Healthy Beefy Tacos
These are some of the healthiest tacos I’ve ever made.
There’s no actual beef used, but my family was 100% convinced they were the real deal.
I used Beyond Meat’s new Beef-Free Crumbles in the Fiesta blend, perfect for tacos or chili. Beyond Meat wants to perfectly replace animal protein with plant protein and they deliver.
Everyone who ate the tacos was completely fooled. Love it when that happens.
The products are gluten-free, Kosher, soy-free and made with 100% Non-GMO pea protein. There’s 10 grams of protein, same as ground beef, but there’s no cholesterol, saturated or trans fat. I bought them in the frozen section of my regular grocery store, no special trips to organic or specialty grocery stores required.
The tacos take just minutes to make. Combine the crumbles with taco seasoning, a splash of water, stir, and heat. Spoon the filling into shells and add your favorite toppings. I used low-carb, whole-wheat fajita-sized tortillas, just 80 calories each and packed with fiber.
I kept the tacos vegan by using vegan cheese and vegan sour cream, with lots of lettuce and tomatoes. Seeing those pops of green and red make me feel healthy just looking at these.
I estimate the calorie count to be about 230 per taco. 90 for the meat-free crumbles, 80 for the wrap, 50 for the cheese and sour cream, 10 for the lettuce, tomato, and salsa.
The ultimate in comfort food. Juicy, meaty, beefy, cheesy, filling, and packed with big, bold flavors.
They just happen to be vegan and healthy.
Healthy Beefy Tacos
There’s no actual beef used in these healthy tacos, but my family was 100% convinced they were the real deal. I kept the tacos vegan by using vegan cheese and vegan sour cream. I estimate the calorie count to be about 230 per taco. 90 for the meat-free crumbles, 80 for the wrap, 50 for the cheese and sour cream, 10 for the lettuce, tomato, and salsa. The ultimate in comfort food. Juicy, meaty, beefy, cheesy, filling, and packed with big, bold flavors. They just happens to be vegan and healthy.
Ingredients:
one 11-ounce bag Beyond Meat’s Beef-Free Crumbles
2 tablespoons low sodium taco seasoning
3 to 4 tablespoons water
fajita or taco shells (I used low-carb whole wheat fajita shells)
about 1 cup shredded cheese, divided (I used vegan, use your favorite cheese blend)
about 1 cup chopped lettuce, divided
about 1 cup diced tomatoes, divided
sour cream, optional for garnishing
taco sauce, hot sauce, or salsa, optional for garnishing
Directions:
- Add the crumbles, taco seasoning, and water to a medium microwave-safe bowl and stir to combine.
- Cover with plastic wrap and heat on high power until just bubbling, about 1 minute. Or cook covered in a non-stick skillet over medium-low heat on the stove.
- Stir mixture, spoon into shells, top with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, optional sour cream, hot sauce, or your favorite taco toppings. Tacos are best enjoyed warm and fresh.
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This post brought to you by Beyond Meat. Recipe, images, and opinions expressed are my own.
These look so good..plant based “meat” products have come such a long way from when I first was a vegetarian years ago…I’ll have to look to see if we have that product in our store. I’m not vegetarian anymore, but do prefer to eat meat free more often than not. Thanks for a great recipe.
I totally know what you mean! I’ve been vegan or vegetarian most of my life and even as recently as 10 years ago, the choices were pretty…’interesting’ :) I got these at Ralph’s. No special trip to WF’s required!
Wow,that meat looks very legit! I’ll have to check that stuff out!
I”m a sucker for tacos! These make me very hungry at 7 am :) Pinning!
Thanks for pinning, Aimee!
HUGE taco fan. Can’t wait to try these out!
Thanks, Haley!
They look and sound delicious for being no meat! I know I would love them, not sure about the hubby – he loves meat way too much! Gorgeous photos, Averie!
My meat-and-potatoes friends and family couldn’t even tell these weren’t real. It’s THAT close. Promise :)
Tacos are my jam, meat or not. I’m always afraid to try non-meat products, but fiesta flavor? I think I could get on board with that. Pinned!
Thanks for pinning Dorothy and my meat-and-potatoes friends and family couldn’t even tell these weren’t real. It’s THAT close!
LOVE Beyond Meat! We use it all the time. Have you had the Fiesty crumbles?! Amazing. Their “chicken” is also great.
Love tacos. Not sure my family will tolerate non-meat ones, but if I were to try to use a vegetarian option, this looks like it would be a winner.
Not that I’m distractible or anything, but your white plates are so pretty! Jealous!
Thanks for the plate compliments and trust me, Kris, my meat-and-potatoes friends and family couldn’t even tell these weren’t real. It’s THAT close.
There’s a brand for a meatless ground round here in Canada that is just awesome. Meatless products seem to be on the up and up lately. I haven’t quite found a match for chicken yet, but surprisingly the beef is sooo so close to the real thing, it’s hard to tell for most people! These look like a great summer-y meal, it’s been too long since I’ve had tacos.
surprisingly the beef is sooo so close to the real thing = I agree! Seems like it’s the easiest one to impersonate!
You had me fooled! Mexican food is so good and I’m always looking for new variations to try. I can’t believe you made such a healthy version of this comfort food! Pinned!
Thanks for pinning!
I haven’t really looked around for meat replacements in a while because most have always been soy or grain based. I’m excited to see this kind of product and would love to try it. I checked out the website and our natural foods coop carries it! The nutritional stats are pretty impressive too. Your tacos look positively yummy and I’d definitely make them (probably soon–new foods are exciting to me)! I just made a big pot of marinara with tomatoes from my dad’s garden–the plain beefy crumbles might be tasty with that too.
Paula it would be the PERFECT thing to put in your marinara. I can’t think of a better use for it. It would be like meat-based marinara or for like chili, would be perfect. We could not get over how REAL this stuff was!
These beefy crumbles are a dead ringer for the real thing! I am so impressed with the taste and texture and want to thank you for blogging about them. I made a taco salad with them and my husband didn’t have any complaints ( which is good because I will be buying them again and I’m putting them in my marinara next)!
So glad you enjoyed them (and Jon too) and glad you’re impressed and feel that they’re a dead ringer. The meat eaters in my family report the same thing – a dead ringer. Glad you’ll be able to use them in your marinara, next! Thanks for trying these, Paula! It’s nice to have an objective outsider try them and confirm what we thought too!
I’m sucker for tacos and for healthy options, cannot wait to try these!
I cannot believe not only that isn’t beef, but these are vegan tacos! The only vegan food that has ever appealed to me was Thai but usually vegan cheese and meats give me the chills… These look supreme though! I may become a believer!
Glad you’re a believer and thanks for the compliments!
a vegetarian-friendly taco?? this looks amazing!! I’ve been craving a good taco for a while now…definitely gotta find this “meat” soon!!!
I think your cravings will be satisfied!
I’ve tried other meat free “ground meats” and been disappointed in the texture. Would love to try this brand as your tacos look to die for!
Thanks, Krystle, for the compliments!
What sort of game are you trying to play, Averie?!?! We all know that’s real beef! It looks so much like real meat, I might just want to try it and see if I can fool my meat-eating family. Got to try it!
It’s so eerily similar to real beef that I was just floored! I KNOW you can fool your family!
I have never used a meat replacement before, but this looks like the real deal!
Great recipe!! Can’t wait to try these next time we have “taco night” :-)
Just when you think there is not another way to tackle a taco recipe—-a new
one pops up. This is a good thing, because tacos ROCK!
this is a crazy good idea! love how healthy they are..yet still look delicious!
We have taco night every week because my husband loves them so much. I wonder if I can sneak these in somehow… ;)
This look incredible Averie!! I’m working on trying to cut down soy (and gluten, and dairy, and everything else that tastes good — bloating sucks, let me tell you!), so these beefy crumbles sound perfect. Definitely going to check for them on my next grocery trip! And those pops of green and red? So vibrant — you’re one of my biggest photography role models!
These were delicious, thank you!
So glad you enjoyed them! Thanks for trying the recipe!
These look super, but there is no mock meat where I live in Canada that does not have soy, lentils or gluten or a variety of one of those in it.
But your recipe looks amazing, so I will keep it on hand so in case one day we get some good mock meat here.
Hi Averie, I needed an easy taco “meat” recipe that my plant-based husband and I, along with omnivore guests (including kids), could enjoy. This recipe was a snap to make and everyone liked it. Thanks so much!
Thanks for trying the recipe and I’m glad it came out great for you!