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    Home » All Recipes » Vegetarian Lunch + Dinner

    Published: Jan 24, 2020 · by Megan · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Vegan Lentil Tacos with Pico de Gallo

    2.5K shares
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    vegan lentil tacos with avocado pico de gallo and lime on a serving board
    tacos with avocado with text "vegan lentil tacos".

    These easy Vegan Lentil Tacos with a homemade Avocado Pico de Gallo make the absolute best healthy weeknight dinner when that taco craving hits. I've been making these spicy lentil tacos for years and I can attest they are always a hit with everyone!

    vegan lentil tacos with avocado pico de gallo and lime on a serving board

    *Recipe originally shared in May 2018 and updated January 2020*

    I don't know about you, but there is something just SO fun about homemade taco night. If you loved making my Buffalo Cauliflower Tacos or Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos, then these lentil tacos will be right up your alley!

    Ingredients:

    flour tortillas, lentils, oil, taco seasoning, peppers, onions, garlic, veggie broth, and lime juice on tray

    Ingredient Notes:

    • Taco seasoning: have used Trader Joe's taco seasoning, Primal Palate Taco Seasoning, and  Simply Organic taco seasoning for this recipe so I can solidly recommend those brands.
      • However, if you have a favorite taco seasoning it will likely work in this recipe too! If for any reason you can't find taco seasoning near you, here is an easy taco seasoning recipe that also works well for these lentil tacos.
    • Lentils: For this recipe, please use brown lentils! Brown lentils hold their shape during cooking and are more likely to resemble a "taco meat" as the lentil taco filling.
      • They take a little longer to cook than red lentil varieties (25-30 minutes), but still take on the flavor of whatever spices they are cooked with.

    How to make easy vegan lentil tacos

    Making lentil tacos is one of the easiest plant-based dinner recipes full of protein, vegetables, and tons of flavor. Here is a breakdown of the easy steps needed to make these vegan tacos.

    Make the lentil taco meat:

    Once you've assembled all the taco ingredients, add the lentils, vegetable broth, and ½ tablespoon of taco seasoning to a small saucepan. I like to start with 1 ¼ cup vegetable broth and add up to 1 ½ cups if the lentils are sticking to the pan before they are done cooking.

    Here are a few tips for cooking perfect lentils every time:

    • Make sure to rinse lentils before cooking. They are notorious for having debris or rocks in them, so it's worth that extra rinse! Lentils do not need to be soaked before being cooked.
    • Cook lentils uncovered so they don't turn mushy or soupy.
    • Add spices to the lentils during cooking, but wait to add salt until after the lentils are cooked. If you add salt too early, the lentils usually don't correctly.
    • Bring the lentils to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Boiling the lentils will cook them too hard, too fast. Lentils cook best at a gentle simmer!
    cooked lentil vegetable taco filling in cast iron pan

    While the lentils are cooking you will also cook the vegetables in a cast-iron skillet with seasoning for about 5 minutes until cooked, but still crispy. Don't overcook the vegetables until they are super soft- it just doesn't taste as good in tacos!

    Once the lentils are done cooking, add them to the skillet with the vegetables, add in some lime juice, and stir to combine.

    Make the avocado pico de gallo

    Now that we have the lentil taco filling ready to go, we can bring these tacos to the next level by adding in some homemade avocado pico de gallo! Making avocado pico de gallo literally takes 5-10 minutes and adds so much flavor to these tacos.

    Simply dice the tomatoes, red onion, jalapeño, and avocado. Add them to a bowl with cilantro and lime juice and mix everything together. Then, season with salt as the last step. That's truly all you need to know to make homemade pico de gallo!

    This vegan lentil taco recipe calls for about 1-2 tablespoon jalapeño so it does have a spicy kick. If that's not your thing, just omit the jalapeño or reduce it for a milder pico de gallo.

    bowl of avocado pico de gallo with tomato, red onion, jalapeño, and lime juice

    FAQ & Tips:

    Can I use red lentils in these tacos?

    If you can only find red lentils, those will work, but they likely fall apart for a "mushier" lentil taco. Red lentil tacos will still taste excellent but will be a different texture than you see pictured.

    Also, the cooking time varies by the type of lentil you choose, so make sure to review the package instructions for more concrete instructions if you venture outside of brown lentils!

    How do I store lentil tacos?

    Leftover lentil taco meat can be stored in a closed container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month.

    The avocado pico de gallo is best enjoyed the day of as it does not keep well as leftovers (the avocados will brown in the fridge).

    three lentil tacos with avocado, pico de gallo, lime, and cilantro

    Lentils really are the star of this recipe, as they soak up all the spices and leave you with a mouth-watering and flavorful filling. Pair these Vegan Lentil Tacos with a refreshing Tequila Smash cocktail and you have a delicious vegan taco night ahead. Enjoy!

    -TSG

    More plant-based dinner recipes you will love:

    • three tacos filled with chickpea, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, jalapeno slices, cilantro, and a wedge of lime on a plate
      Vegan Cumin Lime Cauliflower Chickpea Tacos
    • a bowl of mashed potatoes topped with a stew of mushrooms, carrots, lentils, and kale with fresh cilantro on top
      Vegan Mushroom Lentil Stew
    • flour tortillas filled with mushrooms, chimichurri sauce, purple cabbage, with extra limes and a bowl of chimichurri sauce on the side
      Portobello Mushroom Tacos with Cilantro Chimchurri
    • a big pan of ziti with tofu ricotta, tomato sauce, and lentils with parsley on top
      Vegan Lentil Baked Ziti

    If you loved this recipe, please leave a 5-star review on the recipe card. I always appreciate your feedback and support! You can also follow along on my Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Pinterest, or sign up for our newsletter!

    three lentil tacos with avocado, pico de gallo, lime, and cilantro

    Vegan Lentil Tacos

    If you've never had tacos with lentil meat, these are a delicious twist on a classic spicy taco. Top with avcoado pico de gallo for the best healthy dinner!
    4.86 from 7 votes
    Print Pin
    Course: Vegetarian Lunch + Dinner
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8 tacos
    Author: Megan Horowitch

    Ingredients 
    US Customary - Metric

    Lentil Tacos

    • 8 medium taco shells
    • ½ cup dried brown lentils red also works, but is not preferred and it will affect cooking time
    • 1 ¼- 1 ½ cups vegetable broth
    • 1 medium white onion about 1 cup chopped
    • 1 large red or green pepper about 1 cup chopped
    • 2 small garlic cloves minced
    • 1 Tablespoon avocado oil
    • 1 ½ Tablespoons taco seasoning
    • 1 teaspoon lime juice
    • salt & pepper to taste

    Avocado Pico de Gallo

    • 2 roma tomatoes diced
    • 1 small avocado or ½ large, diced
    • ½ jalapeno pepper about 1-2 tablespoon diced
    • 1 Tablespoon lime juice 1-2 limes
    • 6-8 sprigs fresh cilantro use the leaves only and discard stems, add more to taste if wanted
    • salt & pepper to taste

    Instructions

    Make the Lentil Tacos:

    • First, dice all the veggies and rinse the lentils to remove any debris. Then, add the veggie broth, lentils, and ½ tablespoon of the taco seasoning to a small saucepan. Cook the lentils uncovered for 25-30 minutes until they are soft. Check and stir periodically to make sure the lentils are not getting overcooked. Start with 1 ¼ cup vegetable broth and add up to ¼ cup more broth if the lentils are sticking to the pan before cooked through. The lentils are done when they are slightly crunchy on the outside(not mushy!), soft and tender inside, and no liquid is left in the pan. As a final step, season the cooked lentils with salt and pepper to taste.
    • While the lentils are cooking, add 1 tablespoon of oil to a large pan or cast iron skillet and turn the heat on. Once the oil is hot, add in the chopped onion, garlic, red/green pepper, and 1 tablespoon of taco seasoning. Saute for 5 minutes until the vegetables are cooked, but still crispy. Then, turn off the heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.
    • Add the cooked lentils to the skillet with vegetables and 1 teaspoon of lime juice. Stir to mix everything together. Then, fill each taco shell with 1 scoop of the lentil taco filling!

    Avocado Pico de Gallo:

    • Begin by dicing all the vegetables. Then add the tomatoes, onions, jalapeno, and lime juice to a small bowl and mix until combined. Next, gently mix in your chopped cilantro and chopped avocado.
    • Serve the avocado pico de gallo on top of any taco or enjoy alone with chips!

    Notes

    • Leftover lentil taco meat can be stored in a closed container in the fridge for 3-4 days or up to 1 month in the freezer and reheated before eating.
    • Avocado pico de gallo does not store well and is best eaten on the day it is made. If you do have leftovers, make sure to store in a separate container from the lentil taco filling in the fridge.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2tacos | Calories: 362kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 797mg | Potassium: 754mg | Fiber: 14g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1176IU | Vitamin C: 51mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @shortgirltallorder or tag #sgtoeats!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ragene Gwin says

      January 12, 2021 at 2:11 am

      Can canned lentils be used for this recipe?

      Reply
      • Megan Horowitch says

        January 12, 2021 at 2:14 am

        Are they pre cooked? If so, then yes, just add them in when you would add in the cooked lentils.

        Reply
    2. Daryl says

      May 05, 2020 at 5:30 pm

      5 stars
      Perfect Recipe for Taco Tuesdays!

      Reply
      • ShortGirlTallOrder says

        May 05, 2020 at 5:44 pm

        Thank you Daryl- I totally agree- taco Tuesdays are the best 🙂

        Reply
    3. Andrea says

      March 24, 2020 at 8:25 pm

      5 stars
      Love this recipe! It was really easy to make and really good!

      Reply
      • ShortGirlTallOrder says

        March 24, 2020 at 8:33 pm

        So happy you liked it 🙂 It's def a fave here too!

        Reply
    4. Jacob says

      February 23, 2020 at 9:30 pm

      5 stars
      Even though I prefer tacos with meat in them, I really liked these as a veggie option. Thanks for the delicious recipe!

      Reply
    4.86 from 7 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Megan! I believe eating plant-based food can be enjoyable for everyone. Eating plants doesn't have to be hard and it certainly shouldn't be boring. I am here to help you on your journey to eating food you actually feel good about and to make cooking at home fun again! 

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