Vegan Taco Meat

This vegan taco meat is made with a flavorful combination of taco-seasoned walnuts, quinoa, and black beans. It's the perfect plant-based filling to use for tacos, burritos, or quesadillas! Make Taco Tuesday dinner a breeze with this easy and delicious 30-minute meal!

Course Dinner

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings servings

Calories 321kcal

Author Stacey Eckert

Equipment

Food Processor or Nut Chopper
Large Pan

Ingredients

½ cup uncooked quinoa (rinsed and drained)
2 cups walnuts (unsalted)
2 tbsp taco seasoning
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
¼ tsp chili pepper flakes (add more to taste)
14 oz can black beans (rinsed and drained)
½ cup water

Instructions

Cook the quinoa in a medium saucepan according to the package instructions. If you don’t use pre-rinsed quinoa, make sure you rinse it or it will taste bitter once cooked.
Put the walnuts in a food processor and pulse a few times until the nuts are crumbly.
In a large pan over medium heat, combine the cooked quinoa, chopped walnuts, taco seasonings, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, chili pepper flakes, rinsed and drained black beans, and ½ cup of water. Mix it all together and let it cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. If the pan gets too dry you may need to add more a little bit more water. Add salt to taste.
Spoon the filling into tacos and add toppings of choice. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days or you can freeze it for a future meal.

Notes

If the quinoa isn't pre-rinsed, make sure you rinse it so the quinoa won't taste bitter once it's cooked.
A food processor is the quickest and easiest way to chop the walnuts into small pieces. However, if you don't have it you can also use a nut chopper or mince them by hand using a large knife.
Start with ¼ tsp chili pepper flakes and add more to taste. I usually use a total of ½ tsp chili pepper flakes because I like a little heat. You could also use cayenne pepper or hot sauce.

Nutrition