Wash and dry cilantro. Shred the lettuce finely, dice the tomato and onion. Crumble the cotija or queso fresco. Cut the lime into 3 wedges. Arrange toppings in small bowls for easy assembly.

Warm tortillas

Heat a dry skillet or comal over medium-high heat. Warm tortillas in batches for 20–30 seconds per side until pliable and slightly charred in spots. Stack wrapped in a clean kitchen towel to keep warm while you finish the filling.

Protein (seasoned ground beef)

Cook aromatics & brown beef

Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spatula, until mostly browned, about 5–6 minutes.

Season and simmer

Lower heat to medium and stir in chili powder, ground cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, kosher salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly so the spices coat the meat. Add 1 tablespoon tomato paste and 1/4 cup water, stir to combine, and simmer gently for 3–4 minutes until slightly thickened and flavors meld. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Keep warm.

Creamy cilantro-lime sauce

Make the sauce

In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, 1/4 cup packed cilantro leaves, 1 tablespoon lime juice, minced garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper. Stir until smooth. If the sauce is too thick, thin with up to 1 teaspoon water to reach a drizzling consistency.

Assemble & serve

Assemble tacos: Place 2 warmed tortillas per order on a plate for a three-taco order use 3 tortillas; this recipe yields 6 small tortillas so it will make three 2-tortilla tacos or two 3-tortilla tacos—adjust as desired. Spoon about 2 to 3 tablespoons of the seasoned beef into the center of each tortilla.

Top: Add a tablespoon of shredded lettuce, a tablespoon of diced tomato, a sprinkle of diced onion, a drizzle (about 1 teaspoon) of the cilantro-lime sauce, and a sprinkle of cotija cheese. Add pickled jalapeños if using.

Finish & serve: Squeeze a lime wedge over each taco just before eating. Serve immediately while tortillas are warm.