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    Bless This Mess > Recipes > Easy Dinners > Vegetarian

    Quick and Easy Lentil Tacos

    Published: Sep 11, 2017 · Modified: Oct 28, 2022 by Melissa · 6 Comments

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    Lentil Taco Image

    Quick and Easy Lentil Tacos are one of my family's favorite plant-based dinners. These healthy tacos are a fail-proof dinner delight! Vegan and vegetarian tacos are so simple, and perfect if you have busy weeknights!

    Veggie and Lentil Burgers, Healthy Lentil Chili and Easy Lentil Curry with Butternut Squash are excellent recipes that all use lentils. Try them out!

    Image of Lentil Tacos

    Mexican Lentil Taco Dinner Recipe

    Tacos are one of those meals that are always bouncing around the menu plan for a few reasons. They are simple to prepare and make it to the table quickly, you normally have everything on hand to make them, and everyone likes being able to top a taco with what they like best. Today's recipe for lentil tacos is thinking outside the beef box a bit, but with all of the quick/easy/deliciousness that you love about tacos.

    Quick, easy, and healthy lentil tacos are one of our favorite plant-based dinner ideas the whole family loves.

    I've been on a quest to feed my family more meatless meals. It's good for our health, the budget, and the planet. Taking the meat out of tacos might sound like an oxymoron, but I'm here to tell you that when you use the right seasonings, the flavor stays the same. Lentil tacos taste just like "regular" tacos! My kids balked at this meal when I first tried it a few months ago, but once they got past the fact that it was different and actually tried a little, they loved it. Lentil tacos have been in our regular rotation all summer long and they are here to stay.

    Homemade Vegetarian/Vegan Dinner

    This is a great meal to have up your sleeve when cooking for vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, and gluten-free friends too. Do a little label reading  to make sure the seasonings/salsa/broth fit your dietary restrictions, but all in all it's a great meal to accommodate all kinds of dietary needs. Did I mention it tastes great, is easy, and is inexpensive too? There's a whole lot to love about these delicious lentil tacos, and I can't wait for you to try them.

    Quick, easy, and healthy lentil tacos are one of our favorite plant-based dinner ideas the whole family loves.

    Tips and Tricks for Making Lentil Tacos:

    • You can omit the spices and add a tablespoon or so of taco seasoning to taste if that's easier for you!
    • Don't add the salsa until the lentils are done cooking and just before serving. It adds great flavor and texture to this dish.
    • No need to stick with just a taco! Turn this into a burrito, taco salad, tostada, or nachos.

    How long does it take for lentils to cook?

    The cooking time of your lentils will vary slightly based on how old or dry your lentils are. If the lentils are still too firm after 30 minutes have passed, continue cooking, adding small amounts of water or chicken or veggie broth as needed.

    Where do I find lentils?

    New to lentils? Find them near the dried beans at the grocery store. Don't use red or black lentils for this recipe, though (their texture is different). Look for something like this.

    What would taste good on top of lentil tacos?

    Top with what is in season/you have on hand/you love/fits dietary needs. The options are endless. Easy blender salsa, Sante Fe Rice, and cilantro ranch dressing (recipe from 2010, don't judge my pictures too harshly, ha!) are all great on lentil tacos.

    Quick, easy, and healthy lentil tacos are one of our favorite plant-based dinner ideas the whole family loves.
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    Plate with two lentil tacos

    Quick and Easy Lentil Tacos


    ★★★★★

    5 from 3 reviews

    • Author: Melissa Griffiths-Bless this Mess
    • Total Time: 35 min
    • Yield: Serves 4 to 6 1x
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    Description

    Quick and Easy Lentil Tacos are one of my family's favorite plant-based dinners. These healthy tacos are a fail-proof dinner delight! Vegan and vegetarian tacos are so simple, and perfect if you have busy weeknights!


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 teaspoon olive oil
    • 1 small onion, finely diced
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • ⅔ cup dry brown lentils
    • 1  and ⅔ cups good vegetable or chicken stock
    • 2 teaspoons chili powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon cumin
    • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ½ cup salsa
    • taco toppings such as avocado, salsa, hot sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion, black olives, cilantro, cheese, sour cream, etc.

    Instructions

    1. In a medium sauce pan, add the oil and heat over medium to medium high heat. Add the onion and cook until the onion starts to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant.
    2. Add the dry lentils, vegetable or chicken stock, chili powder, salt, cumin, and smoked paprika. Stir to combine.
    3. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium low. Cover and let it simmer for 25 to 30 minutes until the lentils are tender.
    4. Stir in the salsa and serve right away.

    Notes

    • Serve these in tacos, burritos, taco salad, or any other way you like.
    • The cooking time of your lentils will vary slightly based on how old your lentils are. If the lentils are still too firm after 30 minutes have passed, continue cooking, adding small amounts of water or chicken/veggie broth as needed.
    • You can omit the spices and add a tablespoon or so of taco seasoning to taste if that's easier for you!
    • Prep Time: 5 min
    • Cook Time: 30 min
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Stove
    • Cuisine: Mexican

    Keywords: lentil tacos recipe, easy taco recipe, vegetarian taco recipe, vegan taco recipe, veggie taco recipe, vegetable taco recipe

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @blessthismessblog on Instagram and hashtag it #blessthismess

    Check out these meatless meals too:

    • Roasted Chickpea and Vegetable Quinoa Bowls
    • Quick and Easy Sweet Potato Curry
    • Meatless Monday Baked Macaroni
    • Cilantro Rice and Bean Bake
    • Instant Pot Vegetarian Chili
    • Healthy One Pot Quinoa Taco Casserole
    • Slow Cooker Stuffed Bell Peppers with Quinoa, Black Beans, and Corn

    Thank you for being here, and enjoy these lentil tacos from my table to yours.

    « Sweet Potato Biscuits
    Easy After School Snacks for Busy Families »
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    About Melissa

    Melissa is dedicated to helping parents figure out the nightly questions, "What's for Dinner?!" with her no-fuss approach to cooking. Read more...

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      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆
      Recipe Rating




    1. Kelly Goedicke

      August 11, 2022 at 8:12 am

      This is our new "go to" recipes. I seldom have salsa (it seems to "evaporate" like everything else in the house! lol) so I add a can of fire-roasted diced tomatoes and jalapeños. So delicious and so versatile!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Colleen Robinson

      February 17, 2021 at 1:54 pm

      Problem with portion duplicator on this site. When I select 2x, one item does not double correctly. It is the "1 and 2/3 cups good vegetable or chicken stock". It should have been "3 and 1/3" but instead it says "2 and 2/3". Just a word of caution. My family and I love, love, love this recipe. I make it as tacos or just to put on lettuce salad with chips. I noticed this error when I tried to print a new copy. I had the original 1x recipe but I always made double so we could have leftovers.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    3. Pam

      June 22, 2018 at 6:12 am

      Love it! So good!!!

      Reply
    4. Emily

      February 20, 2018 at 1:37 pm

      What kind of tortillas are those? They look delicious. Did you roast them or fry them or something?

      Reply
      • Melissa

        February 20, 2018 at 2:48 pm

        They are just white corn tortillas from the grocery store that I cooked in a hot skillet with a little spray of cooking oil on each side. So easy!

    5. Alicia

      February 05, 2018 at 12:32 am

      Made it many times, it's a quick easy recipe and a good alternative if you don't have all the spices to make a "taco seasoning". Just the three spices work great.

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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