this tofu taco meat comes together so quickly, is packed with flavor, and perfect for your next taco, burrito, or nacho!
the inspiration
A few weeks ago I shared a recipe for Crispy Corn & Tofu Tacos and I was so impressed with how the tofu taco meat came out! The flavor was delicious so I wanted to give this recipe its own blog post.
I love making homemade mockmeats but don’t always love having to do so much work. So, this recipe is great because it is easy to make and comes together so fast. The seasonings taste so good on the tofu taco meat and it is great for keeping in the fridge.
the ingredients
- Tofu: you will need a block of tofu for this recipe. You can use extra firm, super firm, or even a soy free tofu. I wouldn’t do any less firm than an extra firm.
- Jalapeño: this is optional if you like some spice. Otherwise, you can leave it out.
- Vidalia Onion: the onion will add a little extra flavor to the tofu taco meat.
- Light Olive Oil: we will need oil to sauté the veggies and tofu.
- Garlic Powder: this will add nice garlic flavor to the tofu taco meat.
- Onion Powder: this will add nice onion flavor to the tofu taco meat.
- Salt: will add saltiness to the tofu taco meat.
- Paprika: paprika helps to give color to the tofu taco meat.
- Chili Powder: the chili powder adds a hint of spice to the tofu taco meat as well as lots of great flavor.
- Ground Cinnamon: the ground cinnamon adds in a nice little background flavor this is so good.
making the tofu taco meat
This tofu taco meat is so easy to make and will come together very quickly! The flavors are so delicious and the whole house will smell amazing.
- In a medium or large pan sauté the onion and jalapeño, if using them.
- While they are cooking crumble a block of extra firm tofu with your hands.
- Add in the seasonings: garlic powder, onion powder, salt, paprika, chili powder, and ground cinnamon.
- Mix together to coat the tofu evenly.
- Add the tofu crumbles to the pan with the onion and peppers. Then, cook over a medium to medium high heat for 10 to 15 minutes. Mixing occasionally until pieces of the tofu are golden brown and crispy.
tofu taco meat preferences
When it comes to how cooked you want the tofu taco meat to be I would say you have two options. You can either go a little crispier and dryer or a little wetter and softer.
Personally, I like the tofu to have nice golden brown bits that are a little crispy. So, I cook the tofu on a bit of a higher heat to make that happen. I like to lay the tofu as flat as I can in the pan into an even layer, let it cook for a few minutes, then toss, and repeat. This will help to give the tofu crumble a chance to rotate in the pan.
If you like your taco meat to be a little bit more moist do not cook it for as long and stir it more frequently. I would also cook it closer to the a medium heat instead of medium high heat.
ways to use the tofu taco meat
Once the tofu taco meat is all cooked it is time to use it. Now of course we can use it to make vegan tacos, vegan burritos, vegan nachos, taco bowls, burrito bowls, taco salads, in chili, or anywhere else you want!
The possibilities with this recipe are truly endless and don’t just need to be saved for Taco Tuesday! If you want a recipe to use it in right away try the Crispy Corn and Tofu Tacos, Vegan Crunchwraps or Veggie Filled Nachos.
variations on this recipe
This is a great recipe to play around with and add what you like. You can also use a super firm tofu or fava bean tofu to make this even higher in protein.
You can of course add in more ingredients for flavor like salsa, cilantro, lime juice, cumin, chipotle peppers, or anything else you like. If you also feel like you want it to be a bit more moist you can add in a few tablespoons of broth.
Finally, you can play around with the size of the tofu crumbles which will change the texture when the tofu taco meat it is in something. You can make the crumbles very small or very big, play around with it.
more mockmeat recipes
why you’ll love this recipe
There are so many ways to replicate taco meat as a vegan. However, I think there is so much to love about this specific tofu taco meat. First, it is quick and easy to make. Have a block of tofu and some seasonings? Perfect!
Second, it packs in lots of great plant protein, minerals, and vitamins from the tofu. So, it not only tastes good of course but it is also super nourishing.
Finally, if you are curious about eating less meat or vegan this recipe is a great way to try out some tofu. It is packed with great flavor and the texture can be made to not be as mushy as soft.
tofu taco meat faq
It contains no nuts or gluten. It does contain soy but you can swap out a soy free tofu like a fava bean, chickpea, or pumpkin seed.
It will last up to 4 days in the fridge. You can freeze it after cooking if you like, the texture of the tofu may change. You can store leftovers in an airtight conainer.
You can warm it in a pan on the stove, in the oven, or microwave.
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Tofu Taco Meat
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons chopped Vidalia onion
- 2 small jalapeno peppers sliced, optional leave out if you don’t like spice
- 1 (16 ounce) block extra firm tofu, see note
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
Instructions
- In a medium or large pan sauté the onion and jalapeño, if using them.
- While they are cooking crumble a block of extra firm tofu with your hands in a medium bowl.
- Add in the seasonings: garlic powder, onion powder, salt, paprika, chili powder, and ground cinnamon.
- Mix together to coat the tofu evenly.
- Add the tofu crumbles to the pan with the onion and peppers.
- Then, cook over a medium to medium high heat for 10 to 15 minutes. Mixing occasionally until pieces of the tofu are golden brown and crispy.
- Taste the tofu prior to eating and add in more salt or any other seasonings if desired. Enjoy right away in your favorite recipe or store in a container and save for later.
Video
Notes
- Nutrition facts are based on my gram measurements put into Cronometer. Yours may vary, they are to help you get an idea.
- Please do not repost recipes without my permission. Sharing a direct link is always highly encouraged and appreciated.
- For any questions you may have please refer to the FAQ above the recipe card.
- Some extra firm tofu is sold in 14 ounce blocks that is fine. You can also use super firm tofu or a soy free tofu.
- This recipe will make approximately 290g or 10 ounces of tofu taco meat.
Nutrition
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hey there!
Hey, I’m Francesca!
Thank you for checking out my recipe! I am happy to have you here and hope you explore more delicious vegan recipes.
I like trying new things, and I will try to make the dish you made, because I think it is very simple.
I hope you enjoy!!
This one is a keeper!
Yay that makes me so happy to hear!!!
Great
My favorite tofu taco recipe so far. I didn’t have jalapeno, so I used a green bell pepper, grated garlic, two tablespoons chilis in adobo, and two tablespoons tomato paste. I used my own homemade taco seasoning because the seasonings overlapped. This was at least my third try on tofu tacos and it’s the winner by far.
My household is a family of meat eaters and we’re trying to eat tofu at least once a week, mostly because tofu is the best price per pound. it was really tasty and will be in our rotation regularly. I think the cook time is the secret, really good texture.
Hi Lindsey, I am so happy to hear how much you enjoy this recipe. Thank you so much for the kind words!!!