The Best Taco Recipes (2024)

Enjoy these top-rated Taco Recipes. Some of these have become famous like our Fish Tacos which are popular for good reason (and it might have something to do with the best Fish Taco Sauce). We love tacos in our house and our friends love our taco parties.

If you’re going to have a taco party, make sure you try our Homemade Taco Seasoning and Hard Taco Shells recipe which will take your Taco nights to the next level.

Taco Tuesdays are always a treat and with this roundup of our best taco recipes, you’ll definitely keep your weekday dinners exciting. Tacos are also a super-easy way to prepare dinner because once you have all of your ingredients prepped, everyone builds their own tacos. At least, that’s how it’s done around here!

The Best Taco Recipes (1)

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Types of Taco Recipes

Where do I start? There are so many ways to enjoy a taco, from Beef Tacos to Shrimp Tacos and even Taco Soup. If you love the flavor profile of Mexican Tacos, you’ll find many new favorites below. I’m also including all of my favorite homemade taco toppings and fixings below. You won’t want to miss them!

  • Beef Tacos
  • Fish Tacos
  • Chicken Tacos
  • Pork Tacos
  • Tostadas
  • Taco Soup
  • Taco Salad
  • Taco Toppings

Beef Taco Recipes

Beefy tacos are so satisfying and they keep you feeling good because they are protein-packed. You can use different cuts of beef for tacos, from Grilled Steak to ground beef.

Ground Beef Taco Recipe

Beef Tacos with the juiciest ground beef taco meat. These are perfect for easy entertaining or busy weeknights and they always get rave reviews! We serve these topped with mango avocado salsa.

Korean Beef Tacos (Bulgogi) Recipe

Fully loaded Korean Beef Tacos with flavorful Beef Bulgogi (a Korean BBQ beef). Don’t skip the Sriracha-lime crema taco sauce which takes these over the top!

Authentic Carne Asada + Street Tacos

You'll love this authentic Carne Asada recipe. If serving as Carne Asada street tacos, you'll also need small corn tortillas, cilantro, diced white onion, lime wedges and cilantro to serve.

Fish Taco Recipes

Fish tacos include various types of fish and shrimp. Seafood is a popular topping for tacos on the coasts of Mexico. If you have leftover fish from dinner, you can repurpose it for fish tacos.

Fish Tacos Recipe with Best Fish Taco Sauce!

Our all-time favorite fish tacos recipe! These are loaded with fresh ingredients and perfectly seasoned plump fish. Don’t skip the best fish taco sauce – an irresistible garlic lime crema.

Shrimp Tacos with Best Shrimp Taco Sauce

These Shrimp Tacos are a must-try – loaded with plump juicy shrimp, crisp cabbage, avocado, cotija cheese, cilantro and a lime crema sauce that will win you over. We serve these over toasted tortillas.

Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos (Dynamite Shrimp)

Bang Bang Shrimp are crispy, creamy, sweet, and spicy. They are so satisfying served as Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos drizzled with that famous sauce.

Shrimp Tacos with Coconut Coleslaw and Mango Salsa

These fish tacos are a yummy mouthful and you won't be able to put them down. This was inspired by the famous fish tacos at Coconut's Fish Cafe that we tried twice in Maui. It's a copycat recipe except for the shrimp part. Since it's really hard to come by fresh Mahi and Ono in Idaho, we chose shrimp. To be honest, I think I loved the shrimp more; not a hint of fishiness and perfectly seasoned with a subtle spicy kick. This recipe makes 6 towering juicy shrimp tacos.

Chicken Tacos

Chicken tacos are the easiest in my opinion because you can use leftover chicken and chop or shred it into chicken tacos. Slow cooker shredded chicken is also delicious for making tacos.

Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

Enjoy these juicy chicken tacos with all the fixings. The slow cooked pulled chicken is sweet and savory and you can make the chicken ahead for your next taco party.

Pork Tacos

If you’re making Pulled Pork, you should plan to use some of it up on pork tacos. Shredded pork is so tasty in tacos.

Carnitas Recipe (Mexican Pulled Pork)

Pork Carnitas are crispy on the outside with a juicy center.It's so easy to make authentic Mexican pulled pork in the slow cooker.

Tostadas

Tostadas are like an open-faced taco and since they have all the traditional flavors of tacos that you know and love, we couldn’t help but include them in this list. As with tacos, the beauty of Tostadas is you can change them up any number of ways with toppings and protein.

Easy Tostada Recipe

Homemade Tostadas will make your tastebuds dance! They are so simple to make, super versatile and provide so many topping options.

Taco Soup

Taco soup has all of the flavors of tacos that you love in soup form. You can even add your favorite taco toppings. This is so easy and delicious, plus you can make it ahead and it will taste even better as the flavors meld.

Easy Taco Soup Recipe

The easiest homemade taco soup recipe loaded with ground beef, beans, corn, pepper and tomatoes with a homemade taco seasoning. Top soup with cheese, avocado, cheese, sour cream and tortilla chips.

Taco Salad

Taco Salads are so fresh and inviting. We love putting taco meat and toppings over crisp iceberg lettuce and it becomes a low-carb and healthier version of the beloved taco.

Easy Taco Salad Recipe with the Best Dressing

A taco salad is basically a deconstructed taco served in a bowl. If you want to re-create a Mexican restaurant experience, serve this salad in a crispy Tortilla Taco Salad Shell for a fun twist.

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Taco Toppings

A great taco bar is all about the toppings. Here are some of our go-to taco toppings for the ultimate taco party. If I had to pick favorites, it would be Guacamole and Pico de Gallo. Sometimes all you need is a little diced onion and cilantro.

Best Guacamole Recipe

How to make the BEST EVER Guacamole. This authentic guac recipe is loaded with avocados, tomato, onion, cilantro, plenty of lime juice, salt and pepper. The only guacamole recipe you’ll need!

Fresh Homemade Salsa Recipe

This easy restaurant-style salsa recipe is a game-changer. Fresh homemade salsa is perfect for taco night or munching with tortilla chips.

Jalapeño Ranch Recipe

Jalapeño Ranch is perfect as a dressing, dip or sauce. It has a thick sour cream base, and is lightened up with fresh cilantro and lime juice and a hint of spice.

Fresh Mango Salsa Recipe (5 Ingredients)

This easy 5 ingredient mango salsa with avocado only takes 5 minutes to make and hits your taste buds in all the right spots; sweet, savory, tangy and fresh.This recipe makes 2 1/2 cups of salsa.

Avocado Ranch Dressing and Dip

This avocado ranch has a thick, creamy consistency and irresistible flavor! It’s delicious as a veggie dip or salad dressing.

Authentic Pico de Gallo

Pico De Gallo is a popular Mexican salsa that's loaded with fresh tomatoes, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, and lime juice. Pico De Gallo is excellent over tacos, burritos, nachos, or served with chips.

I hope you discover many new favorite taco recipes in this list. It’s so hard to pick a favorite but if you’re curious, the tacos that we make the most often would have to be our Famous Fish Tacos. Those are definitely a crowd-pleaser and we never have leftovers.

Natasha Kravchuk

The Best Taco Recipes (20)

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

Read more posts by Natasha

The Best Taco Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What makes the best tacos? ›

  • Tortilla. This is the essential defining ingredient in a taco. ...
  • Meat. Thin round beef steak, or as we would call it bisteck, most likely. ...
  • No cheese or white cheese. Most tacos have no cheese or just a sprinkle of white ground cheese - queso panela or cotija. ...
  • Hot salsa. ...
  • Salt. ...
  • Lime. ...
  • Cilantro and Onions. ...
  • Enjoy.
Oct 31, 2012

What's the best thing to put on tacos? ›

It's always a good idea to include something meaty, like ground beef, slow-cooked shredded chicken, or spicy shrimp. Saucy black beans or canned refried beans are also hearty options. Sautéed or grilled peppers and onions are a great vegetable-forward filling to include.

How do you make tacos taste better? ›

Acid is key. In just about any dish, especially meat-rich tacos, you'll want acid as part of the flavor balance. Salsa lends acid. So does crema, vinegar-based slaw, grilled fruit, or a squeeze of lime.

What do authentic tacos have? ›

Lime is probably the most essential of authentic Mexican taco toppings. A squeeze of lime adds a dash of acid that brings out the other flavors in a taco beautifully. Onions, cilantro, pico de gallo, sliced radishes or cucumbers, avocado, and chili peppers are also standard toppings for authentic tacos.

Are tacos better with corn or flour tortillas? ›

WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT CORN TORTILLAS? While corn tortillas are less sturdy than flour tortillas, they don't absorb liquids from meats, sauces, and condiments like flour tortillas do. That's why corn tortillas are more commonly used to hold taco fillings.

What is the best sauce for tacos? ›

Cilantro Lime- Cilantro Lime Sauce is fresh, vibrant, full of flavor. That is why it is one of the best sauces for all your tacos! It is made from sour cream, mayonnaise, cilantro, jalapeños, garlic, lime juice, and salt. Cilantro Lime Sauce is creamy, spicy, and sour- with a hint of garlic.

What side dish goes with tacos? ›

10 Flavorful Sides to Go with a Taco Bar
  • Refried Beans. Refried beans, or "frijoles refritos," have been a staple in Mexican cuisine for centuries. ...
  • Traditional Mexican Rice. ...
  • Taco Slaw. ...
  • Seven-Layer Dip. ...
  • Mexican Street Corn Salad. ...
  • Zesty Black Bean Salad. ...
  • Grilled Corn on the Cob. ...
  • Jalapeño Poppers.
Jul 11, 2023

How do you upgrade tacos? ›

Try throwing in some pepitas, asparagus, basil, or fresh fruit. For an even creamier avocado taco topping, try making avocado crema. Blend the avocados with sour cream and thin it out with lime juice until it's easy to drizzle onto your tacos.

What can I add to taco meat to make it go further? ›

Potatoes!! The potato skin to be exact. I asked the waiter about this and he said that's what gives it its creaminess and that his mother used to add potatoes (and sometimes pinto beans) to their ground beef to make it go further.

What makes tacos taste like tacos? ›

For the most classic Tex-Mex style tacos, your filling needs a base of ground beef. However, even well-seasoned versions of this popular taco ingredient can lack dimension. To give your ground taco beef an extra layer of nuance and bold flavor, consider mixing in some spicy Mexican chorizo.

What do Mexicans put in tacos? ›

Traditional Mexican Tacos – Traditionally, tacos are served on only soft tortillas, mainly corn, but flour tortillas are also popular. White onions, cilantro, pico de gallo, and homemade salsa all lay gently over grilled or stewed meat.

Why don t Mexicans put cheese on tacos? ›

However, cheese is not a traditional ingredient in the original Mexican-style taco. It was only when tacos made their way to America that cheese became a common addition. So, technically speaking, Mexican tacos do not have cheese.

What meat is best for tacos? ›

Flank steak is one of the most well-known kinds for anything that requires thin steaks. This thin cut works well for slicing, as required for tacos and fajitas. It's also relatively affordable compared to top-of-the-line steaks like ribeye and New York strip.

What is the most crucial element of the taco? ›

Equally as important as the tortilla, spice and bold flavor are cornerstones to any taco. You don't have to make them spicy-hot, but you do have to make them distinct and memorable.

How are authentic Mexican tacos? ›

In Mexico, tacos don't have lettuce on them. Or tomatoes, Or cheese. Authentic tacos are filled with high-quality marinated meats (or vegetables), & are delicious as they are. They don't need extra trimmings that you find on less traditional tacos.

What is the most important part of a taco? ›

A good taco is one of life's joys. With all the choices for toppings and shell, don't lose sight of what is most important: the meat inside! We've got two options for unforgettable pork fillings to make taco night at home a real party. Read on for the recipes.

What meats are best for tacos? ›

Types of Taco Meats
  • Why are tacos the perfect meal? Simple: they're small enough that you can eat half a dozen, and varied enough that you can have equally as many different flavors and textures. ...
  • Carna Asada. Carne Asada is the most common taco meat. ...
  • Pollo. ...
  • Al Pastor. ...
  • Birria. ...
  • Carnitas. ...
  • Chorizo. ...
  • Lengua.

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