14 Vegan Taco Recipes

Who doesn’t love tacos?! That’s why we are firm believers you can never have enough taco recipes in your repertoire. And while there are some who may think plant-based taco options must be limited, we know better than that. To prove it, here are 14 recipes to add to your Taco Tuesday menu! 

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Picture this: It’s Taco Tuesday, and you’re hosting a gathering for friends and family. 

You set out a spread of vibrant, flavorful vegan tacos, from classic favorites to inventive new twists. 

As everyone digs in, the room fills with laughter and satisfied murmurs. 

Tacos have a magical way of bringing people together, don’t they?

Whether you’re cooking for a crowd or just yourself, we think you’re going to enjoy these 14 plant-based recipes for tacos!

Vegan Tacos Recipes

Here, you’ll find a combination of unconventional vegan and vegetarian taco recipes from Plant Power Couple alongside more traditional taco recipes from our friend Nancy at Mexican Made Meatless!

If you haven’t checked out Nancy’s authentic vegan Mexican food blog yet, hopefully this list will convince you to do so! 

Vegan Chicken Tacos

I love using our Tequila Lime Soy Curls to make the best vegan chicken tacos! We have served this to so many meat eaters with the classic toppings in flour tortillas, and they always gobble them up quickly. They remind me of the chicken tacos we’d get at Surf Taco growing up at the Jersey Shore!

Tacos De Papa Dorados (Potato Tacos)

A traditional recipe from Mexican Made Meatless, these golden potato tacos are crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. There’s even a vegan cotija cheese recipe to top them with!

Walnut Meat Tacos

For a no-cook taco recipe, check out our Spicy Walnut Beef! It requires no heat to make in your food processor with simple ingredients which is perfect for those busy weeknights or hot summer days. Serve it in store-bought taco shells or create a raw taco with lettuce cups and your favorite salsas!

Tacos Dorados with Refried Beans

These crispy and easy vegan tacos filled with refried beans are so flavorful it will make your head spin.

Jackfruit Carnitas Tacos

Jackfruit Carnitas with avocado lime crema served in soft pillowy warm tortillas…who can say no to that?! This is one of my absolute favorite recipes for jackfruit; it’s pan-fried and full of flavor with a hefty squeeze of lime juice!

Vegan Cochinita Pibil Tacos

A vegan twist on a Mexican classic, these vegan cochinita pibil tacos feature shredded oyster mushrooms marinated in tangy achiote sauce.

Slow Cooker Korean Jackfruit Tacos

If you love the flavors of Korean BBQ, this Korean Jackfruit Taco recipe is a must-try! Bonus points because it’s made in your slow-cooker for a hands-off approach.

Vegan Birria Tacos

Dive into rich, savory flavors with these vegan birria tacos filled with meaty mushrooms and vegan cheese, served with a side of consomé for dipping.

Rice and Beans for Tacos

Sometimes, simple does it best! I love using our basic rice and beans as the base for tacos piled high with all the veggies. Don’t forget the guac!

Vegan Steak Tacos (Tacos de Bistec)

Sink your teeth into these hearty vegan steak tacos made with mushrooms that are seasoned to perfection and packed with beefy flavor. You’ll be shocked how much these mushroom tacos taste like the classic Tacos de Bistec we all know and love!

Tofu Tacos

Sub salsa for the tomato sauce in our tofu beef recipe to create the perfect vegan taco meat! I like to add refried beans to mine and top with vegan cheese, shredded lettuce, and more salsa!

Vegan Hot Dog Tacos (Flautas de Winnie)

A playful and kid-friendly twist on traditional tacos, featuring vegan hot dogs wrapped in crispy corn tortillas. We have got to try these flautas de winnie with our carrot dogs!

TVP Tacos

Like the tofu beef, if you sub salsa for the tomato paste in our TVP Vegan Ground Beef recipe, it makes a fantastic vegan beef taco! This is especially helpful when you have a lot of TVP to use up. You can even freeze it for later!

Soyrizo Tacos

Enjoy the spicy goodness of soyrizo in these flavorful soyrizo tacos topped with fresh pico de gallo salsa.

Vegan Sauces for Tacos

Sometimes, a good sauce can make all the difference! 

Here are some taco sauce ideas you can try:

• Vegan Nacho Sauce
• Avocado Jalapeno Ranch Sauce
• Pineapple Jalapano Salsa
• Avocado Lime Sauce
• Guacamole
• Vegan Sour Cream – My favorite brand is Tofutti, but I can’t wait to try the Elmhurst sour cream they just put out!
• Roasted Jalapeno Salsa Verde 
• Taco Sauce

More Vegan Taco Toppings

Toppings are a fun and easy way to let everyone customize their tacos…or throw a taco party!

Here are some of our go-tos: 

• Non-dairy shredded cheese – Our favorite for tacos is Violife’s Mexican blend! Remember that not all vegan cheeses are the same: Some are better suited dishes where they will be melted; others are better out of the bag and have trouble melting. Violife is our go-to for non-melted taco cheese, but we love Vevan cheddar shreds for melted taco cheese!
• Vegan Cotija Cheese 
• The classic shredded lettuce, tomato, onion
• Sliced olives
• Slaw or shredded red cabbage
• Avocado
• Black beans
• Corn or roasted corn
• Roasted sweet potatoes
• Jalapeno slices
• Refried beans – Make sure you buy the cans marked “vegetarian” or read the ingredients to make sure they don’t contain lard.

Plant-Based Taco FAQ

Here, we’ll give our best answers to some of the most common questions out there about vegan tacos. Have another question? Feel free to drop a comment below, so we can make this a more complete resource for future readers!

What can I use instead of meat in tacos?

There are numerous plant-based alternatives to meat that work wonderfully in tacos. Some popular options include: tofu, seitan, jackfruit, TVP (textured vegetable protein), soy curls, beans and rice, lentils, tempeh, and vegetables of all kinds!

What are vegan tacos made of?

Vegan tacos are made primarily from plant-based ingredients, avoiding any animal products such as meat, dairy, or eggs. Common components of vegan tacos include: plant-based protein like tofu, beans, seitan, or soy curls, vegetables like peppers, onions, mushroom, potatoes, and corn, and toppings like vegan cheese, tomato, lettuce, avocado, and non-dairy sour cream!

What does a veggie taco contain?

Veggie tacos typically contain a variety of vegetables, legumes, and grains. Some common ingredients you might find in a veggie taco include: grilled or sauteed vegetables like peppers, onions, mushrooms, and cauliflower, black beans or pinto beans, rice or quinoa, lettuce, avocado, salsa or diced tomatoes. And guac, always guac.

Can vegans eat taco seasoning?

Yes, most taco seasoning blends are vegan-friendly as they typically consist of a mix of spices and herbs without any animal-derived ingredients. However, it’s always a good idea to double-check the ingredients list on unfamiliar brands because there are some “cheesy” varieties where you’ll find milk-derived ingredients. You can also make your own homemade blend using chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, paprika, onion powder, black pepper, and oregano.

Taco-Adjacent Recipes

While these aren’t technically tacos, we have a feeling that, if you like tacos, you’ll also love these dishes:

• Layered Vegan Taco Dip
• Vegan Taco Salad
• Copycat Vegan Crunchwrap
• Vegan Enchilada Casserole
• It’s also easy to turn any of these taco recipes into a burrito bowl or taco bowls!

We hope you found some fun new vegan taco ideas in this post and walk away feeling inspired for your next taco night!

Now, let’s shake up a fresh margarita and get to it. Enjoy!