Classic Vegan Ground Beef Tacos with Hard Shells
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Classic Vegan Ground Beef Tacos with Hard Shells
Craving drive-thru-style tacos at home? My Classic Vegan Ground Beef Tacos with Hard Shells puts a plant-based spin on a childhood favorite. Saucy vegan crumbles are slow-simmered in taco seasonings for that familiar umami, yet spicy “meaty” base. Load it up in a hard corn shell with toppings and sink your teeth into that crunch!
Whether it was Tuesday or not, I loved homemade taco night as a child. We had tacos at least once per week due to convenience, and the fact that it was a household favorite. They are so easy to assemble, feed a large crowd, and combine a delicious saucy “meat” filling with fresh toppings in a shell of your choice. You can easily make these Classic Vegan Ground Beef Tacos with Hard Shells any night of the week in under an hour!
To make this dish, plant-based vegan crumbles are browned until crisp and juicy before dusting with your favorite spices. I like using my Homemade Taco Seasoning! Rich veggie stock is used to de-glaze the pan and simmer the taco “meat” until tender perfection. And that’s all the active cooking this recipe requires! Simply fill your hard shells with meat, vegan cheese shreds, plant-based sour cream, The Best Guacamole, Fresh Homemade Pico de Gallo, salsa verde, and shredded lettuce.
Jump to:
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Perfect Taco Toppings
- Choose Your Shell Wisely!
- Ingredients for Classic Vegan Ground Beef Tacos with Hard Shells
- How to Make Classic Vegan Ground Beef Tacos with Hard Shells
- Can I Use Homemade Vegan Vegetable Stock?
- Common Q + A's for Classic Vegan Ground Beef Tacos with Hard Shells
- More Delicious Mexican-Inspired Recipes
- MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
- Classic Vegan Ground Beef Tacos with Hard Shells
Classic Vegan Ground Beef Tacos with Hard Shells would be the perfect main course alongside Fluffy Brown Rice, BBQ Pinto Beans, or My Favorite Dairy-Free Nacho Cheese. If you’re craving nachos instead, try my Chipotle Game Day Chickpea Nachos!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s an absolute childhood classic - just like in the name!
- The warm meat and cool toppings create the perfect savory bite.
- It’s healthy drive-thru food at home - the ultimate comfort meal!
- Tacos are easy and quick to make for a weeknight.
- They’re the perfect crowd pleaser, even for company!
- Completely plant-based for those with a sensitivity.
- Totally customizable for anyone to make their perfect taco.
Perfect Taco Toppings
The best part about Classic Vegan Ground Beef Tacos with Hard Shells is how customizable this meal is thanks to the toppings! Your family can help themselves to any topping combination they like to create their perfect taco ratio. Someone doesn’t like tomatoes? Leave out the pico! Not a fan of cheese? No problem! Set up your toppings in small bowls across the dinner table and let everyone help themselves.
Choose Your Shell Wisely!
Another option for peak taco customization is your shell! I personally love a hard, crunchy corn shell for this specific Classic Vegan Ground Beef Taco, but you can use whatever you have. Use flour tortillas, crunchy or soft. For carb-conscious folks, you can also use jicama wraps, which are fresh and crunchy tortilla-sized jicama sheets! Large lettuce leaves are also amazing taco wraps for a healthy twist.
Ingredients for Classic Vegan Ground Beef Tacos with Hard Shells
You only need a few ingredients to make Classic Vegan Ground Beef Tacos with Hard Shells. Here’s how!
Vegan Ground Beef:
- Plant-based beef-less ground crumbles. Use the best quality vegan crumbles that you can find!
- Extra virgin olive oil. Helps sear the “meat”, adds necessary fat and a little flavor.
- Taco seasoning. Make my recipe using spices from your pantry!
- Organic vegetable stock. Use store-bought or homemade - whichever you have.
Tacos and Toppings:
- Corn shells or tortillas. Crispy shells are recommended!
- Shredded lettuce. Shred your own for maximum freshness!
- Shredded Mexican vegan cheese. Don’t skimp on the cheese!
- Pico de Gallo. Make my homemade recipe and save the leftovers!
- Salsa verde. For a super zesty kick.
- Guacamole. Add creaminess and texture!
- Vegan sour cream. Cool down the heat from the spicy “meat”!
How to Make Classic Vegan Ground Beef Tacos with Hard Shells
Make the Vegan Ground Beef:
Step 1: In a medium-sized skillet over medium-high heat, add the olive oil until hot. Add the plant-based meat crumbles and stir while breaking up the meat crumbles using a wooden spoon. Continue to stir and cook until it becomes like "ground" meat.
Step 2: Add the homemade taco seasoning and veggie stock, stirring until combined and the meat crumbles are completely covered. Bring everything to a boil and then reduce the heat to low for the meat crumbles to soften and cook in the sauce, about 15-20 minutes. NOTE: Add additional stock (¼ cup at a time) if needed. You want the meat to be moist but not too saucy.
Step 3: Once cooked through, remove from the heat.
Assemble the Tacos:
Step 4: To assemble tacos, add the taco plant-based meat crumble inside a warmed corn shell or tortilla followed by shredded lettuce, salsa verde, Pico de Gallo, guac, shredded vegan cheese, vegan sour cream, etc. depending on the ingredients used. Repeat until the desired amount of tacos are made.
Step 5: Bon Appetit!
Can I Use Homemade Vegan Vegetable Stock?
Yes! For your Classic Vegan Ground Beef Tacos with Hard Shells, feel free to use vegetable stock made using your leftover veggies or scraps. Don’t throw them away! Instead, use peels from carrots, onion and garlic skins, ends of celery and other vegetables to make for a rich and flavorful stock! I simply save my best-looking vegetable scraps in a freezer container over time. Once the container is full, I add it to a pot and cover with water. Season with salt and simmer for 2-4 hours until you have a rich, deep broth. No extra ingredients required! Store your stock in the freezer until needed for up to 1 year.
Common Q + A's for Classic Vegan Ground Beef Tacos with Hard Shells
It only takes 35 minutes from start to finish to make this easy weeknight meal.
Yes! Feel free to use beans instead of ground beef-less crumbles. For a meat option, use your favorite steak, chicken, or al pastor pork.
These tacos are perfect for kids because any picky eaters can add or omit any toppings they choose!
If you do not want to use oil in this recipe, use some vegetable stock to sear the ground “meat” instead. This steams more than sautes, but can be done for an oil-free option.
Depending on the taco seasoning used, the spice level can vary. Use less chili powder or cayenne in your taco seasoning to control the heat.
No way! Use any shell replacement that you enjoy. Hard shells are classic but not necessary.
Yes! Add sliced jalapenos to your toppings or hot sauce for an extra kick.
More Delicious Mexican-Inspired Recipes
If you love these Classic Vegan Ground Beef Tacos with Hard Shells, be sure to add these recipes to your weekly menu!
- Mexican-Style Chicken Queso Dip
- Dairy-Free Mexican Street Corn Nachos
- Skillet Meatless Enchiladas with Salsa Verde
- My Fave Birria Tacos
- Easy Black Bean Salsa
- My Favorite Chicken Taco Salad
- Bang Bang Shrimp Street Tacos
MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
If you tried my Classic Vegan Ground Beef Tacos with Hard Shells recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. And don't forget to tag me @shanikagrahamwhite on Instagram. I love hearing from you!
Classic Vegan Ground Beef Tacos with Hard Shells
Ingredients
VEGAN GROUND BEEF:
- 1 (14 oz.) package plant-based beef-less ground crumbles
- 1 tablespoon Extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Tbsps taco seasoning (Homemade or store-bought)
- ¼ cup organic vegetable stock + 2 Tbsps
TACOS:
- 8 corn shells or tortillas, warm slightly
- Shredded lettuce (You can substitute with your fave greens)
- Shredded Mexican vegan cheese shreds (You can substitute with your fave flavor of cheese shreds)
- Pico de gallo (Make your own using my Pico de Gallo recipe)
- Salsa verde
- Guacamole (Make your own using my Guacamole recipe)
- Vegan sour cream (You can also use plain vegan yogurt)
Instructions
TO MAKE THE VEGAN GROUND BEEF:
- In a medium-sized skillet over medium-high heat, add the olive oil until heated. Add the plant-based meat crumbles and stir while breaking up the meat crumbles using a wooden spoon. Continue to stir until it becomes like "ground" meat.
- Add the taco seasoning and veggie stock, stirring until combined and the meat crumbles are completely covered. Bring everything to a boil and then reduce heat to low for the meat crumbles to soften and cook in the sauce, about 15-20 minutes. NOTE: Add additional stock (¼ cup at a time) if needed. You want the meat to be moist but not too saucy.
- Once cooked through, remove from heat.
ASSEMBLE THE TACOS:
- To assemble tacos, add the taco plant-based meat crumble inside a warmed corn shells or tortilla followed by: shredded lettuce, salsa verde, Pico de Gallo, Guac, shredded vegan cheese, vegan sour cream, etc.------depending on the ingredients used. Repeat until desired amount of tacos are made.
- Bon Appetit!
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