15 Taco Recipes So Good You'll Never Want to Make Anything Else

Baja Shrimp Tacos With Creamy Slaw

Briny shrimp, full-bodied hot sauce, and a creamy, crisp slaw come together to create a taco full of texture and flavor. We like using both red and green cabbage for a colorful slaw, but feel free to choose one or the other. In terms of Mexican hot sauce, we like Valentina or Cholula. If you can't find those, opt for Sriracha rather than Tabasco or Crystal (which are thinner and more vinegary).

You can use a gas stove flame to achieve a nice char on the tortillas. To do this, simply place one tortilla on each burner set on low heat. Use tongs to flip them when the bottom starts to char.

Fish Stick Tacos

If you're looking to introduce your little ones to tacos, give this recipe a whirl. Here, fish sticks are the star, and the freezer staple is topped with a crunchy cabbage slaw and silky sour cream. Feel free to add some zingy hot sauce for the grownups. Shopping tip: Look for a fish stick brand that has the MSC-certified stamp on the packaging, which means they source sustainably harvested fish.

Creamy Rajas and Greens Tacos

A tasty taco doesn't always have to be filled with meat. In fact, we'd argue that this purely vegetarian option is just as rich and satisfying.

Made from hearty sautéed chard, thinly sliced crunchy radishes, and salty cotija cheese, it gets a lot of flavor from charred poblanos. Broil them in one batch on a sheet tray just until they're blistered, and gently peel away their outer skin. The results will be irresistible and smoky. Finally, a quick homemade queso sauce, basically a béchamel with Monterey Jack cheese mixed in, tips this recipe into the realm of truly indulgent.

Chicken Tacos With Slaw

What could be more tantalizing than tacos filled with fried chicken, creamy and bright slaw, and dill pickle chips? These tacos take just 20 minutes to make and are suitable for either a quick lunch or easy weeknight dinner. If you're short on time, use store-bought chicken tenders and pre-shredded cabbage.

Grilled Chili Shrimp Tacos

A homemade chili paste is easy to make—garlic, olive oil, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper—but delivers a bold, smoky taste that pairs beautifully with a sweet-and-spicy pineapple-jalapeño salsa. Grill the tortillas before filling to add char and make them more pliable.

Scrambled Egg Tacos

Mix things up: Serve tacos for breakfast or breakfast tacos for dinner. Here, toasted tortillas hold creamy scrambled eggs rather than ground beef. Sliced avocado, salsa, cheese, and cilantro round out the meal. For an extra-special treat the whole family will love, serve with breakfast potatoes.

Pork and Pineapple Tacos

Up to four hours of marinating time requires a little forethought, but the flavor payoff is big, bold, and delicious. Thinly sliced jalapeño and diced red onion cut through the sweetness, while crumbled cotija cheese adds a hint of salt.

Tilapia Tacos With Cucumber Relish

Perfect for kids or the less-than-adventurous eater, the texture and taste of white fish, like tilapia or halibut, is a good foray into a deeper appreciation for seafood. Here, the fish is seasoned, grilled, and then paired with a crunchy marinated cucumber and radish mixture.

Garlicky Skirt Steak Tacos

To make these tasty tacos, you'll start by sautéing some shredded Napa cabbage, and then you'll sear juicy, garlicky skirt steak quickly in a skillet. Once the steak is cooked, all you need to do is whip up a zesty onion and radish topping and lightly char the tortillas. With these easy steps, dinner is served in just 25 minutes.

Vegetarian Tacos With Goat Cheese

Chili-spiced tofu, which is seared until golden brown and crispy around the edges, adds staying power to a taco brimming with vegetables. Add the crumbled goat cheese while the rest of the ingredients are still warm, so it becomes nice and creamy.

Grilled Shrimp Tacos

For tacos that can be made almost exclusively on the grill, give this recipe a try. Both the shrimp, which is slathered in garlic butter, and the tortillas take a turn on the grates. Toppings such as cabbage, a homemade sour cream sauce, tomatillo salsa, and a squeeze of grilled lime complete the meal.

Crispy Bacon and Egg Tacos

Is there a better way to start the day than with breakfast tacos? This morning meal, which you can totally eat whenever you feel like it, includes crispy bacon, fluffy eggs, creamy avocado, and hot sauce. And since these are tacos, after all, cilantro and quick-pickled radishes are also here to add a fresh twist.

Blistered Tomato Salsa and Roasted Chicken Thigh Tacos

Tomatillos, a green variety of tomatoes encased in a papery husk, have a more tart taste than their red counterparts. Broil the tomatillos to produce a char that gives the resulting salsa a slightly smoky taste. A big dollop atop shredded chicken will have the whole family asking for seconds.

Shrimp Tacos With Black Beans

These fried shrimp tacos, which also include avocado, salsa, cilantro, hot sauce, and sour cream, are served alongside sautéed black beans.

Shrimp Tacos With Caramelized Pineapple

Chili-lime-seasoned shrimp and pineapple pieces are cooked separately in the same nonstick skillet, creating a taco filling that's both sweet and spicy. Some shredded cabbage brings the crunch, and Mexican crema (or sour cream, if you prefer) balances everything with a creamy dollop. If you need something more substantial, try pairing this dish with a side of black beans.