Vegetarian Ground Beef Tacos (Printable Version)
Seasoned vegetarian ground beef filling in warm tortillas topped with fresh vegetables, cheese, and creamy avocado.
# What You Need:
→ Vegetarian Filling
01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
03 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 12 oz vegetarian ground beef substitute (soy-based or pea protein)
05 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste
06 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
07 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
09 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
10 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/4 cup water
→ Tacos & Toppings
13 - 8 small corn or flour tortillas, warmed
14 - 1 cup shredded lettuce
15 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
16 - 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
17 - 1 ripe avocado, sliced
18 - 1/4 cup finely diced red onion
19 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
20 - Lime wedges, to serve
# How to Make It:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 2–3 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
03 - Add the vegetarian ground beef substitute, breaking it up with a spatula. Cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned.
04 - Stir in the tomato paste, cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, oregano, black pepper, and salt. Mix well.
05 - Add the water and cook for 2–3 minutes until the mixture is heated through and slightly saucy. Remove from heat.
06 - Warm the tortillas in a dry skillet or microwave.
07 - Spoon the vegetarian filling into each tortilla. Top with lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cheese, avocado, red onion, and cilantro.
08 - Serve immediately with lime wedges.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Even meat lovers ask for seconds without realizing theres no actual beef in the filling
- The spice blend creates that authentic taco truck flavor in just 25 minutes
02 -
- Letting the spices bloom in the hot oil with the tomato paste makes a huge difference in depth of flavor
- Dont skip warming the tortillas, as cold tortillas can crack and make everything fall apart
03 -
- Mix the spices in a small bowl before adding to prevent clumps
- Use fresh vegetables for toppings, they make all the difference