Imagine a world without tacos. No, don't! It's actually too horrible to imagine. Who would want to live in a taco-less wasteland? Not us, that's for sure. In fact, tacos are adored by so many that in the United States National Taco Day is celebrated yearly on October 4. In Mexico, where tacos are originally from, Día del Taco is celebrated on March 31. Fortunately, we can all celebrate and eat tacos any day of the year. And if you're short on taco ideas, we've got ya.
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We've gathered some delicious taco recipes that run the gamut from basic to extraordinary. Looking for vegetarian options? We've got ya. Meat options? We've got ya. Fish? We've got ya. Chicken? You get the point. Pretty soon you'll be inspired to create tacos out of all kinds of things, because tacos really are that versatile. Scroll down to see just how "taco-rrific" your life can be.
Birria tacos have become really popular in the last couple of years.
To make the very popular birria tacos, you have to first braise the beef in a rich chili broth until it's tender. Then the beef is put in a corn tortilla with cheese and crisped to perfection. "The result is a savory and cheesy cross between a quesadilla and a taco," says Chef Andrés Galindo, of Nene’s Deli Taqueria in Brooklyn, New York.
Chicharrón guisado tacos made in the slow cooker.
Fresh fried pork-skin rinds seasoned and cooked in the slow cooker and served on corn tortillas for the win! This dish is rich and delicious while being budget-friendly. Get the full recipe at The Other Side of the Tortilla.
Spicy steak tacos made on the grill.
Juicy charcoal-grilled steak tacos are a dream during summer months. You can also grill them on the stove when the weather is cooler. Get the full recipe at Serious Eats.
Flautas de rajas con requesón.
There will be those who nitpick flautas are not tacos, but really, they're just rolled tacos, so deal with it! These particular ones are made with poblano peppers and ricotta cheese. Get the full recipe at La Cocina de Leslie.
Kid-friendly rotisserie chicken baked taquitos.
These taquitos are a healthier version of fried taquitos. Aside from being kid-friendly, they are also mom-friendly because you can use store-bought rotisserie chicken to make them quickly and easily. Get the full recipe at The Other Side of the Tortilla.
Homemade breakfast tacos that are faster than fast food.
Got five minutes? Then you've got time to make these breakfast tacos. Fast food from a drive-thru can't beat them for speed or flavor. Get the full recipe at Spanglish Spoon.
Easy slow cooker chicken tacos with beans and corn.
Dust off the slow cooker, get it set up in the morning, go about your business and come dinner time, your meal will be ready. Crock-Pot chicken tacos are a great dinner option. Get the full recipe at Mom Makes Dinner.
Baked chicken tacos with spinach and guacamole.
Healthy, delicious, and easy to make. What more could you want dinner-wise? These are a great way to get your kids and yourself to gobble up some spinach BTW. Get the full recipe at Mom Makes Dinner.
Mango shrimp tacos on the fly.
These tacos look like they take forever to make because of the battered shrimp, but the recipe has a freezer aisle cheat to make it all quick and easy. Get the full recipe at Mom Makes Dinner.
Simple and quick spicy quinoa tacos.
All you need are six ingredients to create this healthy lunch or dinner entrée. Also, the are great for vegetarians or times when you want a meatless meal. Get the full recipe at Mom Makes Dinner.
Tacos de pollo a la Mexicana.
These shredded chicken tacos are simple and yet so satisfying. You could even make them with leftover chicken or a store-bought rotisserie chicken. Get the full recipe at La Cocina de Leslie.
Spicy salmon tacos dressed with spinach.
Salmon is full of nutrients that are good for you, like omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and antioxidants. Work it into your family's diet with this flavorful dish. Get the full recipe at La Cocina de Leslie.
Tinga de pollo made with store-bought rotisserie chicken.
One of the great things about tacos is that you can fill them with whatever your heart desires, like this tangy tinga de pollo made with store-bought rotisserie chicken. Get the full recipe at The Other Side of the Tortilla.
Longaniza tacos with pineapple.
If you aren't familiar, longaniza is a Mexican sausage similar to chorizo. Paired with pineapple chunks, this recipe is like a tacos al pastor cheat. Get the full recipe at La Cocina de Leslie.
Squash blossom tacos a la Mexicana.
Take fresh edible squash blossoms, chilies, tomatoes, and onions to create this beautiful flor de calabaza a la Mexicana filling. Get the full recipe at La Cocina de Leslie.
Chorizo tacos with roasted onion, corn, and avocado salsa.
Chorizo sausage makes these tacos incredibly flavorful without much effort from you. You are still allowed to take all the credit, though. Get the full recipe at Mama Latina Tips.
Tacos de lechuga without a tortilla.
Not in the mood for tortillas? No problem. Wrap your taco filling in a crisp leaf of lettuce instead. This particular version has a has a lean ground beef filling. Get the full recipe at La Cocina de Leslie.
Lettuce taco boats for Whole30.
Whole30 practitioners might find themselves missing tacos because grains and cheese are not allowed, but these taco boats are a great substitute. Get the full recipe at Mom Makes Dinner.
Vegetarian tacos dorados.
Fried tacos filled with potatoes are the epitome of Mexican comfort food. So good, especially if made by your mom. Be the mom that makes them! Get the full recipe at La Cocina de Leslie.
Tacos de frijoles con queso.
Speaking of Mexican comfort food, bean and queso fresco tacos are another classic. Sometimes the simplest things are the most comforting. Get the full recipe at La Cocina de Leslie.
Carnitas tacos made in a slow cooker.
It takes just four ingredients to make these incredible carnitas in the slow cooker. Only four ingredients! Seriously, how can you not make these? Get the full recipe at The Other Side of the Tortilla.
Tuna tartare in crispy taco shells.
If you love sushi and Mexican food, tuna tartare tacos should be right up your alley. No, they aren't for everyone and that's OK because those who appreciate them will really appreciate them. And, yes, you can make them at home. Get the full recipe at Busy Wife Busy Life.
Homemade salsa verde and avocado tacos.
Give avocado toast a break and have some of these avocado tacos smothered in homemade salsa verde a minute instead. They are great for lunch, dinner, or anytime in between. Get the full recipe at Spanglish Spoon.
Easy buffalo wing tacos with help from the freezer section.
It's like buffalo wings met tortillas, they fell in love and had lots of little buffalo wing taco babies. The best part for you is that they are made with frozen buffalo wings. Get the full recipe at Mom Makes Dinner.
Slow cooker pulled pork tacos with pineapple.
Another great slow cooker set-it-and-forget-it type of recipe that works as a taco filling. If you make enough of it, you could serve it again on the same week on a bun. Get the full recipe at Evolving Table.
Ground beef tacos with homemade taco seasoning.
Make a batch of your own taco seasoning and keep it on hand to season your meat whenever you're craving ground beef tacos. Those packets of seasoning you buy at the store can't compete. Get the full recipe at AllRecipes.
Chicken chili with kidney beans and corn.
Cook up some awesome tasting chili in your slow cooker and serve it in hard taco shells or the tortillas of your choosing. Kids tend to love those crunchy taco shells. Get the full recipe at Spark Recipes.
Sunny side up egg and avocado on a tortilla.
Put a fried egg with avocado on top of a tortilla for breakfast and you're good to go. Actually, there's no reason why you can't also have this for lunch or dinner. Just sayin'. Get the full recipe at Nerdy Mama.
Baja-style tacos with battered fish.
Beer-battered fish tacos will make you feel like you're on vacation in Baja with every bite you take. The only problem is you better make a bunch because they go fast. Get the full recipe at Food Network.
Grilled fish tacos with mango salsa.
You could make these with catfish or cod. The mango salsa will make them pop. Make extra salsa so you can eat it with other meals as well. Get the full recipe at Kevin Is Cooking.
Fish cakes gone taco.
Make cod fish cakes and dress them up with salsa. If you make extra fish cakes, you can freeze them and save them for future meals. Get the full recipe at Simply Recipes.
Mushroom tacos with asparagus.
Great for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. You end up feeling like you ate something that is really good for you because it is really good for you. Get the full recipe at Good Housekeeping.
Shrimp tacos with garlic cilantro lime sauce.
The problem with these spicy, flavorful shrimp tacos is that they're so good you'll want them all the time. Just thinking of them will make your mouth water. Get the full recipe at Pinch of Yum.
Roasted sweet potato and black bean tacos.
These tasty tacos are both vegetarian and kid-friendly. Make them vegan by swapping out the cheese. Budget-friendly and quick to make, these will become a week-night staple. Get the full recipe at The Kitchn.
Carne asada tacos are always a classic.
A good carne asada taco is sublime. You can dress it up however you want, but the star is the meat. Carne asada tacos will never go out of style. Get the full recipe at Food & Wine.
Cauliflower tacos seasoned with a honey-lime chipotle sauce.
The sauce that the cauliflower is tossed in creates a wonderful smoky flavor with a touch of sweetness. Cauliflower is a smart option when you want a vegetarian taco. Get the full recipe at Eating Well.
Scrambled eggs with salsa on a tortilla.
Like we say time and time again: The simplest things are the best. For example, eggs scrambled with a little bit of salsa and put on a corn tortilla. The best! Get the full recipe at Eating Well.
Egg and sausage tacos with cheese are tasty.
Another variation on a breakfast taco that's great for sausage lovers. Scrambled eggs and sausage are a match made in breakfast heaven. Get the full recipe at Just a Pinch Recipes.
Beef taco salad in homemade tortilla taco bowl.
Taco salad bowls kind of call attention to themselves. They seem to yell, "I'm not a salad and I'm not a taco, but you know you want me anyway." The belly wants what the belly wants and if your belly wants a taco bowl salad, then make one. Get the full recipe at Love and Olive Oil.
Dessert tacos with fruit and whipped cream.
Keep in mind that whatever fruits are in season can be swapped out for the strawberries and kiwis in this recipe. Also keep in mind you can come up with all sorts of dessert taco ideas on your own. Get the full recipe at Complete Recipes.
Homemade ice cream taco with chocolate.
We're pretty sure your kids will go crazy for ice cream tacos. Don't worry, you'll like them too because they are fantastic! Ice cream in taco form? Yes, please! Get the full recipe at She Knows.
