These vegan lentil tacos are anything but boring! Unlike other vegan taco options, this lentil filling is loaded with flavor thanks to mushrooms, chipotle, tomato sauce, and cumin. We have been making these budget friendly tacos almost weekly for taco Tuesday.
Something that our family implemented recently that has made meal planning for the week so much easier is themed meals. Do you do that? For example, every Tuesday is taco Tuesday and Sundays are pizza night, etc. The recipe doesn’t have to be the same one each week so it still feels different even though it is the same type of dish. Why have we not done this sooner?!
These vegan lentil tacos were born after we started our weekly taco night tradition – perfect for meatless Monday OR taco Tuesday. We had been making these seitan tacos pretty regularly, but I wanted to switch it up with an even more budget friendly staple – dried lentils. It took a couple of test runs, but I think I nailed the most delicious lentil taco filling!
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Simple and flavorful lentils for tacos that are vegan, gluten free, dairy free.
- Pantry-staples like dried lentils (cheaper than many plant-based meats!), vegetable broth, and dried spices are the heroes in these spicy lentil tacos.
- This vegan lentil taco meat is freezer friendly so you can meal prep or save leftovers for a future quick weeknight meal.
- Use these taco lentils for all kinds of recipes besides just tacos! It tastes great in other meatless meals like burritos, taco salad, or my vegan nachos.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Brown or Green Lentils: Either variety of dried lentils will work in this recipe. You want to avoid red lentils as they will get too soggy for this taco filling and black lentils are too firm. Make prep time even shorter by using canned lentils!
- Mushrooms: Add some texture as well as moisture to this simple lentil taco filling. We normally use button or baby portobello mushrooms for this recipe.
- Vegetable Broth: Infuses the lentils with flavor as they cook. Use a low sodium vegetable stock if you need to monitor your salt intake.
- Tomato Sauce: Adds balance and umami to the lentil taco filling.
- Chipotle Peppers in Adobo: We love adding these smoky/spicy peppers to our taco filling. You can skip if you would like or add a bit of liquid smoke and a tablespoon of tomato paste instead.
- Spices: Taco seasoning and cumin add the rich flavors we normally associate with taco filling.
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
How to Make Lentil Tacos
Step One: Add lentils and broth to a small saucepan on the stove top. Bring to a simmer and then cover. Cook for 12-15 minutes or until lentils are tender and liquid has been absorbed. You can also save yourself a step and buy pre-cooked lentils.
Step Two: Add olive oil, mushrooms, and onions to a large skillet with tall sides. Saute until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic, taco seasoning, and cumin. Cook for about 1 minute.
Step Three: Stir in the cooked tomatoes, broth, tomato sauce, and adobo sauce. Saute until broth has cooked off and thick sauce has formed around the lentils. Taste and add salt if needed. (Some vegetable broth brands are saltier than others, so you may find you don’t need to add any more salt at the end.)
Step Four: Assemble your tacos. Add lentil filling and top with cheese, avocado, sour cream, cilantro, pickled red onions, etc.
Canned Chipotles in Adobo Tips:
- To use, just dump the can in a small blender/food processor and blend until smooth. I like to use the blender cup from my Magic Bullet.
- Store leftover canned chipotles in an airtight container in the fridge. We found that it usually keeps for a few weeks.
- To store leftover canned chipotles longer, pour it into an ice cube tray and freeze until solid. Transfer frozen cubes to a bag and just toss into the pan/pot when you need them!
Toppings for Mushroom Lentil Tacos
- Avocado or Guacamole: We love adding fresh avocado to tacos. It adds creaminess so that you don’t necessarily have to add a cheese.
- Sour Cream: Use a dairy free option to make these vegan. I really like the vegan sour cream from Tofutti.
- Cheese: Use a dairy free option to make these tacos vegan. I really like to use the Mexican blend shredded cheese from VioLife.
- Hot Sauce: I love to add a few dashes of Cholula to my tacos but you can use any hot sauce that you like.
- Pickled Red Onions: We almost always have a jar of homemade pickled red onions in the fridge since they go with just about everything!
- Salsa: A spoonful of red or green salsa is great on these!
- Shredded Cabbage or Lettuce: Add some crunch and a pop of color by adding some shredded purple cabbage or thinly sliced lettuce.
Make Ahead and Storage
- Make Ahead: Lentils can be cooked up to 3 days in advance and stored in the fridge before using for this recipe. You can also use canned lentils for a shortcut.
- Fridge: Allow leftovers to cool to room temperature and then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Reheat leftovers in a skillet for a few minutes until warmed OR microwave for a couple of minutes.
- Freezer: Transfer room temperature leftovers to a freezer-friendly container. Lentil filling can be frozen for up to 3 months. Allow lentils to thaw in the fridge overnight before using. Reheat in a skillet or the microwave for a couple of minutes before using.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! If you are looking for a tasty plant-based swap for the beef in tacos or other recipes, cooked brown lentils make a great alternative.
Lentils do not have much flavor so they can be paired with so many different spices. A few options include curry powder, garlic powder, onion, garam masala, or taco seasoning.
They sure are! Lentils are packed with plant-based protein and fiber as well as other essential nutrients like magnesium and iron. Research supports that those who eat more lentils and beans have a lower risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer.
Yes! You can make this recipe in just a few minutes by using canned lentils. Just drain them before adding them to the spices and mushrooms.
Lentil Health Benefits
Like beans, lentils are packed with nutrients; so much so that the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends consuming 1.5 cups of lentils and beans per week. Research also supports the health benefits of more lentils. A 2022 review in Legume Science found that consuming lentils regularly can reduce the risk of chronic diseases, like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. One cup of lentils provides:
- 18 grams of protein
- 40 grams of carbohydrates
- 15 grams of fiber
- 71 milligrams of magnesium
- 7 milligrams of iron
- 731 milligrams of potassium
More Delicious Recipes You’ll Love
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below!
Vegan Lentil Tacos
Ingredients
For the Lentils:
- 1 cup brown lentils
- 2 cups vegetable broth
For the Lentil Tacos
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup chopped button mushrooms
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ cup vegetable broth
- 1-2 tablespoons canned chipotles in adobo sauce*
- ⅓ cup tomato sauce
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt (if needed)
To serve:
- Corn tortillas
- Chopped avocado
- Shredded purple cabbage
- Salsa
- Lime
- Pickled red onion
Instructions
Make the Lentils
- In a medium saucepan, add the lentils and broth. Bring to a simmer and then cover. Allow to simmer for about 20-22 minutes or until broth is absorbed and lentils are tender.
Make the Lentil Taco Filling
- In a small saucepan, add the olive oil, mushrooms and onion. Sauté for about 5 minutes or until onion is translucent.
- Stir in the garlic, cumin, and taco seasoning and cook for another minute.
- Add broth, tomato sauce, and chipotle sauce. Sauté until broth has cooked off and a thick sauce has formed with the lentils.
- To assemble tacos, add lentils to the warm tortillas and add desired toppings.
Video
Notes
- Adjust the amount of adobo sauce in your taco filling based on your spice preference. We like spicy foods so we use anywhere from 2-3 tablespoons adobo sauce.
- To use the canned chipotles, add the full can to a blender cup and puree until smooth. Use in a variety of recipes – like this one!
- To warm/char my corn tortillas, I just toss them directly over a high flame on my gas stove – flipping with tongs to slightly char it on each side.
- Topping suggestions: avocado, sour cream, cheese, cilantro, salsa, hot sauce, shredded purple cabbage.
- Nutrition information is for the lentil taco filling only as toppings will vary.
Nutrition
Make this recipe?
Share it with me on Instagram @dietitiandebbie and tag me #dietitiandebbie
Comments & Reviews
I’ve never tried lentil tacos before, but they sound amazing!
Lifestyle by Joules
These lentils sound so flavorful – love that you also used the sauce from canned chipotles in adobo sauce! Simply delicious! Hope your all healed up after your wisdom tooth removal!