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This tofu tacos recipe is what easy dinners are made of! The filling is spiced to perfection, making it a vegan meal everyone will love.
Hereโs a fast and easy dinner that went over like a charm over here: tofu tacos! While itโs not typically served in a tortilla, tofu is ideal for tacos. Its neutral flavor takes on whatever flavors you season it with, and those tofu crumbles are quite the kitchen trick. Add cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, and smoked paprika, and the filling is bursting with flavor!
You can whip up these easy tacos in just 20 minutes, making them ideal for weeknight meals. Yep! You can make a block of rubbery white tofu into a crazy good vegan tacos filling. Hereโs how.
From block to filling
Itโs easier than you think to make a flavorless block of pressed soy into a delicious tofu taco filling! The secret: tofu crumbles. Youโll break the tofu into smaller irregular-shaped pieces, then mix that with delicious seasonings. Hereโs what to do:
- Crumble the tofu with your fingers. Throw it right into a bowl and crumble it up! Itโs usually pretty cold at this point since itโs refrigerated, so youโll have to grin and bear it.
- Add olive oil and the secret spices. In this case, thatโs cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, and smoked paprika.
- Cook in a skillet for 8 to 10 minutes. Youโll want it to be just browned and becoming lightly crisp on the outside.
Easy taco toppings
To keep these as a quick and easy dinner recipe, I went for the simplest toppings imaginable. Of course, you can customize them as youโd like! Hereโs what I do when Iโm in a rush:
- Sliced red cabbage with lime: Thinly slice it, then spritz with lime juice and add a few pinches of salt. You donโt even need to measure!
- Pico de gallo: Get store-bought for the quickest prep.
- Torn cilantro: No need to chop. Just tear it with your fingers.
- Yogurt mixed with hot sauce: This is my other favorite taco sauce trick! Take some vegan yogurt and swirl it with Mexican hot sauce. (I like Cholula.) It makes an instant creamy, spicy sauce. You can also use store-bought salsa or taco sauce, or make a homemade version.
More topping ideas
The toppings listed above are the quickest and easiest, and usually theyโre all I need! But if you want to get fancier, Iโve got lots of great options. Here are some fun taco filling ideas:
- Refried beans (homemade or purchased)
- Sauteed peppers and onions
- Easy black beans
- Pickled onions or pickled jalapenos
- Creamy cilantro sauce or cilantro lime sauce
- Chipotle sauce
Tip: Warm your tortillas!
Hereโs my biggest tip for tofu tacos, or really tacos of any kind: warm your tortillas! Thereโs nothing worse than a taco with a tough, cold tortilla. Hereโs how to warm tortillas like a pro:
- Place them over the flame of a gas burner. This is my preferred way. Place each tortilla directly on a gas burner for a few seconds per side. It lightly chars the edges and warms the tortillas. Then throw them into a tortilla warmer!
- Or, warm them in the oven. If you donโt have a gas burner, you can warm them in the oven. Theyโll still be tasty!
Is tofu healthy?
Thereโs a lot of misinformation related to the health benefits of this soy product, so I get this question a lot. Tofu in moderation can be part of a healthy diet.
Soy in any form is a nutrient-dense source of protein that can safely be consumed several times a week. Itโs likely to provide health benefits from its nutritional profile, especially when you eat it as an alternative to red meat and processed meat.
For years, I avoided tofu, even though my family ate mostly vegetarian and vegan recipes. Over the years, Iโve come around to tofu as a delicious and easy to prepare vegan protein.
Dietary notes
This tofu tacos recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
Easy Tofu Tacos
This tofu tacos recipe is what easy dinners are made of! The filling is spiced to perfection, making it a vegan meal everyone will love.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 8 tacos 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican inspired
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
For the tofu
- 12 to 14-ounce block extra-firm tofu
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ยผ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
For the tacos
- 2 cups red cabbage
- Lime wedges
- Fresh cilantro leaves, torn
- Pico de gallo (purchased or homemade)
- Vegan yogurt (or regular), mixed with salt and Mexican hot sauce to taste
Instructions
- Make the tofu crumbles: Drain the tofu container, then pat the tofu dry with a clean dish towel. Place the tofu in a large bowl and use your fingers to break the tofu into roughly bite-sized crumbles. (It might be a little cold on your hands, but donโt worry. It should only take a few seconds!)
- Stir in the soy sauce, vinegar, salt, garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and 2 tablespoons of the olive oil.
- Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large non-stick skillet.
- Add the tofu and cook on medium-high for 8 to 10 minutes, breaking up large pieces into bite-sized chunks and stirring occasionally, until browned and lightly crispy and the liquid evaporates. (The exact timing depends on the tofu brand.)
- Assemble the toppings: Thinly slice the red cabbage, and place it in a bowl. Spritz with the juice of 2 lime wedges and add a few pinches kosher salt. Mix the vegan yogurt with Mexican hot sauce to taste, and add a few pinches of salt.
- Warm the tortillas: Warm and char the tortillas by placing them on an open gas flame on medium for a few seconds per side, flipping with tongs, until they are slightly blackened and warm.
- Serve: Place the tofu crumbles in the tortillas, then top with toppings and enjoy.
More tofu recipes
Here are a few more great tofu recipes Iโd recommend in addition to these tofu tacos:
- Opt for another fast, tasty dinner, coconut tofu curry.
- Make baked tofu, or use it to top a tofu salad.
- Try the ultimate comfort food, a great tofu stir fry.
- Fry up pan-fried tofu to go in grain bowls and ramen.
- Mix up a tofu scramble, an ultra-fast breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
More great tacos
Everythingโs better in a tortilla! Here are more of my top taco recipes:
- Try 15-minute Easy Black Bean Tacos or Quick Refried Bean Tacos.
- Start the day with Epic Breakfast Tacos.
- Whip up Vegan Walnut Taco Meat for a vegan taco.
- Try Amazing Egg Tacos that taste like meat.
- Try delightfully Crispy Avocado Tacos.
5/5! I was hesitant to try as so often tofu is โฆ. less than delicious, but this recipe was truly so good. Itโs really quick to come together, the sauce is super simple and it tastes really good. Weโve made it twice and will add it to the bi weekly rotation!
Thanks for making it!
We LOVE this recipe. It makes a great quick weeknight dinner! Thank you!
So glad to hear that! Thank you for making!
This is such a great and easy recipe!
Iโve made this multiple times for tacos/burritos/taco bowls. I showed the recipe to my family and they have now made it multiple times. Itโs definitely 5 stars from us!
I am obsessed with these tacos! They are so easy and delicious! I have made them about 10 times in the past year with a variety of side dishes and toppings!! YUM
So glad to hear that!
YUM! Quick, easy, and delicious. This tofu taco filling was just what I was looking for. I used super firm tofu so no need to press or pat dry. It cooked well in a cast iron pan and did not stick. Thanks for the recipe!
These are amazing! My family all agreed that these are the BEST tofu tacos weโve ever had.
Awesome! Thank you for making.
Wow, this is so good! I was looking for a use for leftover tofu and tortillas and came across this recipe. It was ready in no time and the spices on the tofu were perfect. Will definitely make this again!