Taco Recipes

June 14, 2015
Brian Woodcock
These tasty recipes will make a case for celebrating Taco Tuesday every night of the week. 
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San Antonio Beef Puffy Tacos

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: San Antonio Beef Puffy Tacos

Original tacos were a little different than the U-shaped tortillas invented by entrepreneur Glen Bell of Taco Bell. The real deal begins with a ball of masa flattened into a thin round that's fried to a golden crispness. The masa puffs up a bit, which is how the moniker "puffy taco" came into play. Ours are stuffed with ground beef that has been seasoned with jalapeños, cumin, chili powder and—if you like—Mexican beer. Then fill it with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, and enjoy.

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Ancho Chile Flank Steak and Sweet Potato Tacos

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Ancho Chile Flank Steak and Sweet Potato Tacos

For an extra burst of flavor, stir a few tablespoons of pan drippings into your sour cream.

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Crunchy Jerk Tacos with Watermelon-Mango Salsa

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Crunchy Jerk Tacos with Watermelon-Mango Salsa

Inexpensive, flavorful, and nearly impossible to overcook, chicken thighs are the MVP of poultry cuts. Try them in crunchy jerk tacos.

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Steak Tacos with Charred Salsa

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Try this fresh serving idea: Assemble and serve tortillas in parchment paper-lined cups.

Recipe: Steak Tacos with Charred Salsa

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Brisket Tacos with Summer Salsa

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Brisket Tacos with Summer Salsa

Fresh salsa, warmed tortillas, and a spicy brisket filling make these tacos one winner of a dinner.

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Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos Al Pastor with All the Fixings

Photo: Greg Dupree

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos Al Pastor with All the Fixings

Start by slow-cooking pork shoulder in an aromatic bath of pineapple, beer (try a floral, spiced white ale like Hoegaarden or Blue Moon), and canned chipotles in adobo. Then shred the meat and set out a taco bar full of fresh flavors, bright colors, and crunchy textures. You can't go wrong here. We like bowls of crumbled cheeses, sliced radishes, chopped onions, avocado, shredded cabbage, and plenty of fresh cilantro.

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Suadero Tacos with Serrano-Cilantro Salsa

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Suadero Tacos with Serrano-Cilantro Salsa

This delicious flank steak recipe for Suadero Tacos with Serrano-Cilantro Salsa is inspired by street tacos found on food trucks.

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Sesame Chicken Tacos

Brian Woodcock

Recipe: Sesame Chicken Tacos

Baja and Beijing collide in a healthy new way with taco night.

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Tacos Al Pastor

Beth Dreiling Hontzas / Styling: Leigh Anne Montgomery / Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns

Recipe: Tacos Al Pastor

These authentic tacos are filled with a flavorful mixture of seasoned pork, pineapple tidbits, and freshly chopped cilantro. Finish with desired toppings such as chopped jalapeño or crumbled queso fresco.

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Poblano Fish Tacos

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Poblano Fish Tacos

Fish tacos are all the rage now. Make your own in no time with this easy recipe for fish tacos.

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Greek Chicken Tacos

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Greek Chicken Tacos

Crisp lettuce cups offer a light, refreshing spin to this Greek salad-inspired taco, but feel free to use warm flour tortillas or pitas instead.

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Caribbean Pork Tacos

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Caribbean Pork Tacos

The combination of salty char-grilled meat with fiery-sweet salsa makes this a Test Kitchen favorite.

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Fried Chicken Tacos with Buttermilk-Jalapeño Sauce

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Fried Chicken Tacos with Buttermilk-Jalapeño Sauce

Pick up a sack of cripsy, crunchy, oh-so-good store-bought fried chicken and serve up one of these convenient recipes in no time.

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Grilled Chicken Tacos

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Grilled Chicken Tacos

Spice up taco night with these quick tacos. Jazz up ordinary salsa with mango, cilantro, and hot sauce, and serve a side of refried black beans for an easy weeknight meal.

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Vietnamese Barbecue Tacos

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: Vietnamese Barbecue Tacos

Vibrant Vietnamese flavors are served Tex-Mex style with a spicy sauce for dipping.

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Grilled Pork Tacos

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Grilled Pork Tacos

Here's a delicious (and healthy) change of pace from the usual ground beef tacos.

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Citrus Shrimp Tacos

Photo: Beth Dreiling-Hontzas

Recipe: Citrus Shrimp Tacos

These citrus shrimp tacos pair marinated, grilled shrimp with Southwest Cream Sauce and fresh corn salsa for a colorful entree that's full of flavor.

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Fried Okra Tacos

Photo: Jennifer Davick

The salty crunch of Fried Okra Tacos puts Tex-Mex takeout to shame. A sprinkling of sugar in the cornmeal coating caramelizes as the okra cooks, creating a crisp, golden crust.

Recipe: Fried Okra Tacos

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Tempura Shrimp Tacos

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipes: Tempura Shrimp Tacos

Fajita seasoning does double duty in Tempura Shrimp Tacos and Mexi-Coleslaw Mix. Make coleslaw up to 24 hours in advance to jump-start this recipe.

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Slow-Cooker Beef Tacos

Photo: Reesa Berkstresser

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Beef Tacos

Brown the meat in a Dutch oven, then let the slow-cooker work its magic as the rich spices meld. You can also serve the versatile, tender beef over baked potatoes instead of in soft tortilla shells.

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Migas Tacos

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Migas Tacos

Get out of your cereal rut at breakfast with these Tex-Mex breakfast tacos filled with cheeesy scrambled eggs.

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Easy Skillet Tacos

Photo: William Dickey

Recipe: Easy Skillet Tacos

Tacos are a great go-to weeknight meal, and these fantastic tacos make family dinners easy. We'll have you mixing up your own simple taco seasoning—these tacos get their flavor from cumin and chili powder without the additional sodium often found in packaged seasoning mixes—and you'll love the full, rich flavor of it with your ground beef. For these skillet tacos, we suggest you cover them with Cheddar cheese and cilantro, making every bite a cheesy, gooey, delicious sensation. Then, top off your crunchy tacos with any of our delicious toppings: try shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, salsa, or sour cream—or even better, just pile them all on.

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Picadillo Tacos

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Picadillo Tacos

Picadillo Tacos are filled with lean ground beef, vegetables, and chipotle peppers for a slight kick. For a vegetarian option, see our meatless picadillo variation.

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Southwest Shrimp Tacos

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Southwest Shrimp Tacos

Ancho chile powder and hot sauce give a kick to the grilled shrimp, but the cabbage-and-carrot mixture adds a cool, fresh crunch to the tacos.

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Slow-Cooker Beef Tacos

Photo: Oxmoor House

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Beef Tacos

Brown the meat in a Dutch oven, then let the slow cooker work its magic as the rich spices meld. You can also serve the versatile, tender beef over baked potatoes instead of in soft tortilla shells.

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Shredded Grilled Tilapia Tacos

Recipe: Shredded Grilled Tilapia Tacos

Tilapia tacos are a healthier version of fried fish tacos that grills the fish instead of pan-frying it in oil. The citrus juices and spicy slaw in this recipe pack in tons of flavor.

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Picadillo Tacos

Beth Dreiling Hontzas / Styling: Leigh Anne Montgomery / Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns

Recipe: Picadillo Tacos
Recipe: Tacos Verdes

Picadillo Tacos (at left on plate) are filled with lean ground beef and vegetables. For a vegetarian option, see our meatless picadillo variation or try veggie-stuffed Tacos Verdes (right).

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Lean Green Lettuce Tacos

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Lean Green Lettuce Tacos

Queso fresco is Spanish for "fresh cheese." It has a soft and crumbly texture (similar to feta) with mild flavor. You can find it in the dairy section of larger supermarkets.

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