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reheating leftover taco meat in a skillet.
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The Best Guide to Reheating Leftover Ground Taco Meat

Here you will find The Best Guide to Reheating Leftover Ground Taco Meat so it is just as good as the night you made it!
Prep Time1 minute
Active Time10 minutes
Resting Time2 minutes
Total Time13 minutes
Course: gluten free, gluten free casserole, gluten free dinner, keto beef recipe, keto dinners, leftover meat, mexican casserole, taco meat
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: best ways to reheat leftover taco meat, best ways to reheat taco meat, easy ways to reheat leftover taco meat, gluten free taco meat, ground taco meat reheating instructions, how to reheat leftover beef taco meat, how to reheat leftover taco meat in a skillet, how to reheat taco meat, how to reheat taco meat in the oven, reheat taco meat in the oven, reheat taco meat in the skillet, reheating leftover taco meat, reheating taco meat how to, taco meat leftovers, the best guide to reheating leftover ground taco meat, ways to reheat taco meat
Yield: 1 batch
Author: www.melissaraecarr.com
Cost: 1

Equipment

  • Oven Safe Skillet or Casserole Dish with lid
  • Parchment Paper or Aluminum Foil
  • Spoon

Materials

  • Leftover Taco Meat
  • Water
  • Cooking Oil of Choice

Instructions

Reheating Taco Meat in Foil Packets in the Oven:

  • Preheat your oven to 350F.
  • Get out a baking sheet and place a medium square of foil down in the middle. Grease the foil to prevent the meat from sticking.
  • Now break up your meat in the container you stored it in and spread it out onto the foil in a single layer.
  • Pour a little bit of water onto the meat, such as 1/4 cup, then cover the meat with a additional piece of foil the same size as the first.
  • Now connect the edges and gently fold up a few times on each of the four sides. This creates an airtight packet that will seal in the moisture.
  • Place your baking sheet in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes.
  • Remove the baking sheet from the oven and carefully unfold one side of the packet at a time away from yourself as the steam will be hot.

Cast Iron Skillet Reheating with Parchment Paper in the Oven:

  • You need an oven safe frying pan like a cast iron skillet or oven safe casserole dish with a similar shape.
  • Its a good idea to grease the skillet or line it with parchment paper for best results.
  • Preheat your oven to 350F and prepare your skillet.
  • With a piece of parchment paper, press it into the bottom of the skillet or oven safe dish and then place your broken up leftover taco meat into it.
  • Add in a little bit of water before covering with an oven safe lid or aluminum foil and put into the oven.
  • Bake for 10-15 minutes until it is steamy and hot.

Stovetop Reheating in a Skillet:

  • Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add a little bit of olive oil or your favorite oil.
  • After about a minute once it is heated, turn the heat down to medium heat and add in your leftover taco meat.
  • Make sure to add in a little bit of water, just like in the other methods.
  • Break up the meat so there are no large chunks and cover the skillet.
  • Cook this way for 5 minutes then stir the meat.
  • Replace the cover on the skillet and heat for an additional 5 minutes.
  • Remove from the heat and let it sit for a few minutes.
  • This will allow it to steam in the skillet and prevent the meat from drying out.

Notes

  • Good news is that you can still save your leftover taco meat even if you have warmed it up once. The second time of reheating will follow the same directions. I would not take it past a two time reheat though as the quality diminishes.
  • You can reheat in an air fryer basket if you use a piece of parchment paper to make sure it doesn't fall through the holes. Air fry at 350F for 5 minutes then stir and repeat until it is heated through.
  • If you must use a microwave, use a microwave-safe bowl and cover it with a damp paper towel to prevent it from drying out. Heat in 1 minute bursts stirring inbetween times.
  • If you are going to add any additional ingredients to the taco meat, make sure it is added before you reheat the meat so everything warms together and the flavors meld well.
Why not use the microwave to reheat the taco meat?
Microwaving can dry out taco meat, leading to a disappointing texture. The lack of moisture retention results in rubbery, unappetizing meat, robbing you of the flavors you love. Embrace these alternative methods for a revival that preserves the juicy goodness of your taco filling.
Can I use my slow cooker to reheat my leftover taco meat?
Yes, you can use your crock pot to reheat your leftover meat. Make sure you add at least 1/2 cup water to the meat and reheat it on a LOW setting or WARM setting. It may take up to an hour to heat through. I have never relied on this method as it takes a while, but may work if you have planned ahead and have extra time.
You only mention taco meat made with ground beef, Will this work with other ground meat?
Yes, it will work with whatever ground meat you have used. From lean ground beef, ground turkey, to ground chicken, they all reheat the same. One thing to consider is that ground turkey and ground chicken may require you add in some additional oil as these meats are generally very lean if not fat free. This way your meat will retain the flavor as well as not drying out. Meat needs fat and moisture from water both to not dry out and turn rubbery.
What about reheating the taco meat in my Instant Pot next time?
This would work out just great! Instant pot taco meat will turn out the same as the skillet method. Turn it on the SAUTE mode and put the timer for 10 minutes. Make sure you grease the pot well before adding the meat and water. Stir and reheat the meat until it is heated all the way through then use as you want.