Vegetarian Tacos

Our Vegetarian Tacos Recipe is a delightful and easy-to-make dish that’s full of fresh flavor. Packed with a variety of veggies like onion, bell pepper, zucchini, corn, and black beans, then seasoned with garlic and savory spices, these veggie tacos are an exciting, meatless alternative that can be prepared and served in about 40 minutes.

Close up view of veggie tacos.

I’ve always loved a good taco! As a kid, it was always seasoned ground beef in a crunchy corn shell with shredded cheese and lettuce.

As an adult, I can’t resist a mahi mahi fish taco with creamy slaw and taco sauce wrapped in a warm tortilla. It wasn’t until I was well into adulthood that I’d even consider trying vegetarian taco options.

Luckily, meatless tacos have become more mainstream over the years. There are now vegetarian items at Taco Bell, Del Taco, and Tex-Mex restaurants across the country.

Maybe the best thing about vegetarian tacos are that you can easily make them at home. Our easy veggie tacos are filled with hearty ingredients and are completely customizable. This is a recipe the entire family will enjoy!

Prepare the Vegetarian Tacos:

Here is a quick summary of the recipe. Scroll to the recipe card below for the ingredient amounts and full instructions!

  1. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, green and red bell peppers, and zucchini. Sauté for about 5 minutes until vegetables soften.
  2. Add garlic, cumin, chili powder, oregano, smoked paprika, salt, cayenne, and pepper to the pan with the vegetables. Cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute until fragrant.
Raw vegetables in a skillet.
Spices on top of vegetables in a pan.
  1. Fold in the frozen corn and black beans, cook for 1-2 more minutes, then remove from heat. Stir in the lemon and lime juice.
  2. Warm up 12 yellow corn tortillas by roasting over an open flame or heating on a baking sheet in the oven until soft and pliable.
  3. Add a couple of spoonfuls of vegetable filling to a warm tortilla. Then, add shredded cabbage, crumbled cotija cheese, cherry tomatoes, sliced jalapeno, and avocado slices. Garnish with fresh cilantro and lime juice. Enjoy!
Corn and black beans added to a skillet of vegetables.
Top down view of vegetarian taco filling in a pan.

Tips for Success:

  1. Be careful not to overcook the vegetables, because they will become too soft and change the taco’s texture.
  2. To prevent the tortillas from tearing, avoid assembling the tacos in advance as they will absorb moisture from the vegetables. For optimal results, assemble the tacos right before serving.
  3. Feel free to use your favorite taco seasoning packet or homemade taco seasoning.

Storage Recommendations:

These veggie tacos are best enjoyed fresh, but you can also store the components separately for future meals.

Store the vegetable filling in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The tortillas should be kept in a cool dry place or refrigerated until ready to use.

When you’re ready to assemble and eat the tacos, simply reheat the filling on the stove or in the microwave, warm up the tortillas, and add your fresh toppings.

Note that it’s best to add the fresh toppings, like cabbage, cheese, tomatoes, jalapeno, and avocado, right before serving to maintain their texture and flavor.

Can I freeze the vegetable filling?

Yes, the filling freezes well. Store it in a freezer-safe container and it can last for up to 2 months.

Can I prepare the vegetable filling in advance?

Yes, you can cook the vegetable filling in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Cooked tortilla with taco filling.

Can I make these tacos vegan?

Absolutely. Just replace the cotija cheese with a vegan cheese alternative or omit it completely.

What can I use instead of corn tortillas?

Any type of tortilla can be used for this recipe. Whole wheat or gluten-free tortillas are great alternatives.

How do I prevent my tortillas from tearing?

The key is not to overfill your tacos and to warm your tortillas before assembling. It’s also best to assemble the tacos right before serving.

What other toppings can I add to my vegetarian tacos?

The sky’s the limit! Fresh cilantro, lime juice, and avocado slices are classic choices, but you can also add salsa, sour cream, guacamole, or even pickled onions.

More Vegetarian Dishes to Try

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Top down view of vegetarian tacos on a plate.

Vegetarian Tacos

5 from 2 votes
Print Pin
Author: Kim
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings

Ingredients

For the Taco filling:

  • 2 tablespoons cooking oil, a neutral oil of your choice
  • 1 sweet onion, diced
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 zucchini, sliced and quartered
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon chili powder
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed (canned)
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 12 corn tortillas

Optional Garnishes:

  • Red cabbage
  • cotija cheese
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Sliced jalapenos
  • Diced avocados
  • Fresh cilantro
  • Lime wedges

Instructions
 

  • Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the onion, green and red bell peppers, and zucchini. Cook for 5 minutes, or until the vegetables begin to soften.
    2 tablespoons cooking oil
    1 sweet onion
    1 red bell pepper
    1 green bell pepper
    1 zucchini
  • Stir in garlic, cumin, chili powder, oregano, smoked paprika, salt, cayenne and pepper. Cook for another 30 seconds to 1 minute.
    4 garlic cloves
    1 teaspoon cumin
    ¼ teaspoon chili powder
    1 teaspoon oregano
    ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
    ½ teaspoon salt
    ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
    ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Fold in the frozen corn and black beans, and cook for another 1-2 minutes until the corn and beans are warmed through. Remove from heat.
    1 cup frozen corn
    1 cup black beans
  • Stir in the lemon and lime juice, and set aside.
    1 lime
    1 lemon
  • Warm-up 12 yellow corn tortillas by carefully roasting over an open flame or heating on a baking sheet in the oven for a few minutes.
    12 corn tortillas
  • Next, assemble tacos starting with a scoop of vegetable filling into the center of a warm tortilla. Then top with shredded cabbage, crumbled cotija cheese, cherry tomatoes, sliced jalapeno, and avocado slices.
    Red cabbage
    cotija cheese
    Cherry tomatoes
    Sliced jalapenos
    Diced avocados
  • Garnish with fresh cilantro and more lime juice. Enjoy immediately.
    Fresh cilantro
    Lime wedges
  • Scroll up and see the post for tips, FAQs, and storage recommendations.

Suggested Equipment

Notes

*The calories listed are an approximation based on the ingredients in the recipe card and a serving size of 2 tacos. Actual calories will vary.
 
*For more information, tips, and answers to frequently asked questions, please refer to the post.
 
*Photos courtesy of Tina Frank Photography.

Nutrition

Serving: 2tacosCalories: 263kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 8gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.02gSodium: 340mgPotassium: 533mgFiber: 9gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 925IUVitamin C: 65mgCalcium: 95mgIron: 2mg
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Recipe Rating




One Comment

  1. 5 stars
    Always searching for new veg tacos and this one was super delicious!! Followed the recipe and topped mine with spicy guacamole and jalapenos. Oh I was a little scared to use all of the lemon and lime so I did use just half of each and it was really good!