Vegan Tofu Tacos with Fajita Vegetables

Today’s vegan tofu tacos recipe with fajita vegetables is going to take your Taco Tuesdays to the next level! Tofu strips are tossed in spicy chipotle-infused marinade, and cooked to crispy perfection with fajita peppers and onions.

And guess what – you probably have all the ingredients for these tofu tacos at home right now! This recipe is meat free, dairy free, with a gluten free option.

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I got the idea for this tofu tacos recipe recently when I wanted to make my vegan fajitas with soy curls but realized that I had run out of soy curls.

That reminded me that I’ve wanted to create a recipe for reliable tofu-based taco filling for months now. When I saw that I didn’t have soy curls, I knew that the right time had come.

My soy curl fajitas recipe is super easy. So when I started thinking about my tofu taco filling, I didn’t want to over-complicate it. Plus, I wanted to use simple ingredients I always have on hand to avoid unplanned trips to the grocery store.

Another thing I wanted to achieve in my tofu tacos recipe – a crispy, “meaty” texture. Most tofu taco recipes I’ve seen online call for crumbling tofu the way I do to make a tofu scramble. In my opinion that’s too soft for really satisfying tacos.

So this is how the idea for these vegan tofu tacos was born! I decided to cut cooked tofu blocks into strips, toss them lightly in spicy chipotle-infused marinade, and combine them with crunchy fajita peppers and onions at the end.

When cooked this way, tofu slices get a rich, “meaty” flavor thanks to chipotle marinade. Plus, each piece has a nice, toothsome texture, crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside.

I’ve outlined the process of making these vegan tofu tacos in this web story.

If you enjoy spicy filling in tacos, check out my easy 4-ingredient buffalo cauliflower – it makes a perfect base in my vegan buffalo cauliflower tacos recipe.

Below I’m sharing the exact cooking process, and answering a few commonly asked questions. If you’d like a printable version of this recipe, scroll down to the recipe card.

How to Make Vegan Tofu Tacos

First, you need to press a block of extra-firm tofu to squeeze out the water it’s packaged in.

If you don’t have a tofu press, wrap the tofu block in a paper towel, put it between two cutting boards, and add something heavy (like a few cans of beans or thick books) on top. I usually set this up in my kitchen sink.

Let the tofu sit that way for about 20 minutes, then take it out and pat dry.

Slice the pressed tofu block crosswise into 10-12 rectangles. Heat a little bit of oil (high heat-resistant like avocado or grapeseed oil works best) in a large nonstick saute pan.

Cook the tofu pieces in a single layer, 2-3 minutes per side, until each side becomes slightly crispy and golden in color. I usually do this in two batches.

While the tofu is cooking, get the fajita vegetables ready. Slice bell peppers and onions into long, thin strips.

Make the tofu marinade: in a large bowl, mix together soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free), lime juice, agave or maple syrup, cornstarch, chipotle powder, ground cumin, dried oregano, and 2 tablespoons water.

Once the tofu is cooked, slice each rectangle lenghtwise into 3 strips. They will look like this:

Add tofu strips to the marinade, and toss lightly to make sure all pieces are covered.

If possible, try not to break the tofu strips as you mix them with the marinade, but it’s OK if a few break in the process.

Marinating time: you can either marinate tofu for only a few minutes while the fajita vegetables are cooking (next step), or leave it in the marinade for up to half an hour. Toss a few times to cover them evenly with marinade.

Making the fajita vegetables. Return the saute pan onto the stove. Add another splash of oil, and cook sliced onions and peppers over medium-high heat for about 4-5 minutes. The vegetables are done when they are still crisp but have developed a few charred marks.

Take the vegetables out of the pan and set aside.

Finishing the tofu. Return the saute pan to the stove. Add marinated tofu strips and the rest of the marinade. Cook over medium heat tossing gently, until all of the liquid evaporates. Tofu will look dark, crispy, and slightly sticky.

Add the fajita vegetables back into the pan, toss gently to mix with tofu strips. Cook for 1-2 minutes, then take off the heat and sprinkle with chopped cilantro and/or scallions.

The finished tofu taco filling will look like this:

This tofu taco filling will keep for 3-4 days in the fridge (great for meal prep!). It also works well in burritos, grain bowls, or served on lettuce leaves instead of taco shells to make low-carb vegan tacos.

RELATED PLANT-BASED RECIPES FROM THE BLOG:

• Vegan Enchiladas with Black Bean-Potato Filling
• Baked Vegan Taquitos with Instant Pot Pinto Bean Filling
• Cheeseless Veggie-Loaded Quesadillas
• Vegan BBQ Portobello Wrap with Pinto Beans
• Vegan Collard Wraps with Sweet Potato and Kimchi Filling

How Many Calories Are in Vegan Tofu Tacos?

The amount of calories in these vegan tofu tacos will largely depend on what else you’re topping them with. The kind of tortillas (flour or corn, soft or crispy) and their size will matter too.

This recipe for tofu tacos with fajita vegetables yields a generous amount of taco filling. It will be enough for at least 8 well-filled tacos.

So if we divide this amount of taco filling into eight portions, each portion will have around 150 calories*.

To make tofu tacos, this taco filling is served on a small flour tortilla and topped with diced avocado, shredded purple cabbage, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice (see pictures). This brings it to around 280 calories*.

*Please note that these numbers are approximate – nutrition apps vary quite a bit, and if you try to really dig in to get the precise numbers, all those calculations can make your head spin. (Yes, that’s based on experience 🙂 )

How to Make Tofu Tacos Gluten Free

To make these tofu tacos gluten free, use tamari instead of soy sauce when making tofu marinade, then serve your tacos in corn shells.

Make sure your corn shells are gluten-free: while corn naturally doesn’t contain gluten, it sometimes gets contaminated with wheat during harvesting and processing. Look for certified gluten-free corn tortillas to make sure this didn’t happen.

What to Serve with Vegan Tofu Tacos

These vegan tofu tacos already have lots of flavor thanks to the marinated tofu and fajita peppers and onions.

To take things to the next level, serve them with toppings like:

• Sliced avocado or guacamole;
• Shredded cabbage
• Tomato or tomatillo salsa
• Shredded vegan cheese
• Dairy-free sour cream or plain unsweetened yogurt (Forager brand yogurt works fantastic)
• Lime wedges
• Just about anything else your heart desires!

Continue to Content

Yield: 8 tacos

Vegan Tofu Tacos with Fajita Vegetables

Print

This vegan tofu tacos recipe is going to become your go-to taco night staple! Tofu strips are tossed in spicy chipotle-infused marinade, then cooked to perfection with fajita vegetables. Meat free, dairy free, gluten free if made with tamari instead of soy sauce.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Tofu Marinating Time 5 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 16-oz block extra firm tofu, drained and pressed
• 1 large yellow onion, sliced into thin strips
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
• 1/2 green bell pepper (or any color you have), sliced into thin strips
• 2 Tbsp chopped cilantro and/or scallions
• Avocado or grapeseed oil, as needed for cooking tofu and vegetables

Tofu Marinade:

• 4 Tbsp soy sauce (use tamari for gluten-free)
• 2 Tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 Tbsp agave or pure maple syrup
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• 1 Tbsp chipotle powder
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 2 Tbsp water

To Serve:

• 8 warm taco shells
• Your favorite taco toppings - avocado slices, chopped purple cabbage, lime wedges, etc.

Instructions

1. Slice a drained and pressed block of tofu crosswise into 10-12 rectangles of about 1/2 - 1/3 inch thickness. (A tofu press like tofu press like this one is very helpful for pressing tofu).
2. Cook tofu rectangles in single layer batches in a large heavy-bottomed saute pan with a splash of oil, about 2-3 minutes per side, until each piece becomes slightly crispy and golden in color. Set aside.
3. While the tofu is cooking, mix all marinade ingredients in a large bowl.
4. Slice each cooked tofu rectangle into 3 strips lengthwise, being careful not to break them. Gently toss in the marinade, making sure that all tofu pieces are covered in sauce. I usually let my tofu marinate until the fajita vegetables are cooked (about 5 minutes), but feel free to marinate for up to 30 minutes.
5. Heat 1 Tbsp oil in the same saute pan you used to cook the tofu. Add sliced onions and peppers, and cook over medium-high heat until the vegetables are still crisp but have developed a few charred spots, about 4-5 minutes. Remove, set aside.
6. Add marinated tofu strips and the rest of the marinade to the same saucepan. Cook over medium heat, tossing gently, until all of the liquid evaporates, and the tofu looks dark, crisp, and slightly sticky.
7. Add cooked onions and peppers to the tofu, and reheat gently. Remove from heat, sprinkle with chopped cilantro and/or scallions.
8. Serve with warmed tortillas and your favorite taco toppings - avocado slices or guacamole; vegan sour cream or shredded vegan cheese; chopped purple cabbage; lime wedges, etc. This tofu taco filling also works well in burritos, grain bowls, etc.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you make a purchase through affiliate links on my blog, I receive a very small commission that helps me run this blog, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!

• 
  Yarkor Bamboo Tofu Press, Built in Tofu Strainer and Drip Tray
• 
  Anolon Advanced Hard-Anodized Nonstick 5-Quart Covered Saute Pan with Helper Handle
• 
  Premium Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls with Non-Slip Bottoms, Set of 4

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

2 tacos
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 577Total Fat: 34gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 25gCholesterol: 6mgCarbohydrates: 54gFiber: 14gSugar: 14gProtein: 23g

Please note that the provided nutritional information data is approximate.

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I hope these crispy vegan tofu tacos with fajita vegetables become a staple Taco Tuesday recipe in your home!

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Alina Zavatsky - Vegan Runner Eats

Alina Zavatsky is a vegan of 11+ years, a passionate blogger, a YouTuber, and a mom. She helps new vegans and their families navigate a vegan diet and lifestyle in a sustainable and enjoyable way. This fall, she will be releasing a new vegan meal planning app designed to make following a vegan diet a breeze for everyone.

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