Taco Lettuce Wraps Recipe with Ground Beef

5 from 1 vote

Taco Lettuce Wraps Recipe with Ground Beef

Smoked ground beef seasoned with taco seasoning served in crispy lettuce wraps, and finished with a soothing avocado cream sauce and your favorite toppings.

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Taco Preparation10

Total Time55

Course: Appetizer, Entree

Cuisine: Mexican, tacos

Servings: people

Author: Mary Cressler

Cost: $22.00

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef (We used O Organics 85/15 Grass Fed Beef)
1 package taco seasoning

For Taco Lettuce Wraps

1 package butter lettuce, rinsed and dried
1 whole lime, sliced
1 whole avocado, sliced
½ cup grape tomatoes (cherry tomatoes work well also)
½ cup Mexican blend cheese
½ cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained (optional)
½ cup thinly sliced red bell pepper
1/4 cup roughly chopped cilantro

Avocado Crema

½ cup plain Greek yogurt
½ whole ripe avocado
½ lime, juiced
1 tablespoon cilantro
1 clove garlic
¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

To Smoke the Beef: Preheat the smoker to 250 degrees Fahrenheit (F) using oak or hickory wood. In a bowl, mix ground beef with the taco seasoning with hands in the bowl. Place on a sheet tray and place in the pre-heated smoker for up to 30 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the beef reads between 160 and 165 degrees F.
For the Avocado Crema Sauce: While the beef is smoking, prepare the avocado sauce. Place all Avocado crema ingredients in a food processor, and pulse until smooth. Place in a serving dish. This is also a good time to slice and prepare the remainder of ingredients.
Assemble the Taco Lettuce Wraps: When beef is ready, use hands to continue to shred the beef into smaller pieces. Construct tacos by adding beef into the lettuce wrap, and then layer small amounts of your desired toppings. Top at the end with a dollop of avocado crema.

Notes

Buy at least one ripe avocado, half for the cream and half for the taco toppings. More if you like avocado (there's really no such thing as too much avocado).

Troubleshooting Crema

If the crema is too thick, then add small amounts of lime juice or hot water water to thin it out. Another alternative is apple cider vinegar. If it's too thin, add more of the yogurt.
Be sure the avocados are ripe and soft. If they are not, place in a brown paper bag overnight prior to making. Otherwise the crema will be chunky.

Alternatives to Butter Lettuce - Bib lettuce is another good alternative for tacos, romaine, as well as red and green leaf lettuce. The key is a hearty green that can hold the food.

Nutrition