Lauren Masur
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February 6, 2024 at 6:59 PM
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Why limit the celebration to just Taco Tuesday when you can savor it every evening of the week? The versatility of preparing homemade tacos lies in the ability to craft them with a wide array of meat, vegetables, cheese, and toppings, offering a meal that caters to everyone’s tastes. From diced grilled chicken to seasoned ground beef, sliced skirt steak, stewed rib-eye, black beans, and sweet potatoes, the options are endless for creating a taco that suits your preferences.
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On taco night, the possibilities are endless with a DIY toppings bar. Take your pick from guacamole, sour cream, assorted salsas, crunchy coleslaw, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, and minced onions. For those craving a bit of heat, jalapeños and hot sauce can spice things up.
Tacos not only please a crowd but also serve as an engaging activity that involves everyone, from kids to adults, in customizing their favorite combinations.
The convenience of tacos shines through when hosting a gathering, whether it’s a laid-back family get-together or a lively game day party with friends. With minimal effort, you can prepare a feast that accommodates various tastes and dietary needs—leaving you with leftovers by the end of the night.
by Debbie Koenig
Before delving into taco recipes, let’s start with the essentials. With this straightforward formula, you can bid farewell to store-bought taco seasoning packets. Simply blend paprika, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, salt, and red pepper flakes, then store the mix in a jar for future use. This batch of spices is a time-saving staple for your taco creations.
by Ray Garcia
Got leftover chicken on hand? Transform it into delectable chicken tinga tacos. The secret lies in the tinga sauce, a blend of butter, diced onion, garlic, poblano chiles, canned tomatoes, and chipotle peppers in adobo. Heat the shredded chicken in this flavorful sauce, then load it onto tortillas and melt cheese over the top.
by Alejandra Ramos
Don’t be intimidated by the idea of preparing fish tacos. For a patriotic twist, toss halved blueberries with diced onion, plum tomatoes, lime juice, sugar, salt, and pepper to complement flaky white fish. Tangy crema and salsa can be prepared in advance, simplifying the process on taco night to sear the fish and assemble the tacos.
by Dylan Dreyer
Sliced skirt steak takes the spotlight in these tacos. Marinated with garlic, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, orange juice, vinegar, and oil, the steak grills to perfection and slices effortlessly, creating a delectable taco filling when paired with lettuce, cheese, and pico.
by Michael Symon
Skirt steak proves its versatility once again with a smoky flavor infusion from a marinade of puréed chipotles in adobo, brown sugar, coriander, cumin, and lime juice. The salsa verde, featuring a hint of jalapeño heat and briny elements like chopped capers and anchovies, elevates the dish.
by Michael Symon
While rib-eye is a staple at steakhouses, it shines equally as a taco filling. Season the steaks with a rub of salt, pepper, chipotle powder, coriander, cumin, paprika, and brown sugar, then grill to perfection. Slice the meat, tuck it into tortillas, and top with vibrant tomatillo salsa.
by Ryan Scott
Embrace the nostalgic simplicity of ground beef tacos, adorned with all the classic fixings: sour cream, chopped tomatoes, scallions, jalapeños, and shredded lettuce. Opt for ground turkey for a leaner alternative.
by Gabriela Cámara
Embark on a culinary journey to Mexico City with chef Gabriela Cámara’s rendition of authentic Mexican street food. Sliced pork tenderloin, Adobo de Chiles Rojos, pineapple chunks, minced onions, and freshly squeezed lime juice unite to create a sweet and smoky taco experience that will leave you craving more.
by Kena Peay
Mediterranean flavors meet tacos in this protein-packed recipe. The key lies in the assembly: create crispy chicken tacos by pan-frying a tortilla with shredded mozzarella and chicken. Serve with a generous portion of briny tomato-cucumber salad for a refreshing crunch.
by Erica Blaire Roby
Elevate your taco game by preparing healthier versions at home whenever the craving strikes. The process is simple: sauté ground beef with onions, garlic, seasonings, and assemble on tortillas with your favorite toppings.
by Reba McEntire and Rex Linn
Utilize the iconic beer can chicken method to bake chicken until tender and infused with beer flavors. This succulent chicken serves as the foundation for smoky barbecue tacos with Hatch chile mayo. Load the meat onto warmed tortillas and garnish with sautéed onions, mayo, barbecue sauce, and guacamole.
by Alejandra Ramos
Marinate skirt steak in canned chipotles in adobo, olive oil, lime zest, juice, garlic, salt, and pepper. Grill the steak, slice it, and place it in warm corn tortillas. Top with cumin-lime mayo, queso fresco, cilantro, avocado, and quick-pickled onions.
by Casey Barber
Let your slow cooker do the work for you with pork carnitas that require minimal effort. Use the carnitas in tacos, burritos, lettuce wraps, nachos, or grain bowls for a versatile meal option.
by Olivier Palazzo
Once you master the art of fish tacos, you’ll find yourself craving them on a regular basis. Elevate the dish with sweet and spicy mango salsa featuring a hint of heat from thinly sliced Scotch bonnet pepper.
by Jim Tselikis and Sabin Lomac
Indulge in a decadent twist on weeknight tacos with Maine lobster meat. The sweet, succulent lobster pairs harmoniously with cilantro-lime taco sauce, pico de gallo, freshly squeezed lime, and cabbage slaw.
Taco-Inspired Recipes
by Kevin Curry
For nights when you seek a no-cook dinner option, consider this make-ahead chicken taco salad. Simply combine shredded lettuce, tomatoes, canned black beans, frozen or canned corn, and shredded rotisserie chicken. Prepare an easy dressing with store-bought enchilada sauce, vinegar, lime juice, cumin, and honey.
by Joy Bauer
Dive into a loaded taco bake for a satisfying meal experience. Cook ground turkey with taco seasoning, salsa, black beans, and corn. Layer tortilla chips with the cooked filling and shredded cheese in a lasagna-style arrangement, adding chopped scallions, olives, and jalapeños before baking to a crisp finish.
by Joy Bauer
Transform Taco Tuesday into a delightful soup affair with this hearty, spiced soup recipe. Featuring ground meat, onions, taco seasoning, black beans, corn, and jalapeños, this one-pot wonder comes together in just 30 minutes.
by Casey Barber
While individual taco bowls are delightful, a giant taco rice bake takes the concept to the next level. Mix pinto beans, diced tomatoes, green chiles, cooked rice, chili powder, shredded cheese, and seasonings, then layer the mixture in a baking dish. Top with additional cheese and bake until golden and bubbly.
by Katie Stilo
With a simple taco kit, transform store-bought taco seasoning packets into a dry brine for your favorite wings. For a unique twist, use crushed taco shells to create an extra crispy coating. Whip up a side of lime crema for dipping.
Vegetarian Taco Recipes
by Kathryn Hendrix and Allrecipes
Utilize a muffin tin to craft convenient sweet potato taco cups. Fit a tortilla into each muffin cup, then top with cooked sweet potato, onion, jalapeño, garlic, and beans. Sprinkle with cheese and bake until bubbly for a portable and flavorful snack.
by Joy Bauer
Embrace nutritious black bean tacos using pantry staples. Warm canned black beans with jarred salsa, garlic, cumin, and mustard until heated through. Fill taco shells with the bean mixture and customize with your favorite toppings.
by Alana Leland
Taco Tuesday meets sweet potato black bean tacos in this effortless recipe. Roast diced sweet potatoes until tender, then combine with black beans, corn, and cooked quinoa in a skillet. Finish with a squeeze of fresh lime and a sprinkle of crumbled feta cheese.
by Elizabeth Heiskell
Enjoy a vegetarian taco option by cooking fluffy quinoa and tossing it with sweet potatoes, onion, and bell pepper. The quinoa adds substance to the filling without overwhelming it with carbs. Prepare an easy crema by mixing sour cream with chopped cilantro, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, and salt, serving alongside ripe avocado slices.
by Jenné Claiborne
Short on time? Whip up these lentil tacos in just 30 minutes. Cook lentils and kale in crushed tomatoes until thickened, creating a hearty filling. Pair with a quick mango guacamole featuring ripe avocados, red onion, cilantro, lime juice, and cubed mango for a delightful combination.
by Priyanka Naik
For a vegan twist on Taco Bell-inspired flavors, try these vegan tacos. Re-hydrated chickpea flour transforms into “meat-like” crumbles, seasoned with taco seasoning, onion, garlic, chipotles in adobo, and lime juice. Serve with vegan sour cream and cheddar shreds for a plant-based delight.
by Casey Barber
Indulge in breakfast for dinner with tacos on the menu. Toast corn tortillas over an open flame, scramble eggs until cooked, and assemble with diced avocado, Sriracha, and scallions for a satisfying meal experience.
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