Tofu Tacos are so easy to make with homemade taco seasoning! Crumbled tofu is the best taco "meat" made in less than half an hour with all your favorite toppings.
This post is sponsored by the EZ Tofu Press. All opinions are my own.
TOFU TACOS RECIPE
The amount of flavor packed into these Tofu Tacos is stunning! I alternate these easy vegan tacos with my tofu sofritas recipe every Taco Tuesday. It's so easy and crumbled just like ground beef!
You don't need a plant-based "meat" substitute for the best vegetarian tacos. You can make crumbled tofu with just a fork! This homemade seasoning blend is so rich with liquid smoke, chili powder, paprika, cumin, and garlic salt.
I make tofu all the time now that I have an EZ Tofu Press! It takes all the hard work out of draining your firm tofu. No squeezing with paper towels anymore!
INGREDIENTS IN TOFU TACOS
Tofu: You'll want firm or extra firm tofu for the crispiest ground tofu. While silken tofu breaks up easily, it will turn to mush pretty fast.
Oil: You need a little neutral oil to make the best ground tofu. Choose your favorite!
Chili powder: This is the main base for my taco seasoning! It's so smokey and helps add that brown color, too.
Liquid smoke: This brings that perfect flavor to the taco seasoning. I use this for so many recipes for an extra grilled flavor.
Paprika: Add a subtle spice to your taco seasoning! If you want a spicier tofu taco, add a little cayenne pepper, too.
Cumin: If there's something off with your Mexican recipes, it's probably a lack of cumin. This earthy spice adds depth to any dish.
Garlic salt: Dehydrated garlic powder is so much sweeter than raw garlic. Garlic salt is just garlic powder mixed with salt, so 2-in-1!
Taco shells: I use hard taco shells, but soft tacos are great too! You can even ditch the taco shells to keep this low carb or gluten free.
Taco toppings: I like to top my tofu tacos with lettuce, tomato, salsa, and sour cream. Add all your favorites to these vegan tacos!
If you have any questions, please leave a comment below and I will get back to you ASAP!
HOW TO PRESS TOFU
There are two ways to press tofu. You can use a Tofu Press or you can press your tofu by balancing heavy objects on top of it.
I prefer the tofu press method. It has been almost a decade that I have been using the EZ Tofu Press. I use it weekly and it continues to do an amazing job!
The EZ Tofu Press takes the liquid out of your firm or extra firm tofu easily, quickly, and with less mess than using plates and cans. This press utilizes simple mechanics and quality materials to ensure that it’s long-lasting and easy to use.
HOW LONG TO PRESS TOFU
I press my tofu (using the EZ Tofu Press) for 10-12 minutes. I turn the knobs tighter on the press every 3-4 minutes.
HOW TO MAKE TOFU TACOS
- First, press your tofu! Put the firm tofu between the EZ Tofu Press plates and tighten the knob every few minutes.
- Then, chop the tofu into cubes and sauté. To make "ground" tofu, mash it with a fork until it's perfectly crumbled.
- While the tofu cooks, whisk together chili powder, liquid smoke, paprika, cumin, and garlic salt. It will be thick like a paste.
- Once the tofu is golden brown on all sides, add the taco seasoning paste. Stir it all up.
- Now, set up your taco bar! I usually use lettuce, tomato, salsa, and vegan sour cream. Use your favorites!
- The best part of taco night is everyone gets to make their own!
These numbered steps match the numbered photos above and are for illustration purposes. For the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please see the recipe below.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH TOFU TACOS
Simple meals go best with simple side dishes. Keep it basic with some Spanish rice and black beans.
Save some time on clean-up next Taco Tuesday with this elote in the air fryer! It's so delicious even without all that dairy.
This Mexican tater tot casserole is hearty enough for a main dish but easy enough for a side.
CAN YOU MAKE TOFU LIKE GROUND BEEF?
It's so easy to make a plant-based ground protein without springing for the pricey Beyond Meat.
To make tofu like ground beef, simply sauté in your skillet and mash with a fork as it cooks. Keep mashing until it's the perfect size for you.
I make this crumbled tofu almost every morning for my tofu scramble.
HOW TO REMOVE LIQUID FROM TOFU
All firm tofu recipes starts with pressing the tofu. But what does that really mean?
You’ll want to start with firm or extra firm block tofu for these Tofu Tacos. But before you cook the tofu, you'll need to remove some of the liquid from it.
Put your tofu block between the EZ Tofu Press plates, and tighten the knobs until you feel resistance.
As the tofu drains, tighten the knobs every few minutes to keep pressing. This usually takes anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes.
MORE AMAZING TOFU RECIPES
No matter how you like to make tofu, it's always amazing.
Cauliflower taco bowls in the air fryer are another great way to celebrate Taco Tuesday without meat. Add your favorite toppings for a simple meal your family will love.
Keep it light and plant-based with these amazing Thai lettuce cups. I love this nut-free Thai recipe with crispy tofu, sriracha, and sesame seeds.
Kick off your morning with these super easy tofu scramble breakfast burritos. They're easy to customize and even easier to make!
Trying to get your kids to eat more tofu? These kid-approved tofu bites are just like vegan chicken nuggets with a sweet dipping sauce.
Tofu Pad Thai is an easy to make favorite for a quick weeknight dinner.
Yay! You have made it this far, and I am so glad! Hey - If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a quick review & star rating ★ below. Make sure you follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, and Facebook, too!
Don't forget to subscribe to our EMAIL newsletter.
Tofu Tacos
Equipment
- EZ Tofu Press
- Knife
- Small bowl
- Large skillet
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 block extra firm tofu
Taco Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon liquid smoke
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
Taco Toppings
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes diced
- Salsa
- Vegan sour cream
- 8 hard taco shells
Instructions
- Press the tofu with EZ Tofu Press for 12 to 15 minutes. Put extra firm tofu between plates, and tighten the knobs until there's resistance. Keep tightening the knobs every 3 to 4 minutes.
- Cut the tofu into bite-sized pieces.
- Warm oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté tofu cubes, and mash them with a fork to make crumbled tofu.
- While the tofu cooks, whisk together all taco seasoning ingredients. It will form a thick paste.
- After about 10 minutes when the tofu cubes begin to turn golden brown, add taco seasonings to the pan. Stir to combine.
- Serve with lettuce, tomato, salsa, and vegan sour cream in hard taco shells. Enjoy!
Notes
- Nutritional facts do not include toppings.
I just love all of your tofu recipes! This one is perfect- my kids and husband gobbled it up for dinner last night!
So glad you loved it Kara! So glad the whole family loved it too!