These 9 Taco Recipes Will Make Your Tuesday Night Sing
It's just the second day of the workweek, but to you, it's special — it's Taco Tuesday. And, although you always love digging into the handheld Mexican fare, you want to mix things up from your go-to ground beef or grilled chicken tacos for something a bit more inspired.
The following nine recipes will take you there. They're perfect for Tuesday nights, Cinco de Mayo or any other day you just feel like tacos. And, they're a step above the ordinary — your taco parties will be singing after this.
1. Crack Chicken Tacos
As the name implies, these are some irresistible chicken tacos. First, you'll need to coat the chicken pieces in flour, then plunge them into egg wash and panko breadcrumbs. As they bake, mix the sauce for the chicken bites: barbecue sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder and lime juice. Once the protein finishes cooking, coat it in the tangy mixture and scoop it into tortillas. You can add a drizzle of ranch dressing for an extra bit of yum.
2. Homemade Fresh Chorizo Tacos
Spicy sausage makes the perfect taco filling — this recipe teaches you how to whip it up on your own. You'll start by toasting New Mexico chilies in a pan before slicing them into rings and removing their stems. Then, you'll pop them into a half-cup of hot water for 10 minutes, so they're soft.
The chili-and-water combination will go into your food processor next. On top of that, you'll add garlic, pepper, salt and paprika. You'll fold the resulting paste into two pounds of ground pork after that, finally browning the meat to spicy perfection. Pickled onions pair perfectly with your finished taco protein.
3. Lobster Taco
Let's look to the sea now for inspiration for our next taco. This recipe will have you combining 20 ounces of lobster meat — preferably a fresh catch from Maine — with diced avocado, cilantro and homemade pico de gallo. You can even whip up a batch of homemade poblano cream to top it all off. Stuff the fillings inside a corn tortilla, drizzle the poblano on top and voila — you've got a seafood-centric taco.
4. Fried Avocado Tacos
Avocado doesn't just have to be a topping — it can be the main event. This vegan-friendly recipe will have you frying up slices of avocado after double-dipping them into a spiced batter and bowl of coconut shreds. The crunchy result will go into your tortilla over a bed of chopped red cabbage and beneath a drizzle of homemade aioli, a pinch of alfalfa sprouts and lime juice.
5. Slow-Roasted Bacon-Wrapped-Pineapple Tacos
You can't go wrong with bacon anything — why not sneak it into your next taco night? If you're still undecided, this recipe is the perfect blend of savory, sweet and spicy. After whipping up a batch of homemade adobo sauce, you'll brush it onto your pineapple chunks. Then, you'll wrap each one and bake it all in the oven for a rich, roasted taste that hits all the right notes. You won't be disappointed, we promise.
6. Slow-Cooked Vegan Black Bean Tacos
Vegetarians already know the value of the black bean. The savory flavors you can create with these little legumes rival that of meat — seriously. So, both omnivores and herbivores should taste this recipe, which includes a vegan chipotle cream sauce made of cashews, apple cider vinegar, chipotles, garlic and lime. You can even pickle onions as a topping for the finished product.
7. Jamaican Beef Tacos
As a taco fan, you already know you can transform just about any cuisine into a taco version. This recipe infuses beef with the flavors of Jamaica, all the way down to the country's special curry powder. Once you've cooked the meat to perfection, you'll top it with a homemade sweet slaw. Cubes of mango, pineapple and red onion come together to give each bite a bit of freshness and sweetness — the perfect pair to your spicy beef base.
8. Thai Chicken Tacos
Here's another out-of-the-box example: Thai tacos. If you're familiar with the southeast Asian country's cuisine, you know this taco will bring a whole lot of spice. In traditional fashion, it will have a drizzle of peanut sauce, too. But it's different because it's in a corn tortilla, of course. To give your meat-and-sauce combo a bit of crunch, add julienned red pepper and cucumber, as well as cabbage and carrot shreds.
9. Honey Lime Steak Tacos
Let's finish on a fancy note — steak tacos. The recipe's author suggests marinating your flank steak overnight so it soaks up the honey-lime flavor, although you should reserve half the marinade to pour over your finished tacos for added oomph. Once the meat is extra saturated, broil it in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes before leaving the meat to rest and regain its juices for another 10 to 15 minutes.
In the meantime, you can whip up a homemade avocado crema in your food processor: avocado, sour cream, lime juice and salt come together to bring out the flavors of your marinated meat. You'll top it all off with lime slaw and, of course, a drizzle of the marinade so you can taste all the recipe's notes: sweetness, tanginess, spiciness and creaminess.
Taco Tuesday Is Served
We're sure at least one of these recipes grabbed you, so there's only one thing left to do: write up your shopping list, buy the ingredients and get cooking. In no time, you'll have the perfect spread for this Taco Tuesday and all the Taco Tuesdays to follow. Now, let's eat.