Extra “Beefy” Above + Beyond® Tacos (Vegetarian Tacos)

This 20-minute quick and easy Beyond Taco meat recipe has a super beefy and slightly charbroiled taste. I’ve added a few extra ingredients and seasonings to give this vegan meat an even beefier taco flavor that makes it taste even more convincingly like regular all-beef tacos. I’ve maximized the meatiness and minimized the pea-protein flavor that this plant-based “beef” is made from — and it’s one of our all-time favorite dinner recipes.

Nowadays, we tend to eat these vegetarian tacos a little more often than beef tacos because they’re quick, better for the planet, and it’s seasoned so well that we don’t actually miss eating meat. If you’ve been on the fence about whether or not to try Beyond “meat” this is a great first recipe to try (or check out our Extra Beefy Beyond Burgers).

What Does Beyond Burger “Meat” Taste Like?

First, let’s break down the flavor of Beyond “meat” vs the smell of it. When you first open the package, the pea protein aroma hits you — and it vaguely reminds me of the faint smell of fingernail polish remover. This sounds completely unappealing I know, but when you season and cook the meat it takes on a whole new delicious meatiness and texture and the pea protein flavor takes a back seat. Beyond Meat has a really pleasant chew to it that’s reminiscent of the texture of beef which adds to the overall taco experience.

Extra Delicious Beyond Taco “Meat” Ingredients 

This Beyond Taco meat recipe uses just a handful of spices and ingredients to make it taste even “beefier” and more Tex-Mexy. If you’re vegan, you’ll need to replace the Lea & Perrin’s Worcestershire Sauce (which has anchovies in it) with a vegan version or omit it altogether.

• 11-ounce package of Beyond Mince “meat” (300g)
• 2 garlic cloves, smashed
• 2 to 3 scallions, sliced (save some green parts for tossing into the finished meat)
• 1/8 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (4g)
• 1 teaspoon onion powder (4g)
• 1/2 teaspoon regular paprika (2g)
• pinch of garlic powder (or more to taste)
• pinch of turmeric (optional but recommended)
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, or more to taste (3g)
• 1 teaspoon tomato paste (5g)
• 2 tablespoons water (30g)
• salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
• 2 to 3 sprigs of fresh cilantro, finely chopped (optional but recommended)
• crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to taste (optional)
• a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil or other oil (for cooking the “meat”)
• 8 to 10 fresh blue corn tortillas (or your favorite flour or crunchy taco shells)

Optional Taco Garnishes

• homemade quick salsa
• homemade pineapple-cilantro salsa
• homemade avocado-lime crema
• homemade guacamole
• homemade pico de gallo
• smoky quick pickled red onions
• homemade smoky fire-roasted bell peppers
• homemade caramelized onions

*If the Beyond Mince “meat” packages in the US (or elsewhere) come in a 1-pound package instead of the 10.5 to 11-ounce package that it comes in here in the EU, adjust the spice amounts called for in the recipe by adding just a little more of each. 

How to Make Extra Delicious Above and Beyond Vegetarian Tacos 

There’s a reason why beef lovers and vegetarians alike enjoy these delicious tacos — they’re super tasty and easy to cook. So, whether you’re a mindful omnivore looking to eat less beef or a vegan or vegetarian who hasn’t eaten meat in years but still craves it, this delicious meat-free taco recipe will definitely do the trick.

1. Blister the garlic and sauté the scallions. Add the smashed garlic cloves and a drizzle of olive oil to a skillet set over medium-high heat and sauté until golden brown and blistered on both sides (about 3 to 4 minutes). Add the scallions (reserving a handful of the green parts to toss into the finished taco meat) and cook until tender and soft or about 5 to 7 minutes. At this point, you can remove the smashed garlic as we do, or leave it and smash it in with the meat mixture in the next step. Add the cilantro (if using) and stir.
2. Cook the Beyond “meat”. Add the “meat”, cumin, smoked paprika, onion powder, regular paprika, garlic powder, and turmeric directly to the skillet and start smashing it with the back of a spoon or fork to break it up. Continue stirring and cooking the mixture for about 5 minutes more until all of the spices are evenly distributed and the “meat” starts to visibly change color. Reduce the heat to medium and add the tomato paste, stir well to combine, and cook for about 2 more minutes. Next, add the Worcestershire sauce and water and stir the mixture quickly to combine everything and continue simmering for 3 to 4 minutes more until the mixture becomes glossy and the desired consistency is reached. Adjust seasonings by adding salt and freshly cracked black pepper and toss in the reserved green scallions. Stir the mixture well and serve immediately Enjoy!

How to Make Extra “Beefy” Vegetarian Beyond Tacos step-by-step recipe photos

What’s in Beyond “Meat”?

The ingredients found in Beyond Mince or Burger “meat” may sound strange at first glance, but they’re all ingredients found in nature. Beyond uses pea protein isolate, expeller-pressed canola oil, refined coconut oil, water, yeast extract, maltodextrin, natural flavors, gum arabic, sunflower oil, salt, succinic acid, acetic acid, non-GMO modified food starch, cellulose from bamboo, methylcellulose, potato starch, beet juice extract (for color), ascorbic acid (to maintain color), annatto extract (for color), citrus fruit extract (to maintain quality), and vegetable glycerin.

Looking for Other Delicious Vegan Recipes or Easy Cinco de Mayo Recipes?

Here are a few of our favorite Mexican and Tex-Mex recipes plus a few other tasty vegetarian recipes we think you might also enjoy.

• Extra Delicious Above + Beyond Burgers (a Beefier-Tasting Vegetarian Burger)
• How to Make Tacos al Pastor at Home
• Restaurant-Style Carne Asada Steak (For Two or a Crowd)
• Best Smoky Shake Shack Shroom Burger (smoky, cheesy mushroom burger)
• Easy and Delicious Cheeseburger Quesadillas 

 Let’s get started!

Extra “Beefy” Above + Beyond Vegetarian Tacos

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5 from 2 reviews

• Author: Kelly
• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 6 to 10 Tacos (depending on extra fillings available) 1x
• Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

This quick and easy Beyond Taco meat recipe has a super beefy and slightly charbroiled taste. I’ve added a few extra ingredients and seasonings to give this veggie meat an even beefier taco flavor that makes it taste even more convincingly like regular all-beef tacos. 

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Ingredients

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Beyond Meat Taco Ingredients

• 11-ounce package of Beyond Mince “meat” (300g)
• 2 garlic cloves, smashed
• 2 to 3 scallions, sliced (save some green parts for tossing into the finished meat)
• 1/8 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (4g)
• 1 teaspoon onion powder (4g)
• 1/2 teaspoon regular paprika (2g)
• pinch of garlic powder (or more to taste)
• pinch of turmeric (optional but recommended)
• 1/2 teaspoon Worchestershire sauce, or more to taste (3g)
• 1 teaspoon tomato paste (5g)
• 2 tablespoons water (30g)
• salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
• 2 to 3 sprigs of fresh cilantro, finely chopped (optional but recommended)
• crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to taste (optional)
• a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil or other oil (for cooking the “meat”)
• 8 to 10 fresh blue corn tortillas (or your favorite flour or crunchy taco shells)

Optional Taco Garnishes

• homemade quick salsa
• homemade pineapple-cilantro salsa
• homemade avocado-lime crema
• homemade guacamole
• homemade pico de gallo
• 1 recipe smokey quick pickled red onions
• homemade smoky fire-roasted bell peppers
• homemade caramelized onions

*If the Beyond Mince “meat” packages in the US (or elsewhere) come in a 1 pound package instead of the 10.5 to 11-ounce package that it comes in here in the EU, adjust the spice amounts called for in the recipe by adding a little more of each. 

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Instructions

1. Blister the garlic and sauté the scallions. Add the smashed garlic cloves and a drizzle of olive oil to a skillet set over medium-high heat and sauté until golden brown and blistered on both sides (about 3 to 4 minutes). Add the scallions (reserving a handful of the green parts to toss into the finished taco meat) and cook until tender and soft or about 5 to 7 minutes. At this point, you can remove the smashed garlic as we do, or leave it and smash it in with the meat mixture in the next step. Add the cilantro (if using) and stir.
2. Cook the Beyond “meat”. Add the “meat”, cumin, smoked paprika, onion powder, regular paprika, garlic powder, and turmeric directly to the skillet and start smashing it with the back of a spoon or fork to break it up. Continue stirring and cooking the mixture for about 5 minutes more until all of the spices are evenly distributed and the “meat” starts to visibly change color. Reduce the heat to medium and add the tomato paste, stir well to combine, and cook for about 2 more minutes. Next, add the Worcestershire sauce and water and stir the mixture quickly to combine everything and continue simmering for 3 to 4 minutes more until the mixture becomes glossy and the desired consistency is reached. Adjust seasonings by adding salt and freshly cracked black pepper and toss in the reserved green scallions. Stir the mixture well and serve immediately Enjoy!

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Tacos
• Method: Skillet
• Cuisine: Mexican Inspired

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 3 Tacos

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