Easy Tofu Tacos – Make Thyme for Health

These tofu tacos have become our go-to for taco night! It takes 30 minutes to prep, and you only have to wash one bowl (as long as you line your baking sheet). You all know this is my kind of food.

Not only are they easy to make, but they’re packed with flavor and protein. We’re talking 10 grams per taco! Of course, this depends on the brand of tofu and tortillas you use, but in general they’re a great source of plant-based protein.

Tofu Taco Ingredients

• Tofu- I recommend using firm or extra firm tofu as they have the best texture for this recipe. My favorite is Trader Joe’s High Protein Tofu because not only is it the highest protein tofu I’ve found, it’s organic and very affordable. Win, win.
• black bean Using canned black beans helps make this recipe super quick. Make sure you drain and rinse them, especially if they have salt added (I always buy unsalted). If you’re not a fan of black beans, you can use your favorite beans instead.
• salsa A good chunk of the flavor comes from the salsa, so be sure to use one that you like and isn’t too spicy for your liking.
• Olive oil- Just a few tablespoons of olives will help cook as the tofu and beans bake in the oven. I haven’t tested it without the oil, but if you’re oil-free you might be able to do without it altogether.
• tamari Soy sauce (or tamari, which is just gluten-free soy sauce) gives the tofu a savory umami flavor, so I don’t recommend skipping it.
• Spices- A mixture of chili powder, cumin and smoked paprika gives the tofu a delicious smoky flavor. Simply Organic is my favorite chili powder and I find it very mild. Some chili powders can vary in spiciness, so make sure your preferred level of spice is before using it in the recipe.
• nutritional yeast If you are unfamiliar with nutritional yeast, here I have a blog post that explains it. We use it to give the tofu an even spicier, slightly cheesy flavor. It’s not strictly necessary, but I think it adds a lot of flavor, so personally I wouldn’t go without it.

How to make tofu tacos

Tip for preparation: You can prep up to step 3 and then cover the bowl and refrigerate until ready to cook. Let the tofu mixture sit at room temperature while the oven preheats, then bake as directed. You may need to cook for a few minutes depending on how cold the mixture is when it starts to bake.

1. Crumble the tofu on a tea towel. This step helps the tofu release some of the moisture, which improves the texture.
2. Whisk together the oil, tamari, and spices in a large bowl. Add the crumbled tofu and stir until evenly coated.
3. Add the black beans, salsa, and nutritional yeast to the bowl and stir.
4. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, stirring halfway through.
5. Serve warm with tortillas and your choice of toppings and enjoy!

Looking for simpler dinner ideas?