21 Delicious Ways to Make Every Day Taco Tuesday

From Steak to Salmon

Written by
Lizz Schumer
A journalist, writer, and author, Lizz Schumer has 10+ years of experience covering food and drink for a wide variety of well-known print and online publications.
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Lizz Schumer
Updated 06/07/20
Carne Asada Tacos

 The Spruce

Tacos are fun to make and eat and can be made with relatively affordable ingredients, which makes them perfect for feeding a crowd. They're also very flexible in terms of how you make them—you can dress them up with lettuce, salsa, sour cream, guacamole, or shredded cabbage. Or, simply go for sliced radishes and pickled onions for a street taco feel. Don't have much in the pantry? No problem. Just grab a few tortillas—they keep forever in the fridge, and are just a few dollars for a pack of 30 or more—add your filling, a couple dashes of hot sauce, and you're good to go. As a bonus, most tacos are made with corn tortillas, so they're naturally gluten-free. They can also be made plant-based with decadent fillings like oyster mushrooms, Soyrizo and guacamole, or even just pan-fried potatoes and vegan cheese.

For a fun do-it-yourself meal, have diners assemble their own tacos. Just put out everything the recipe calls for (and more toppings if you'd like) and let everyone have fun creating their own edible masterpiece.

Tip

  • Remember to heat the taco shell before serving, for both hard and soft-shell tacos. Warming it up makes the taco shell more tender and easier to eat, plus it blends better with the fillings. For hard shells, set them on a baking sheet and wrap soft shells in foil, then heat in a 350 F oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until warm. 
  • 01 of 21

    Sweet and Spicy Tacos al Pastor

    Tacos al Pastor

     The Spruce / Leah Maroney

    These savory, and spicy tacos use an Instant Pot or a slow cooker to give the signature adobo, chile, and vinegar pork its tender, low-and-slow flavor and texture without the rotating spit you'd traditionally need. Pineapple adds a tropical sweetness and the tacos taste great topped with crumbled cotija cheese, chopped onions, salsa, and diced avocado.

  • 02 of 21

    Grilled Salmon Tacos

    Grilled Salmon Taco Recipe
    Regarding BBQ Inc.

    Grill salmon with a Mexican-inspired spice rub, then cut the fillets into bite-sized pieces for smoky fish tacos. Top them with avocado, red onion, ranch dressing or sour cream, and tomatoes or salsa for delicious tacos. They taste great on warmed soft tortillas. Either corn or flour work just fine.

  • 03 of 21

    Instant Pot Chicken Tacos

    Pulled Chicken Tacos

    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

    Use your Instant Pot to make this simple chicken taco that's easy enough for a weeknight meal. A few simple spices you probably already have in your cabinet give it Mexican flavor in a flash. Just add your favorite taco toppings and you've got dinner.

  • 04 of 21

    Buffalo Chicken Tacos

    Buffalo chicken tacos

     

    Mariha-kitchen / Getty Images 

    The flavors of Buffalo chicken wings taste fabulous in taco form. Use the meat from a rotisserie chicken along with some Buffalo wing sauce, celery, onion, garlic, tomatoes, avocados, and a blue cheese salad dressing for a spicy take on your favorite chicken wings without the bones.

    Continue to 5 of 21 below.
  • 05 of 21

    Birria Tacos

    Mexican Birria

     The Spruce

    This typical Jalisco street food takes some time and effort, but the result is worth it. The recipe includes several different types of chiles, but feel free to use whichever dried ones you can find. Goat meat is the traditional protein, but you can also use pork, beef, or a mixture, too. You will also need a Dutch oven with a rack inside to cook the meat.

  • 06 of 21

    Vegetarian Tofu Tacos

    tofu tacos

     Laurel Randolph

    Break up firm tofu into chunks and sauté with spices like cumin, chili powder, and paprika for a delicious vegetarian taco. Make a light and easy slaw to top it all off, and serve with tangy salsa verde. To make it vegan, leave out the cheese or swap it out with a nondairy option.

  • 07 of 21

    Pulled Chicken Tacos

    Pulled chicken tacos with garnishes
    The Spruce / Laurel Randolph.

    This easy pulled chicken tacos recipe starts with boneless, skinless breasts or thighs poached in broth. The poaching liquid cooks down with Mexican seasonings to make a sauce while you shred the chicken. It all comes together fast for a tasty family dinner.

  • 08 of 21

    Christmas Tacos

    Christmas Tacos

    The Spruce Eats / Pete Scherer 

    This taco recipe is perfect for winter and a festive alternative during the holiday season. Christmas tacos feature slow-cooked short ribs seasoned with pomegranate juice, chiles, and cinnamon. While the meat cooks, make the fresh pomegranate pico, then build the tacos in corn tortillas with cilantro, lime, cotija cheese, and crema.

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  • 09 of 21

    Instant Pot Carne Asada Tacos

    Instant Pot carne asada street tacos.
    Diana Rattray

    Of all the things to cook in an Instant Pot, beef is one of the best—tougher cuts of meat do well with searing and pressure cooking, which renders them flavorful and tender. Although carne asada is traditionally grilled—the term translates to "grilled meat"—you can achieve a satisfying smoky flavor with the use of smoky and woody spices like cumin and oregano, which are included in this recipe. It comes together in less than 30 minutes, which is perfect for Tuesday night dinner. Note that you don't need an Instant Pot or even a pressure cooker to make this dish, but it does cut down on cooking times.

  • 10 of 21

    Instant Pot Pulled Pork

    Instant Pot pulled pork on buns with all the "fixins."
    Diana Rattray

    Pulled pork is always a hit, and makes a great filling for tacos, burritos, and a topping for nachos. The pork butt cooks for under an hour in the Instant Pot and is tender and succulent. Toss with taco sauce or salsa instead of barbecue if you like.

  • 11 of 21

    Instant Pot Carnitas

    Instant Pot carnitas in flour tortillas.
    Diana Rattray

    The homemade pickled onions add a nice twist to these pork carnitas tacos, and the Instant Pot makes for a quick cooking time. Pork shoulder is browned and then cooked along with seasonings, onion, jalapeno, orange and lime juice, and chicken broth; the meat is shredded, broiled, and then spooned into soft tacos along with the pickled onions and other toppings of choice.

  • 12 of 21

    Chorizo and Avocado Breakfast Tacos

    Chorizo and Avocado Breakfast Tacos

    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

    Yes, you should be eating tacos for breakfast. These savory tacos use tater tots, eggs, chorizo sausage, and your other favorite taco seasonings for a delicious start to your day. Try them for Cinco de Mayo or anytime you want a little South-of-the-border flare.

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  • 13 of 21

    Beef Tacos

    Ground Beef Tacos Recipe

     The Spruce

    Believe it or not, these ground beef tacos were actually invented by a Scandinavian woman. They're easy to make and a smart budget stretcher since it calls for affordable ground beef. This recipe comes out very mild, so if you prefer tacos hot enough to sear your tongue, add some minced chile peppers. Jalapeños add a mild heat, while Serrano chiles are hotter, and habaneros—watch out.

  • 14 of 21

    Meatloaf Tacos

    Meatloaf Taco

    Lauri Patterson / E+ / Getty Images

    This recipe is a fabulous way to use up leftover meatloaf, and it gets dinner on the table in just 25 minutes. Canned refried beans, onion, tomato sauce, salsa, sour cream, and any other toppings that strike your fancy round it all out. Avocado would add a creamy element that would taste great with the meat.

  • 15 of 21

    Instant Pot Barbacoa

    Barbacoa tacos with fixings.
    Diana Rattray

    Beef barbacoa is a braised meat dish that's tender, flavorful, and an ideal filling for tacos and burritos. Cooking it in the pressure cooker makes it much quicker and easier while still producing delicious results. Try it on nachos, too.

  • 16 of 21

    Grilled Shrimp Tacos

    Grilled Shrimp Tacos

    Leah Maroney

    Try these zesty shrimp tacos for an easy meal that uses just the grill. A spicy aioli slaw gives it both crunch and extra flavor and topping it with crumbly cotija cheese would add authentic flare. A spritz of lime juice over the whole thing enhances the taste, so serve with lime wedges on the side.

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  • 17 of 21

    Turkey Tacos

    Turkey tacos recipe

    The Spruce / Diana Mocanu

    Ground turkey makes a lighter alternative to beef, but it tastes just as great in tacos when cooked up with some cumin, chili peppers, and cayenne. Garnish with shredded cheese, guacamole, lettuce, or whatever taco toppers you like best.

  • 18 of 21

    Carne Asada Tacos

    Carne Asada Tacos

     The Spruce

    Skirt steak marinated in cumin, lime juice, and garlic then grilled gets tender and lightly spiced, perfect for these easy tacos. Serve it on corn tortillas with sliced jalapeño, diced onion, salsa, and any other ingredients you like. Cook the steak just until medium-rare for the best texture.

  • 19 of 21

    Halibut Tacos with Spicy Slaw

    Halibut Tacos with Spicy Radicchio-Avocado Slaw
    Regarding BBQ, Inc.

    Grilled flaky Halibut marinated in a Mexican-spiced blend tastes great when topped with a spicy radicchio-avocado slaw and spooned into warm corn tortillas for a unique twist on standard fish tacos. The buttery fish contrasts well with zesty radicchio and creamy avocado, but you can substitute cabbage for the radicchio if you prefer.

  • 20 of 21

    Middle Eastern Pita Tacos

    Middle Eastern Pita Tacos

    The Spruce / Anita Schecter

    Swap out the tortilla for a pita, spice grilled chicken breast strips with cumin, add a tart lemon-tahini sauce, and toss it all together with some cucumber, tomato, carrots, and red onion for a Middle Eastern take on tacos. They taste like a cross between chicken souvlaki and tacos—a truly delicious and unique meal.

    Continue to 21 of 21 below.
  • 21 of 21

    Beef and Avocado Tacos

    Ground beef tacos with avocado

    Sean Locke / Stocksy United

    You will never miss the gluten in these simple and delicious beef and avocado tacos. Top with shredded cheese, avocado, chopped tomato or salsa, and minced onion.