Tofu Tacos | Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts

Tofu tacos are a high-protein plant-based dinner, on the table in under an hour! Made from a crispy and spicy crumbled tofu taco filling topped with Mexican coleslaw and creamy avocado dressing.

 

If tofu is new territory in your house, these tofu tacos are about to change the game! These flavorful tacos are an easy vegetarian dinner that you can make on the stovetop in under an hour. Crumbled tofu cooks up tender and juicy in a skillet, spiced with a rich and smoky Mexican-inspired seasoning blend. Piled onto a warm corn tortilla and topped with crunchy Mexican coleslaw, it’s a satisfying meal that the whole family loves.

Why You’ll Love These Easy Tofu Tacos

• Meat-free. If you’re vegetarian, or even if you’re not, tofu tacos are a satisfying meat-free dinner that’s full of flavor. These tacos are the perfect quick and easy Meatless Monday meal!
• Authentic taco flavor. All you need are a few simple seasonings to pack just enough bold and smoky Tex-Mex flavor into this meaty, crispy tofu taco filling.
• Toppings. I’m alllll about the taco toppings. I load up these tofu tacos with fresh homemade Mexican coleslaw and a drizzle of avocado cream (both recipes are included below). Dress up these tacos any way that you’d like!
• Versatile. There are plenty of ways to use your tofu taco filling that go beyond tacos! Scroll for some of my favorite ideas.

Recipe Ingredients

Below are some notes on what you’ll need to make tofu tacos at home. Scroll to the recipe card for a printable ingredients list.

• Firm Tofu – You’ll find tofu in the produce section at most major grocery chains, or Asian supermarkets. Make sure you’re buying firm or extra firm tofu, and not silken tofu, which is too soft.
• Soy Sauce – I use low-sodium soy sauce, but regular works, too. You can substitute soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos if needed.
• Apple Cider Vinegar – Or another type of vinegar, like rice wine vinegar, red, or white wine vinegar.
• Seasonings – Paprika, garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, and salt for flavoring the tofu. You can also replace these individual spices with taco seasoning (or fajita seasoning, as the ingredients are similar).
• Olive Oil – Or another mild oil, like avocado oil.
• Mexican Coleslaw – I love this Mexican coleslaw made with coleslaw mix tossed in a simple, zesty dressing of mayo, lime juice, chopped cilantro, and salt.
• Avocado Cream – Avocado, sour cream, and lime juice. Choose a ripe avocado that’s dark green and just soft to the touch, but not mushy. You can also use avocado dressing.
• Tortillas – I use corn tortillas but you can opt for flour tortillas if you prefer.

What Exactly Is Tofu?

Tofu is a food product that originated in China, made from soy milk curds that are pressed into blocks. The process is similar to cheesemaking! Tofu comes in different firmness, ranging from extra firm, which is great in vegetarian stir-fries, to soft silken tofu, used in recipes like tofu chocolate pudding.

For this taco recipe, I use firm tofu and drain it before frying up the tofu taco meat. Pressing the liquid out is the key to a “meatier” texture (similar to ground beef), for those who aren’t too sold on tofu (yet!). 

How to Press Tofu

Before you start on your tacos, you’ll first need to press the excess liquid out of the tofu so that it crumbles easily. This is super simple to do using a clean kitchen towel and a baking sheet.

1. Cut the tofu block in half and wrap both halves inside a kitchen towel.
2. Place the wrapped tofu onto a baking sheet.
3. Place something weighty, like a heavy-bottomed pot, over the tofu. Leave it to sit for about 30 minutes.

How to Make Tofu Tacos

These tofu tacos come together in a snap. Get your toppings prepped in the time it takes for the tofu to drain. Then, fry up the filling in a skillet. Easy! Here’s a short step-by-step. Find printable instructions in the recipe card below the post.

• Press the tofu. Follow the directions above to press the liquid out of your tofu.
• Make the coleslaw. Meanwhile, mix cilantro, mayo, lime juice, and a pinch of salt to make a dressing, then toss coleslaw mix to coat. 
• Make the avocado cream. Pulse the ingredients for the avocado cream in a blender or food processor. Store the prepared avocado cream and Mexican slaw covered in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.
• Prepare the taco filling. Next, crumble the pressed tofu into a large bowl, and add your soy sauce, vinegar, seasonings, and a bit of olive oil. Give everything a good mix.
• Cook. Fry the tofu in a hot skillet for 8-10 minutes, until browned. 
• Serve! Afterward, spoon the warm tofu into tortillas. Top with Mexican slaw, avocado cream, and any other toppings you’d like. See the section later on for more serving ideas.

Tips and Variations

These are some helpful tips and variations to keep in mind when making tofu tacos:

• Adapt the spiciness. I love the spicy, smoky flavor of chili powder in my seasoning blend. If you’re sensitive to spice, feel free to adapt the amount of cayenne and chili powder to taste.
• Stretch the filling. Adding drained and rinsed black beans or pinto beans can stretch the tofu filling further, and also add extra protein.
• Get the tofu taco meat extra crispy. If you have an oven-safe skillet, pop the fried tofu crumbles under the broiler for a few minutes to crisp them up even further.
• Make tacos in the air fryer. It’s such an easy method! Follow the directions for my air fryer tacos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Taco Toppings

The best part about homemade tacos is the toppings! Along with Mexican coleslaw and avocado crema, these are more of my favorite tofu taco topping ideas:

What to Eat With Tofu Tacos

I love serving these tofu tacos with Tex-Mex appetizers like this baked Mexican cheese dip or Chili’s copycat salsa and crunchy tortilla chips for dipping. For an easy family meal, enjoy these tacos with easy vegetarian sides like Spanish rice or cilantro lime rice and slow cooker black beans. 

More Ways to Use Tofu Taco Meat

Why stop at tacos, when there are so many more delicious ways to use this easy tofu taco filling?

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

• To Store. Store any leftover tofu filling in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat the tofu in the microwave or in a skillet on the stovetop (my preferred method).
• Freeze. Freeze the tofu taco meat in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Defrost the tofu in the fridge before reheating.

More Taco Recipes

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Welcome to Dinners, Dishes, & Desserts where my love of food meets my busy life. My name is Erin and I’m a casual home cook who loves to feed people. On this blog, you’ll find hundreds of quick and easy recipes made mostly from scratch. My days are spent in the kitchen, creating new recipes to share with family and friends.

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