Best Vegan Tacos Recipe
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These are the best vegan tacos for those in a hurry! Made from canned lentils and cooked in one pan, this delicious lentil taco meat is a game-changer.
Looking for an easy vegan taco filling as satisfying and tasty as ground beef? Try this lentil taco recipe and make every weeknight a taco night!
These no meat tacos are practically better than getting fast food.
Just add everything to the pan, cook, and assemble away with your favorite taco toppings and crunchy shells.
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Serve these canned lentil tacos with our vegan cheese sauce and avocado lime ranch dressing, and change the way you look at vegan recipes!
Why You’ll Love Vegan Tacos
- These plant based tacos are perfect for busy weeknights! Using canned lentils makes the prep time shorter, and even the clean-up is a breeze since it’s all done in a single pan.
- Lentil vegan tacos are more affordable than beef tacos! Check your pantry because you might not even need to buy the spices and toppings.
- These vegan tacos are adaptable. Add or omit whatever you like (or don’t like) from the recipe!
Ingredients And Substitutions
Cooked lentils – Our vegan taco meat for the best vegan tacos is made from cooked lentils. You can also use dried ones, but using canned lentils is a faster way to get dinner on the table.
Salsa – Homemade or store-bought salsa for the lentil taco filling? Use whatever is more convenient for you!
Nutritional yeast – Adds a cheesy flavor to the lentil taco meat.
Ground cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper – The seasonings for our easy vegan tacos. You can also add vegan beef seasoning to boost the plant-based filling’s meaty taste.
Taco shells – You can swap them with sliced jicama shells for a low-carb option!
Toppings:
Shredded vegan cheese – Vegan cheddar cheese also works!
Vegan sour cream – If you prefer lime crema for your vegan lentil tacos, just mix vegan mayo with lime juice, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Chopped scallions and cilantro – For added color and flavor, add fresh cilantro and scallions to your vegan tacos before serving. You can also include lime wedges on the plate.
Chopped tomatoes and shredded lettuce – The best vegan tacos have an amazing texture, so don’t forget to add veggies like lettuce and tomatoes.
Avocado – For added richness and creaminess.
Tips For Making This Recipe
Use Tortillas
If you’re not a fan of hardshell tacos, you can make these vegan tacos with tortillas! Before assembly, heat them up on a grill or in a pan with some oil.
Make a Salad
For a quick salad, throw the lentil mixture in a bowl with baby spinach, romaine lettuce, and any other veggies you like. Then, for the dressing, use your favorite salsa (or try our salsa tatemada for a change) and mix it with vegan yogurt, a bit of water to adjust the consistency, and your choice of seasonings to suit your taste.
More Serving Options
There are so many delicious ways to serve this vegan lentil taco filling! You can add it to our sweet potato baked burritos, vegan nachos, street corn salad, or just pile it over cooked rice.
Best Vegan Tacos Recipe FAQs
Can I use beans instead of lentils for this vegan tacos recipe?
Sure! Kidney beans and black beans can substitute lentils in your plant-based taco meat mixture. But since they’re a bit bigger than lentils, you can mash them a bit while cooking.
Can I use dried lentils in this vegan taco meat recipe?
Yes! Add a cup of rinsed dried lentils and two cups of water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for about 20 minutes until tender. Drain, and proceed with the recipe.
Can I freeze the filling of these vegan lentil tacos?
Of course! Transfer the vegan lentil taco meat into a freezer-safe container and store it in the freezer for up to 6 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating on the stove. It will also keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Which lentils are best for vegan tacos?
If you’re using dried lentils instead of canned for your veggie taco meat, I recommend brown or green lentils instead of yellow or red lentils, which can easily become mushy when cooked.
What can you substitute for meat to make the best vegan tacos?
Other than lentils, grated extra-firm tofu or a mixture of chopped mushrooms, ground walnuts, and crumbled cauliflower will make delicious vegan taco meat substitutes.
More Delicious Vegan Main Dish Recipes
I found this recipe for Vegan Ground Beef that I HAVE to try!
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Vegan Tacos
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked lentils
- 1/2 cup salsa
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- Pepper to taste
- 6 taco shells
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients except for the toppings in a large skillet.
- Cook over medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring often. If the taco mixture looks dry, you can add a tablespoon or two of water at a time. Set the taco filling aside.
- To assemble, fill a taco shell with the lentil mixture. Repeat with the remaining shells and mixture.
- Finally, add the toppings of your choice. Enjoy!
Notes
- If you’re not a fan of hardshell tacos, you can make these vegan tacos with tortillas! Before assembly, heat them up on a grill or in a pan with some oil.
- For a quick salad, throw the lentil mixture in a bowl with baby spinach, romaine lettuce, and any other veggies you like. Then, for the dressing, use your favorite salsa (or try our salsa tatemada for a change) and mix it with vegan yogurt, a bit of water to adjust the consistency, and your choice of seasonings to suit your taste.
- There are so many delicious ways to serve this vegan lentil taco filling! You can add it to our sweet potato baked burritos, vegan nachos, street corn salad, or just pile it over cooked rice.
