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Home » Recipes » Vegan Recipes

Vegan Tempeh Taco "Meat"

Published: Jun 7, 2019 · Modified: Apr 4, 2025 by Elena Szeliga · This post may contain affiliate links · 42 Comments

Hands down THE BEST vegan taco meat made of tempeh that is as close as possible to the real thing. You just need 3 essential ingredients and 20 minutes to make this tried-and-true vegan meat recipe!

 

Tempeh Vegan Taco Meat on a Plate with a Wooden Spoon

Jump to Recipe

What are the perfect vegan tacos? Those that have this tempeh vegan meat in them.

Make it once and you’ll never look back. I’ve tried many vegan meat recipes, but this is hands down THE BEST vegan meat for tacos I’ve ever tried.

No more puzzling over how to make vegan meat, so that it tastes like meat. Along with my smoky vegan pulled pork and Chipotle's copycat sofritas, this recipe is as close to the original as you can get.

What Is Vegan Meat for Tacos Made of?

You can make vegan meat for tacos from tofu, quinoa, lentils, mushrooms or walnuts and there is nothing wrong with these.

But this tempeh vegan ground beef recipe is as close as possible to the real thing.

Besides, tempeh is very nutritious and protein-rich. As it is made of fermented soy beans, tempeh is an excellent source of vegan probiotics, vitamins and dietary fiber, among other things.

Tempeh Taco Meat

Tempeh gives this vegetarian taco meat a chewy texture and excellent soaking abilities that allows it to absorb the taco seasoning perfectly well. It is firmer than tofu and is considered healthier.

You can find tempeh in your local grocery store near tofu or order it online.

Tempeh is worth adding to your everyday diet, as you can make so many delicious dishes with it, including vegan Bolognese sauce, vegan sloppy Joes, vegan bacon, as well as this delicious tempeh taco meat.

Besides, it is super easy and quick to make. You will need 15 minutes and the following ingredients:

  • Olive oil;
  • Onions;
  • Tempeh;
  • Taco seasoning;
  • Water.

Crumbled Tempeh for Vegan Tacos on a White Plate

How to Make Vegan Taco Meat from Tempeh

There are two ways to process tempeh before you cook it to make vegan ground beef out of it.

You can either break it with your fingers into little crumbles or simply grind it. I usually prefer to have more texture in my taco meat, so I crumble it with my fingers (see the video below for instructions).

Once you have it crumbled, sauté some onion in olive oil, add the tempeh crumbles and let them slightly brown for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add taco seasoning and water and let cook for 10 more minutes or until water is mostly adsorbed. Enjoy on vegan tempeh tacos, grilled zucchini and corn tacos, vegan buffalo tacos, tostadas, in burritos, enchiladas, fajitas or salads.

Tempeh Taco Meat on a Plate Surrounded by Tortillas, Jalapenos, Corn Salsa, Avocado, Pico de Gallo and Lime

Cook’s Tips

  • This tempeh taco meat can be stored in an airtight jar in the fridge for about 3 days.
  • You can freeze it in an airtight bag or container for up to 3 months.
  • Add more water if your taco meat looks too dry. If you added too much water, you can always evaporate the excess letting it cook it for a minute or two longer.
  • For more creative recipe ideas check these 20 best tempeh recipes.

Recipe Variations

  • For this tempeh meat, you’ll need 3 tablespoons of taco seasoning, which is an equivalent to one store-bought packet.
  • Add ½ teaspoon cornstarch to create a saucy consistency for your taco meat. Mix the starch into the seasoning and add 4-5 tablespoons of water before adding the mixture to the skillet.
  • Avocado oil or other neutral oils can be substituted for olive oil. If you don’t want to use oil, add 2-3 tablespoons of water to the skillet instead.

Vegetarian Taco Meat in a Black Skillet

Make sure to check the recipe video and the full recipe below for instructions. If you can’t see the video, disable your AdBlock for this page by clicking on the AdBlock button and selecting Don’t run on this page.

I hope you enjoy this recipe! Please let me know how you like it. I would really appreciate you giving it a star rating! Your comments and ratings really help me improve!

Make sure to check my ultimate guide on how to cook tempeh that I put together and discover more delicious ways to cook tempeh!

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4.93 from 28 votes

Tempeh Vegan Taco "Meat"

Hands down THE BEST vegan taco meat made of tempeh that is as close as possible to the real thing. You just need 3 essential ingredients and 20 minutes to make this tried-and-true vegan meat recipe!
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Prep Time 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 149kcal
Author Elena Szeliga
$6
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  • 8 oz or 250 g tempeh
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ yellow onion chopped
  • 3 tablespoons taco seasoning the whole batch
  • ⅓ cup water
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

  • Break tempeh with your fingers into little crumbles (see the video above for instructions) or simply grind it.
  • Heat olive oil a large skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion and sautée for one or two minutes, then add the tempeh crumbles. Let them slightly brown for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Add taco seasoning and water and let cook for 10 more minutes or until water is mostly adsorbed. Enjoy on tacos, tostadas, in burritos, enchiladas, fajitas or salads!

Notes

Enjoy on vegan tacos, tostadas, in burritos, enchiladas, fajitas or salads.

Cook’s Tips

  • This tempeh taco meat can be stored in an airtight jar in the fridge for about 3 days.
  • You can freeze the taco meat in an airtight bag or container for up to 3 months.
  • Add more water if your taco meat looks too dry. If you added too much water, you can always evaporate the excess letting it cook it for a minute or two longer.
  • Enjoy on vegan tempeh tacos, grilled zucchini and corn tacos, vegan buffalo tacos, tostadas, in burritos, enchiladas, fajitas or salads.
  • For more creative recipe ideas check these 20 best tempeh recipes.

Recipe Variations

  • For this tempeh meat, you’ll need 3 tablespoons of taco seasoning, which is an equivalent to one store-bought packet.
  • Add ½ teaspoon cornstarch to create a saucy consistency for your taco meat. Mix the starch into the seasoning and add 4-5 tablespoons of water before adding the mixture to the skillet.
  • Avocado oil or other neutral oils can be substituted for olive oil. If you don’t want to use oil, add 2-3 tablespoons of water to the skillet instead.

Equipment

Skillet or frying pan

Nutrition

Calories: 149kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 158mg | Potassium: 254mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 175IU | Vitamin C: 1.9mg | Calcium: 66mg | Iron: 1.7mg
Tried this recipe?Follow @happykitchen.rocks on Instagram and show me the recipes you are making from my blog using the hashtag #happykitchenrocks!

Other Vegan Recipes You’ll Love:

  • 5-minute Easy Vegan Tacos
  • Easy Homemade Taco Seasoning
  • The Best Vegan Bolognese
  • Smoky Tempeh Marinade
  • Perfect Vegan Sloppy Joes
Tempeh Taco Meat in a Skillet with Text Overlay
Pinterest Collage for Vegan Tempeh Taco Meat
Vegan Taco Meat on a Plate with Text Overlay

More Healthy Vegan Recipes

  • Decadent vegan chocolate brownie bars displayed on a cooling rack.
    Vegan Cheesecake Brownies
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    Vegan Buffalo Tacos
  • Vegan Cream Cheese on a Slice of Bread with a Bowl
    Dairy-free Cashew Cream Cheese
  • Mango Habanero Sauce Recipe

About Elena Szeliga

Elena Szeliga is the founder of Happy Kitchen.Rocks, where she shares delicious and healthy vegetarian and vegan food, from weeknight dinners to veganized classics and gourmet appetizers. Her recipes have been featured at Better Homes & Gardens, BuzzFeed, Country Living, The Kitchn and Reader’s Digest. Her mission is to help cook easy vegetarian and vegan meals with simple and fresh ingredients. Read more about Elena.

Comments

  1. Sarah says

    April 09, 2024 at 1:45 am

    Love this! So happy I came across this recipe. Instead of water I added a small can of fire roasted tomatoes with green chiles...so yummy!!

    Reply
    • Elena Szeliga says

      April 09, 2024 at 7:52 pm

      Happy to hear that, Sarah! 🙂 Thank you for leaving a comment!

      Reply
  2. Jan says

    February 16, 2024 at 9:37 pm

    5 stars
    The taco “meat” is very good. I added chopped mushrooms for an extra nutrient punch.

    Reply
    • Elena Szeliga says

      February 17, 2024 at 2:19 pm

      Glad you enjoyed it, Jan! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Rachel says

    October 14, 2022 at 3:52 am

    5 stars
    Loved it! I've come to like tempeh a lot more than tofu because of my sensory issues and severe ADHD. Tofu's tasty and all but it takes SO many steps to make it taste good, making this taco filling was so easy?!

    I omitted the onion out of sensory issues and ADHD-induced skipping another step lol then used it to make homemade vegan Crunch Wrap Supremes and while the taste was amazing, the only thing I'd do different next time is put the tempeh in the food processor a bit. The texture didn't bother me, but I think it would've been a little easier to cook down and not get the crunch wraps as high if the pieces were smaller.

    Toasting the tempeh bits in walnut oil before adding the taco seasoning packet and water also just takes it to a whole other level!

    Reply
    • Elena Szeliga says

      October 22, 2022 at 6:00 pm

      @Rachel, Thank you for leaving your feedback on this recipe! So glad you enjoyed the wraps 🙂

      Reply
  4. Lorenza says

    March 23, 2022 at 11:43 pm

    5 stars
    Amazing recipe! Delicious. Easy to make. No mess in the kitchen (one skillet). Under 10 minutes. And.. full of protein! Healthy! What's not to like?

    Reply
    • Elena Szeliga says

      March 24, 2022 at 8:18 pm

      I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for leaving a comment!

      Reply
  5. Pepa says

    September 02, 2020 at 3:48 am

    4 stars
    My son loved it. He said it taste like chicken and bacon. It was very good. I added rice, beans, lettuce, and tomato. Thank you!!

    Reply
    • Elena Szeliga says

      September 02, 2020 at 1:12 pm

      I'm so happy to hear that!

      Reply
  6. Hope Abramson says

    June 26, 2020 at 2:10 am

    5 stars
    We loved it! Had over rice and refried beans with sour cream/avocado mixed together!

    Reply
    • Elena Szeliga says

      June 26, 2020 at 9:24 pm

      Sounds amazing! I'm glad you enjoyed it, Hope! 🙂

      Reply
  7. Brennan says

    June 12, 2020 at 7:33 pm

    5 stars
    New vegetarian here; I was skeptical when I tasted the tempeh “meat” alone after cooking, but as a taco with a good tortilla and guac it was delicious and I absolutely could not tell the difference from a real taco!! Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Elena Szeliga says

      June 15, 2020 at 12:40 pm

      Thank you for your feedback, Brennan! I'm so happy you enjoyed this taco meat!

      Reply
  8. Jess says

    January 13, 2020 at 3:24 am

    5 stars
    Made tonight. Awesome! Will make again.

    Reply
    • Elena Szeliga says

      January 13, 2020 at 11:05 am

      I'm so glad you enjoyed it Jess! Thank you for the feedback 🙂

      Reply
  9. Suzie says

    July 30, 2019 at 2:08 pm

    5 stars
    I just love this recipe, and I can't wait to try it. I never made a tempeh meal before, I hope it will be good. 🙂

    Thanks for sharing your recipe!

    Also, it is featured on my blog here: https://suzinspire.com/20-incredible-meat-free-recipes-you-should-try-this-summer/
    If you like it, please share it on social media! Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • Elena Szeliga says

      July 30, 2019 at 2:41 pm

      Thank you for including my recipe Suzie! Your roundup looks amazing, so many great recipes to try!

      Reply
  10. Daniela says

    June 18, 2019 at 7:45 pm

    5 stars
    Always looking for a delicious vegan taco filling and this sounds absolutely perfect! Thanks so much for sharing :)!

    Reply
    • Elena Szeliga says

      June 18, 2019 at 8:51 pm

      Thank you, Daniela! Hope you give this vegan taco meat a try 😉

      Reply
  11. Analida Braeger says

    June 17, 2019 at 3:59 am

    5 stars
    This looks so interesting ! I have never had tempeh before but always been so curious about it , will be trying this : )

    Reply
    • Elena Szeliga says

      June 17, 2019 at 11:26 am

      This is one of the best discoveries I've made in the last year 😉 Where was it before? LOL

      Reply
  12. Karyl Henry says

    June 17, 2019 at 3:18 am

    5 stars
    I've never tried tempeh, and I have to be honest...I'm scared I'll screw it up! But my parents are vegetarian and eat imitation meat all the time so I'll definitely share this with them

    Reply
    • Elena Szeliga says

      June 17, 2019 at 11:28 am

      Hope your parents enjoy it, Karyl! This is the best ground meat alternative I've tried!

      Reply
  13. Kelly Anthony says

    June 16, 2019 at 9:43 pm

    5 stars
    What aisle of the grocery store can I find tempeh? I've never had tempeh but I'm so curious to try something new especially when it has so many health benefits.

    Reply
    • Elena Szeliga says

      June 16, 2019 at 10:35 pm

      Hi Kelly, it needs to be refrigerated so you'll find it near tofu in your grocery store. You can also order it online. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  14. Eva says

    June 16, 2019 at 9:58 am

    5 stars
    I am not vegetarian but truly enjoy trying meat replacement alternatives. Especially in tacos, where you mostly go for texture and spices. I havent tried tempeh yet, so thank you for this one.

    Reply
    • Elena Szeliga says

      June 16, 2019 at 7:49 pm

      I found that tempeh is the best meat alternative for tacos. You won't miss meat at all!

      Reply
  15. Paula Montenegro says

    June 15, 2019 at 12:20 pm

    5 stars
    I only had tempeh once in some empanadas (hand pies) and it was such a good surprise. I'm loving the idea of these tacos! So easy to make! Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply
    • Elena Szeliga says

      June 16, 2019 at 7:51 pm

      Tempeh empanadas sound like a great idea! I'll make sure to give them a try. Thank you, Paula!

      Reply
  16. Mama Maggie's Kitchen says

    June 14, 2019 at 1:11 am

    5 stars
    I think I just heard my tummy growl. lol! Must print the recipe.

    Reply
    • Elena Szeliga says

      June 16, 2019 at 7:51 pm

      Hope you enjoy this taco "meat"!

      Reply
  17. Danielle says

    June 13, 2019 at 7:59 pm

    5 stars
    Only three essentials and 20 minutes? Now that's a vegan taco meat recipe to save. There are so many things that you can do with it!

    Reply
    • Elena Szeliga says

      June 16, 2019 at 7:53 pm

      That's true! Tacos, burritos, tostadas, enchiladas, fajitas... And I'm only getting started!

      Reply
  18. Nicolas Hortense says

    June 13, 2019 at 2:08 am

    Oh nice I am so intrigued to see what this tastes like! Would fill my tacos, wraps, burritos etc. with this any day!!

    Reply
    • Elena Szeliga says

      June 16, 2019 at 7:54 pm

      You won't notice that it's not "real" meat in tacos, I swear!

      Reply
  19. Heather says

    June 12, 2019 at 11:33 pm

    5 stars
    I've never cooked tempeh before so I appreciate all the tips and tricks! It's a great alternative to have since meat can be so expensive. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Elena Szeliga says

      June 16, 2019 at 7:54 pm

      Hope you give this recipe a try, Heather!

      Reply
  20. Rebecca Blackwell says

    June 11, 2019 at 8:51 pm

    5 stars
    I have never cooked tempeh before, but this recipe is inspiring me to try, mostly because my family loves tacos so much. I think I'm going to not tell them that it's not meat filling their tacos and see if they notice! Thanks for sharing this recipe!

    Reply
    • Elena Szeliga says

      June 12, 2019 at 10:31 am

      I bet they wouldn't notice the difference 😀 Thank you, Rebecca! I hope your family enjoys these tempeh tacos!

      Reply
  21. Michelle says

    June 11, 2019 at 7:24 pm

    5 stars
    Oh, this is just perfect! I'm always looking for new ways to spice up our veggie tacos and this looks like a really great option for us. Can't wait to try it x

    Reply
    • Elena Szeliga says

      June 12, 2019 at 10:21 am

      Thank you, Michelle! You'll love it, I promise 🙂

      Reply
4.93 from 28 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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