Enjoy the savory goodness of tacos without meat with these Vegan Tacos. Taste the flavors of Mexico without any guilt with this healthy snack and dinner idea. No need to wait for Taco Tuesday at Taco Bell, this quick and easy recipe will satisfy your taco cravings any day of the week!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- These vegan tacos are quick, easy, and healthy.
- It is a vegan recipe! They are a savory snack for those on a vegan diet or those who follow Meatless Monday.
- This is the best recipe to include in your menu at a house party or when you have visitors around.
- This bright and colorful snack will not only make your stomach full but will also be a feast for the eyes.
- Assembling the tacos can be a good bonding activity with family and friends.
- This is a flexible and customizable recipe as you can explore different options for the filling.
- You do not have to make everything from scratch. Use store-bought ingredients when needed.
- The ingredients for vegan tacos can be kept well in the fridge so you can prepare a big batch and eat the leftovers the following days. Perfect for advanced meal prep for the week!
- Check out this Vegan Mexican Rice for another great recipe!
Ingredients You'll Need
Get all the details on these simple ingredients in the recipe card at the post's bottom.
Use olive oil in sautéing the vegan taco filling. Substitute with avocado oil if needed.
Onion and garlic add a depth of flavor to the dish.
Bell pepper and corn will make the vegan tacos more flavorful and colorful.
Tomatoes will give these tacos a bit of juiciness.
Black beans is the meat substitute. If you are not a fan of beans, use other vegan alternatives like potato, cauliflower, walnuts, or mushroom.
Season the meat substitute with chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Adjust the flavor by adding other seasonings like paprika, allspice, coriander, or cayenne.
Sliced avocado, salsa, and chopped fresh cilantro are great toppings and provide a fresh taste.
The juice from the lime wedges adds a citrusy taste and balances all the flavors. Use lemon juice if you do not have lime.
The corn tortilla completes our vegetarian tacos as this is what will hold the fillings and toppings. For a lighter alternative, use lettuce leaves. Feel free to use flour tortillas if not gluten-free.
What are Vegan Tacos?
Vegan Tacos are the meat-free version of everyone’s favorite Mexican snack, tacos.
Unlike regular tacos that include carne asada, chorizo, or carnitas, vegan tacos are made with plant-based fillings like vegetables, beans, tofu, or nuts.
These plant-based fillings, together with other fresh ingredients, are put into the tortilla.
Taste & Texture
These vegan tacos are bright, fresh, and flavorful.
The flavors are bold and slightly spicy.
These veggie tacos give you a delicious, fresh, crunchy, and savory taste all in one dish!
Feel free to use crunchy corn shells for added crunch.
Adjust the taste by choosing different ingredients according to your liking.
How to Make
Step 1
To start, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and minced garlic. Sauté until the onion becomes softened.
Step 2
Add the diced bell pepper to the skillet. Cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes until slightly tender.
Step 3
Stir in the diced tomatoes, cooked black beans, and cooked corn kernels. Season with chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Stir everything together.
Step 4
While the filling is cooking, warm the corn tortillas in a dry skillet or oven for a few minutes.
Step 5
Assemble the tacos. Spoon the filling into each tortilla. Garnish with sliced avocado, salsa, cilantro, and lime juice.
Step 6
Finally, serve vegan tacos!
Top Tips
When sautéing onion and garlic, put the onion first as the garlic cooks faster.
Toast the tortillas just before serving to keep them warm and fresh. Keep them warm by transferring them to a plate and covering them loosely with foil.
When toasting them on a stove, place each tortilla over the flame for a few seconds per side, then turn it using tongs.This will give you perfectly charred edges.
If you do not have a stove, you can use an oven but you will not get the same charred marks and smoky flavor.
Preheat it to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In aluminum foil, wrap no more than 5 tortillas and place them in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
If you want to prepare the toppings in advance, add some lemon or lime juice to the avocado to avoid oxidation and prevent it from turning brown.
Serve the toppings in separate bowls so people can customize their own tacos. This will also make it easier to store leftovers.
Only chop as much avocado as you would likely consume. It is hard to maintain the freshness of leftover avocados. They are best eaten right away.
To store avocados, place the mashed avocado in an airtight container in the fridge. Place the avocado pit inside the container. This helps maintain freshness.
Flavor Variations & Toppings
There are a lot of variations that you can make with vegan tacos.
For the filling, use cauliflower, potatoes, walnuts, or mushrooms.
Or, skip the taco shell and serve the taco filling over quinoa or brown rice.
If you want it a bit spicy, top it with hot sauce or jalapeño.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some ingredients that can go into vegan tacos – black beans, bell pepper, tomatoes, corn kernels, avocado, salsa, and cilantro. You can mix and match other plant-based ingredients to create your unique vegan tacos.
Typically, tacos contain meat. Therefore, they are not usually vegan. This recipe is made with all vegan ingredients.
Vegan tacos use plant-based options such as beans, nuts, or vegetables as a meat substitute. It is often prepared or chopped in a way that resembles the texture of real meat.
Sure! Flour tortillas work just as well. These tacos will no longer be gluten-free however.
Serving
Serve the vegan tacos immediately while still warm.
Top it with sliced avocado, salsa, chopped cilantro, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
Add more flavor with a few dashes of vegan sauces like chipotle sauce, cilantro sauce, or taco sauce. Use hot sauce for added heat and spice.
Instead of assembling everything, another way to serve the vegan tacos is by putting the toppings in separate bowls.
When you serve it this way, people can customize their own taco.
Storage
Store the toppings in separate airtight containers in the fridge to preserve their quality.
These will be good for 5 to 6 days.
When ready to eat, reheat the fillings of the tacos in the microwave or on the stovetop in a sauté pan.
You Will Also Love
- Homemade Guacamole
- Chickpea Tacos
- Smashed Pinto Bean Tacos
- Cheesy Bean and Rice Burritos
- Mango Habanero Salsa
Vegan Tacos
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 bell pepper diced
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1 cup cooked black beans
- 1 cup cooked corn kernels
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 8 corn tortillas
- sliced avocado to garnish
- salsa to garnish
- chopped fresh cilantro to garnish
- lime wedges to garnish
Instructions
- First, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and minced garlic. Sauté until the onion becomes translucent.
- Add the diced bell pepper to the skillet. Cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes until slightly tender.
- Stir in the diced tomatoes, cooked black beans, and cooked corn kernels. Season with chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Stir together.
- While the filling is cooking, warm the corn tortillas in a dry skillet or oven for a few minutes.
- Assemble the tacos. Spoon the filling into each tortilla. Garnish with sliced avocado, salsa, cilantro, and lime juice.
- Finally, serve!
(Please refer to the post above for instructional photographs and other helpful information for this recipe)
Notes
- Feel free to adjust the amount of veggies. This recipe is customizable and forgiving.
- Cook the veggies until softened.
- Flour tortillas can be used, but this recipe will no longer be gluten-free.
- The taco filling is also great served on top of rice or pasta.
- Store the filling in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- To reheat, add the leftovers to a skillet over low-medium heat. Cook until warm.
Nutrition
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