Are GMO's, Genetically Modified Organisms?
One of the most alarming facts is that most conventional corn is a GMO crop. A GMO, or genetically modified organism, are living organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering. This creates combinations of plant, animal, bacterial, and virus genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods.
Are GMOs Safe?
More than 80% of all genetically modified crops grown worldwide have been engineered for herbicide tolerance. As a result, the use of toxic herbicides, such as Roundup, has increased fifteenfold since GMOs were first introduced. In March 2015, the World Health Organization determined that the herbicide glyphosate (the key ingredient in Roundup) is “probably carcinogenic to humans.” Therefore, corn is NOT a safe food to consume.
As if this wasn't enough to be said of the dangers of corn, corn contains high levels of Omega 6 and the most concerning, it is contaminated with mold.According to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, corn is almost ALWAYS contaminated with poisons, known as mycotoxins. These mycotoxins (mold spores) can wreak havoc on your health therefore not safe to consume.
The Good News
Don't worry, I am not gonna leave you with these findings without a solution. Now that we have gotten a few facts out of the way, let's get to the best part in all of this. There are always alternatives to still enjoy your favorite foods. Like I told you earlier, corn tortilla chips and salsa are a favorite of mine. So what I have done for so many years now, is take my own chips whenever we go to Mexican restaurants. My favorite tortilla chip alternative that comes close to the real thing, is Siete Grain-Free Tortilla chips. Whether we are out eating or at home enjoying chips and salsa, this is our solution. We eat the sea salt version for chips and salsa and the Ranch and Nacho flavor for snacking.
What To Use For Corn Shells
So, you are probably wondering what in the world are these taco shells made out of because they sure do look like corn. A few years ago, a miraculous product was introduced to the market, Siete Grain-Free Taco Shells. When I heard this awesome news and tried them for myself, it was a complete dream. I could hardly contain my excitement! These truly do taste like the real thing. And oh, my family was pretty excited when I discovered these. Mexican food, especially these tacos are their absolute favorite!
What Ingredients Used In Siete Taco Shells?
- cassava flour
- avocado oil
- pumpkin seed meal
- pumpkin powder
- psyllium powder
- sea salt
That's it! These taco shells are made with nothing but real-food ingredients. Notice too that avocado oil is used instead of canola/vegetable oil. Canola and vegetable oil is highly inflammatory unlike avocado oil.
What You Need To Make These Tacos
- grass-fed ground beef
- avocado oil
- onions
- fresh garlic
- onion powder
- chili powder
- cumin
- beef bone broth
- sea salt
- corn-free taco shells
- toppings: cilantro, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, chipotle sauce
This meal is one of the quickest and easiest meals to put together...oh, and very inexpensive. One box of these taco shells is plenty for a family of four.
How To Make These Tacos
- Heat avocado oil in skillet over medium heat.
- Add ground beef and cook, stirring often, breaking up into smaller pieces until fully cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in garlic about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Next, add spices and beef bone broth to the ground beef and simmer 1-2 minutes more.
- Turn oven on 425 and let heat up for a few minutes.
- While oven is heating, chop and dice toppings.
- Stuff each taco shell with ground beef and lay taco shells onto a sheet pan. Bake for 2-3 minutes.
- Top tacos with your favorite toppings and sauce.
Grain-Free Crunchy Beef Tacos (Gluten, Dairy & Corn-Free)
Equipment
- Stainless Steel Skillet
- Stainless Steel Sheet Pan
Ingredients
- 1 pound grass-fed ground beef
- 2-3 teaspoons avocado oil
- 3 cloves fresh minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 1/2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
- 1/4 cup grass-fed beef bone broth
Cumin-Lime Sauce
- 1/2 cup paleo mayonnaise (canola oil free)
- 1 lime juiced, (squeezed)
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin
Toppings
- chopped cilantro
- chopped butter lettuce
- diced onion
- diced tomatoes
Instructions
- Heat avocado oil in skillet over medium heat.
- Add ground beef and cook, stirring often, breaking up into smaller pieces until fully cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in minced garlic about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Next, add spices and beef bone broth to the ground beef and simmer 2-3 minutes more.
- Turn oven on 425 and let heat up for a few minutes.
- While oven is heating, chop and dice toppings.
- Stuff each taco shell with ground beef and shells onto a parchment paper sheet pan.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Top tacos with your favorite toppings and sauce. Enjoy!
Notes
Shop The Ingredients...
More Healthy Recipes To Try
- Roasted-Garlic & Bacon Brussel Sprouts
- Paleo Buttermilk Drop Biscuits
- Pan-Fried Chicken With Creamy Lemon Sauce & Capers
- “Chick-Fil-A” Nugget Recipe
- Simple Sunday Slow-Cooker Pot Roast
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