Quick and Easy Lentil Tacos
on Sep 11, 2017, Updated Aug 22, 2024
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Try a new twist on a popular favorite meal with these incredible Lentil Tacos. This plant-based dish is easy to make, full of flavor, and great for busy weeknights!
Lentils are probably the last thing you think of when it comes to taco Tuesday, but these seasoned lentils will take your taco night to the next level! Seasoned to perfection, these savory lentils make a great substitute for ground beef and are packed full of nutrients. With the cost of beef so high, it is nice to have a low-cost alternative that doesn’t compromise on flavor.
We love being able to customize our lentil tacos however we want. Setting out a variety of taco toppings allows everyone to create their own unique dish. Whether you serve your lentils as tacos, burrito bowls, or spoon them over nachos, they are sure to be a hit!
If you are looking for more lentil recipes: I love this Healthy Lentil Chili and Easy Lentil Curry with Butternut Squash.Try them out!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It is a great meatless option.
- The lentils are seasoned to perfection and packed full of flavor.
- You can top these tacos with a wide variety of ingredients.
Recipe Ingredients
- Olive Oil—To cook your veggies.
- Onion—You can use a white or yellow onion. Make sure it is finely chopped.
- Garlic—Freshly minced.
- Brown Lentils—Can be found near the rice at most major grocery stores.
- Vegetable Stock—To help cook the lentils.
- Spice Blend—A flavorful combination of chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and salt.
- Salsa—Use your favorite brand or make your own!
- Taco Toppings—A combination of your favorite taco toppings.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Lentil Tacos
Step #1. Saute diced onion in olive oil. When the onion starts to soften, add the garlic and continue sauteing until fragrant.
Step #2. Stir in dry lentils, vegetable stock, chili powder, salt, cumin, and smoked paprika.
Step #3. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer until lentils are tender.Stir in salsa.
Step #4. Top with lettuce, diced tomatoes and cheese. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
Lentils have a similar cooking process to rice, and will have a somewhat similar texture when they are finished cooking. Your lentils should have very little to no crunch when they are finished cooking. If they are still a little firm after the allotted cooking time then you can add a splash or water and allow them to continue cooking for another 10 minutes. Older lentils tend to need a little longer than fresh lentils.
The exact location of lentils will vary depending on your grocery store; however, you can typically find them on the same aisle as dry rice and beans. They can usually be found right next to the large bags of dried rice. You can also find lentils at most international food markets.
Serving Suggestions
We love setting out a variety of toppings buffet style so that everyone in the family can assemble their own lentil tacos. Some of our favorite toppings include shredded lettuce, cheese, sour cream, diced tomatoes, chopped cilantro, guacamole, jalapenos or easy blender salsa. You really can’t go wrong, so get creative with what you throw on top of your tacos! You can also omit the tortilla and serve these lentils as a “burrito bowl”.
How to Store Your Leftover Lentils
If you have any leftover lentils then you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. I like to reheat a small bowl of lentils in the microwave for about 1 ½ minutes, or until warm. Make sure you stop and stir your lentils halfway through so that they reheat evenly and are not cold in the middle.
Expert Tips
- Make sure you check your lentils to ensure they are no longer firm before serving them.
- You can use store bought salsa or make your own homemade salsa.
- Don’t worry about rinsing your lentils. They can be added to the pot directly from the bag.
- You can substitute the spice blend for a premade packet of taco seasoning.
- Lentil tacos are a great option if you are looking for something that is easy to make ahead of time. Add all the ingredients to a slow cooker and cook until the lentils are tender (high for about 3-4 hours and low for 7-8 hours).
More Easy Recipes To Consider
Beef Recipes
Julia Child’s Beef Bourguignon
Pasta Dishes
Easy Slow Cooker Vegetable Lasagna
Slow Cooker Recipes
Perfect Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Did you make this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ review and share it on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!
Quick and Easy Lentil Tacos
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2/3 cup dry brown lentils
- 1 2/3 cups vegetable or chicken stock
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 cup salsa
- taco toppings such as avocado, salsa, hot sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion, black olives, cilantro, cheese, sour cream, etc.
Instructions
- 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.
- Add the dry lentils, vegetable or chicken stock, chili powder, salt, cumin, and smoked paprika. Stir to combine.
- 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.
- Stir in the salsa and serve right away.
Video
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!
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!
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.
Love it! So good!!!
What kind of tortillas are those? They look delicious. Did you roast them or fry them or something?
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!
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.