Tacos are one of my favorite types of food to eat. Not only are they super easy to make, but they are so incredibly versatile.
When I think of tacos, I’m not just thinking of the standard ground beef staples most of us have come to love. I’m thinking way outside of the box.
As long as we have tortilla shells in the house (which we always do!), I can find something to stuff inside those shells for a delicious, flavorful meal.
While there are so many different taco combinations out there, I thought I would share this list of my go to favorites that have proven to be winners in my household, with family members of all ages.
Whether you are trying to put a new spin on Taco Tuesdays, preparing a dinner party for Cinco De Mayo, or simply looking for a quick throw together meal for a busy weeknight, any of these tasty recipes will have your whole family coming back for seconds!
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Tacos With Chicken
1. Slow Cooker Chili Lime Chicken Tacos
Looking for a savory filling with a bit of pizazz? Look no further than this yummy chicken taco recipe!
With a combination of lime juice, chili powder, salsa, and corn, this zesty filling will leave your tongue dancing with flavor.
The best part? All you have to do is throw the main ingredients into a slow cooker and let it fall in love with itself for several hours. Dinner served!
2. Crispy Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Tacos
If you’re a fan of buffalo chicken anything, this recipe works for everyone. You can make these delicious tacos crockpot style, Instant pot or stove top. Hard shell or tortilla…anything goes!
With a little bit of cheese (your choice), green onion, avocado, and a creamy jalapeño ranch dressing, you can’t go wrong.
Perfect for game night, summer parties or for quick weeknight meals. Yummy goodness all the way around!
3. Korma Curry Tacos With Mango Chutney
While this is not an actual taco recipe, I have used flour tortillas for the leftovers from this dish so many times, I can’t count.
When we make this curry dish, there are always leftovers, and always mango chutney in the house. All you have to do is spread a bit of that chutney on a warm tortilla, add a small layer of white rice, and top with the curry mixture.
Amazing for lunch, dinner, or a snack. Yum!
4. Slow Cooker Thai Chicken Tacos With Peanut Sauce
Did someone say chicken with peanut sauce? Oh my!
Not only is this taco recipe super easy to put together in a slow cooker, but it has all of the main ingredients you would expect in any Thai inspired dish.
The chicken is cooked in a marinade of soy sauce, brown sugar, coconut oil, and fish sauce with accents of chili, garlic, ginger, and green onion.
Assemble your taco with the tender slow cooked chicken, matchstick carrots, purple cabbage, red bell pepper, and that yummy peanut sauce.
It is true…Heaven does exist on Earth!
5. Beergarita Chicken Tacos
I love a nice refreshing margarita on a warm day, any time of the week. This taco recipe hits every one of my pain points in one delicious taco recipe.
Margarita mix, shredded chicken, taco seasoning, and a smidge of beer to bring all of the tangy, spicy flavors together.
Yummy goodness in every form you crave!
6. Easy Mediterranean (Greek) Tacos
Admittedly, I don’t naturally navigate toward Mediterranean food, but this taco recipe is a complete game changer when I’m feeling a need for something different.
Hummus serves as a base for the warm pita bread, topped with a delicious combination of shredded chicken, artichoke hearts, lettuce, feta cheese, and a fresh salad of diced tomato, cucumber, and red onion. Add a few black olives for another layer of flavor if you wish.
You can throw this recipe together even faster if you use store bought rotisserie chicken! Perfect weeknight dinner.
Tacos With Pork
1. Pork Tacos With Corn Salsa
These pork tacos are amazing for so many reasons. First and foremost, they are made with the most tender pork cut you can get…pork tenderloin.
Not only does the pork come out nice and juicy, but it can be cooked quickly and flavored just as easily with spices you already have in your pantry.
Add the crunchy corn salsa (mix of charred sweet corn, bell peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, jalapeños), and you have a taco recipe that is out of this world!
Even better, serve along side mango or pineapple salsa, and enjoy a variety of flavor combinations in one meal. Yum!
2. Tacos Al Pastor
This taco recipe is a wonderful combination of sweet and tangy flavors, with thin slices of tender marinated pork that melts in your mouth.
The pork is marinated for at least 4 hours in an adobo sauce that is made up of dried chiles, garlic, vinegar, achiote paste, and a blend of Mexican spices.
When you’re ready to assemble your taco, top the juicy pork with white onion, pineapple, cilantro, and salsa.
There you have it…authentic Mexican cuisine right at home! Yum!
3. Easy Moo Shu Pork (Or Chicken) Tacos
We use to live right down the street from an excellent Chinese restaurant that we ordered take out from, nearly once a week. We quickly became more frequent customers when we discovered their Moo Shu pork tacos.
OMG…soo delicious and addictive!
This recipe easily brings that yummy dish to our table, in spite of no longer living near that lovely restaurant.
The pork is marinaded in a blend of soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, oyster sauce, and garlic. Top your pork stir fry with mixed cabbage, mushrooms, rice, and scallions.
Once you’ve tried it, it will become your new favorite taco recipe. Promise!
4. Pork Tacos With Mango Salsa
What recipe could be more refreshing on a warm summer day, than a recipe that involves spicy tender pulled pork and a sweet mango salsa?
Add some black beans, cilantro, and cabbage slaw. That’s it! Yummy goodness any day of the week 😋
Tacos With Beef
1. Slow Cooked Beef Brisket Tacos
Who doesn’t love brisket, right? While this recipe requires some time for the marinating and cooking steps, it really only requires a little prep work from you. The slow cooker does most of the work.
The sauce and layering tips when it comes to assembly, takes these tacos to the next level completely. Perfect for parties or weeknight dinners. Delicious!
2. Indian Fry Bread Tacos
While the filling of these tacos are traditional for most of us, they are not your traditional tacos at all. The fry bread shells are what take these delicious bites to a whole new level.
With a fluffy, crispy texture that involves just a few simple ingredients, you’ll second guess picking up a pack of those store bought flour/corn tortillas you might normally opt for.
And don’t be afraid to change up the suggested filling included with this recipe. All is fair game in the world of tacos!
3. Ground Beef Street Taco
It’s crazy how delicious tacos can be with so few ingredients! This recipe calls for easy ground beef that is seasoned with cumin, chili powder, lime juice, and Chipotles in adobo sauce.
Top with a bit of diced onion, Cotija cheese, and cilantro, and done! Yummy street tacos within 20 minutes time. Sounds like a Taco Tuesday winner to me!
4. Braised Short Rib Tacos
If you’re a fan of short ribs, you’ll love this braised taco recipe!
The ribs are seasoned with a simple mix of kosher salt, pepper, and cumin. They are then cooked in a savory sauce of beef stock, barbecue sauce, and apple cider vinegar, along side chopped onions and garlic.
Top with pineapple, onion, jalapeños, Cotija cheese, and avocado crema for that perfect hand held short rib delight. Delicious!
5. Mexican Barbacoa Tacos
Looking for an easy weeknight dinner that packs a whole lot of flavor? Look no further than these yummy Mexican tacos!
Using chuck steak, the meat is slow cooked in a crockpot of broth, tomato sauce, apple cider vinegar, onion, and spices you already have in your pantry.
Let the slow cooker do the hard work. When the steak is finished, add the tender meat to a warm tortilla. Top with lettuce, tomato, avocado, and crumbled feta cheese. Enjoy every bite!
6. Easy Steak Tacos
Flank (or skirt) steak plays the star of these street style tacos. With a simple marinade of cumin, chili powder, paprika, and lime juice, the tender grilled meat packs so much smoky, savory flavor on it’s own. When you add in a bit of sautéed onion and garlic, you get a sweet aspect to balance it all out.
As for toppings, anything goes! Try Cotija cheese, sour cream, salsa, lime wedges, queso fresco, and even refried beans for a delicious taco ensemble.
Tacos With Seafood
1. Baja Fish Tacos
While this taco recipe involves very little time or effort, the results make them taste like you’ve been working in the kitchen for hours!
The crispy beer battered exterior combined with the light texture of the cod, is reason enough to try these delicious tacos. Add in that simple cabbage slaw and the smoky chipotle sauce…yummy goodness every time!
2. Shrimp Tacos
Shrimp tacos are one of the best meal options when it comes to warmer summer months (or any month of the year for that matter!). This taco recipe embodies everything you could ever want in a shrimp taco…light, refreshing ingredients with none of them overpowering another.
Lime, avocado, Pico de Gallo, and shredded cabbage are the main toppings, while a simple spice marinade of garlic powder, paprika, cumin, and olive oil make up the flavor of the shrimp.
Perfect combination all the way around.
3. Fish (Tilapia) Tacos
With an easy mixture of spices you already have in your pantry, these broiled fish tacos are the perfect refreshing meal when you’re not in the mood for anything heavy or fried.
Top with shredded purple cabbage, avocado, diced tomato, and Cotija cheese…yum!
And hey, don’t forget the amazing fish taco sauce this recipe calls for. Use it generously! 😉
4. Cilantro Lime Crab Tacos
The best part of these tacos, is that there is no cooking involved! Super simple, easy, quick, and delicious.
The crab salad filling involves major ingredients of lime juice, chipotle chili powder, cilantro, diced tomatoes, red onion, sweet yellow peppers, and lump crab meat.
Top with honey cilantro sour cream, avocado, and that’s it!
Enjoy every bite of these refreshing seafood tacos. Yum!
Everything Else Tacos
1. Ground Turkey Tacos
Ground turkey is a preferred meat choice for many, as it is a leaner, healthier alternative to ground beef. While I have always preferred beef instead, this taco recipe does not disappoint.
With a simple preparation of taco seasoning, minced garlic, onion, bell pepper, and tomato sauce, these tacos pack a ton of flavor while allowing you to feel better about your meat choices at the same time.
This recipe has definitely become a new favorite in my household!
2. Easy Vegetarian Tacos
When I’m in the mood for a quick and delicious vegetable packed meal, these tacos are the perfect solution.
The staple ingredients of these yummy bites, are red onion, zucchini, mushrooms, red bell pepper, and black beans tossed in garlic, cumin, chili powder, oregano, smoked paprika, and lime juice.
Top with fresh avocado slices, cheese, and maybe a bit of salsa…you’ve got a colorful, flavor packed vegetarian meal for those days you are craving a good dose of veggies in your life.
3. Easy Breakfast Tacos
I’m a huge fan of breakfast tacos. They are easy to make, completely customizable, and are delicious alternatives to your standard breakfast combination on a plate.
All that’s required is a batch of fluffy scrambled eggs, shredded cheese, and meat of your choice (bacon, ham, sausage, skirt steak, etc.)
Add salsa or other vegetables you would like and you have a hearty start to your day.
I personally like to add my go to of fresh spinach, and an easy avocado/tomato salad dressed with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Oh…and a touch of sour cream.
Yummy goodness all the way!
4. Black Bean Tacos
Looking for a taco recipe that doesn’t involve cooking meat of sorts? This recipe is exactly what you need!
With a combination of beans, corn, onion, garlic, and a few spices, this simple filling provides a versatile base for anything else you want to add.
Try adding cheese, salsa, diced tomatoes, avocado, cabbage slaw, zucchini, or any other vegetable you might be craving.
Quick, easy, hearty, and delicious!
5. Braised Lamb Tacos
These tacos are very reminiscent of a slow cooked lamb stew my husband use to make often…only with warm tortillas involved.
The marinade involves cumin, coriander, garlic, cinnamon, red pepper flakes, brown sugar, chili powder, and crushed tomatoes. After the lamb marinades overnight, the meat braises in the oven for 2 hours, resulting in a tender, flavorful taco filling.
The only thing I do differently, is add a layer of steamed white rice. Perfect every time!
Final Thoughts
While each of these recipes is unique and delicious, you can do anything with a soft tortilla.
Whether you are in the mood for a combination that features several different flavors, or you simply want to clean out the leftovers in the fridge, tacos are always easy go-to’s for any occasion, and any meal of the day.
Not feeling the tortilla aspect? Turn one of these recipes into a taco bowl, and your stomach will love you for it, all the same!
What are your favorite taco combinations? Let me know in the comment section below, as I’m always looking for a new spin on Taco Tuesdays!
