As a busy mom of 4, I am always looking for simple recipes for mealtimes. I love feeding my family healthy meals with clean ingredients. This easy paleo one-pot Mexican meal is perfect for any night of the week.
I am writing this post on May 6, talk about a day late and a dollar short. I guess all the Cinco de Mayo festivities got me thinking Mexican food! My family loves a good taco dish, and this one has become one of our favorites.
I love that I can whip this up in less than 20 minutes and that it is loaded with veggies. I usually make a double batch so we can have leftovers for lunches later in the week.
If you love Mexican and healthy, this recipe is for you! I promise everyone will love it, even the kids.
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EASY PALEO ONE POT MEXICAN MEAL
INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons avocado oil (You can also use olive oil or coconut oil.)
1 pound ground beef (I use organic grass-fed.)
2 tablespoons paleo taco seasoning (see recipe below)
1 onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1/2 cup salsa
OPTIONAL TOPPINGS
1 tomato, diced
2 fresh avocados
Fresh cilantro to taste
Juice of one key lime (or 6 drops of lime essential oil)
1 jalapeno diced, optional
Shredded lettuce
INSTRUCTIONS
Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat, and then add the avocado oil.
Add in the onions and pepper. Sauté over medium heat until vegetables are soft.
Place the ground beef in the cast iron skillet and cook until browned.
Sprinkle with taco seasoning and pour the salsa over the meat. Allow the mixture to simmer for a few minutes while stirring.
Add the juice of one key lime over the meat and stir in.
Top with desired toppings.
Our favorite way to top this is with avocado slices, diced tomatoes, and fresh cilantro. My husband and I like to spice it up with diced jalapeños and hot sauce.
You can serve this in a bowl with a side of grain-free chips; I found a brand we love at fresh thyme. You can also find these on amazon here. They are made with avocado oil and cassava flour making them paleo-approved. The kids love to dip the chips in the meat. You can also serve it over a bed of chips, like nachos.
You can also serve this over cauliflower rice and black beans. Add an extra tablespoon of the paleo taco seasoning to the rice and beans to add more flavor.
If you are not dairy-free or paleo, you can top this with cheese and serve this with a scoop of sour cream.
HOW CAN I MAKE PALEO TACO SEASONING?
With a few spices in your pantry, you can whip up a taco seasoning that is healthy. I try to avoid taco seasoning because most of them have gluten in them, MSG, artificial dyes, and some form of sugar. Try mixing up a batch of this for the next time you are enjoying tacos.
INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 tablespoon salt (I use pink Himalayan.)
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon red hot pepper flakes
INSTRUCTIONS
Add all the ingredients to a small bowl and stir until well combined.
Store in an airtight container.
We store ours in a small mason jar. I like to make a large batch of this while I have all the spices out.
HOW DO I COOK IN A CAST IRON SKILLET?
Cooking in a cast-iron skillet is always my preference. I love the way it crisps, cooks even, and that it is non-stick. If you don’t have a cast-iron skillet, you can still make this recipe; I just prefer cast iron.
Check out these tips if you have never cooked in a cast-iron skillet before:
Always preheat the cast iron before cooking in it! If you try cooking in a cast-iron skillet that isn’t hot, it will not be non-stick. You can preheat it by placing it over medium heat while you prep for the recipe.
Make sure you are using some sort of fat. In this recipe, we are using avocado oil. You can also use coconut oil, olive oil, vegetable oil (though I don’t recommend this one), or butter. Adding a fat to your preheated cast iron will make cooking in the cast iron even better.
Make sure your cast iron is seasoned correctly. If you bought a seasoned cast iron skillet from the store, then you should be ready to go. If you bought a used one or haven’t used yours in a while, then it will be best to season your skillet before using.
HOW DO YOU SEASON A CAST IRON SKILLET?
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
Cover your cast iron skillet in coconut oil. I slather it on the top, bottom, and even the handle.
Place the skillet in the preheated oven upside down, and bake for one hour. I place a cookie sheet under the skillet to catch the oil drippings.
LET’S DISCUSS THE PALEO DIET
The paleo diet is big on vegetables, proteins, and healthy fats. When eating a paleo diet, you will need to avoid sugar, processed foods, and grains.
When it comes to vegetables, I like to buy mostly organic or grow my own.
The paleo diet is good with most meats, excluding processed meats with added ingredients: my biggest thing when buying meats is avoiding non-organic GMOs and meats with added antibiotics. Buying organic meats is very important to avoid these things!
I have found that buying meats from local farmers is the cheapest way to purchase organically. I talk more about buying organically on a budget HERE. Try looking for meats that are grass-fed and organic.
When eating paleo, you will need to eliminate all grains and dairy from your diet. I believe that dairy can be healthy if you are using the correct source.
Since no one in my family is sensitive to dairy, and because we have access to a local, grass-fed dairy farm that offers raw A2 milk, we do consume dairy. This is new to us because my son was dairy intolerant for a long time, and we ate strictly paleo. I still keep most of the paleo “rules” with a few exceptions.
Do you follow the paleo diet? Have you ever tried paleo Mexican dishes? What was your favorite way to top it? Share your thoughts in the comment section!
This is so good! Even my picky boyfriend went back for seconds and is looking forward to leftovers (we made a little bigger batch). Make the seasoning, even if you already have the pre-made mix, this seasoning makes the meal.
Thank you, Laura!
Emily says
This is so good! Even my picky boyfriend went back for seconds and is looking forward to leftovers (we made a little bigger batch). Make the seasoning, even if you already have the pre-made mix, this seasoning makes the meal.
Thank you, Laura!