There are four of my most favourite words in the title of this recipe... yeah, I bet you guessed each and every word, you clever minx you. Easy Vegan Jackfruit Tacos. Boom.
EASY: Every now and then I don't mind a more complicated recipe such as my Vegan Tiramisu (so worth it), but for the most part, I like my recipes easy, and I like 'em quick. These jackfruit tacos just require a little sautéing, add some seasonings, then mash, and done. They take less than 30 minutes to prepare. Easy peasy, quick, and so super delicious.
VEGAN: pre-tay sure that you aren't surprised that this is one of my favourite words. Not only did this life-changing word make me a healthier, happier, more compassionate and environmentally-friendly human being, but it also gave my career a 180-degree flip. Now I have the job of my dreams (that I didn't even know I was dreaming about)!
JACKFRUIT: the fruit that is the jack of all trades. You can eat this fruit ripe and sweet, which to be honest is not my fave, but where jackfruit really shines is when you get it young and green. At this stage, it's starchy, savoury and is so amazing in that it replicates pulled or shredded meat almost exactly. Except, of course, it's so much better! I swear I was eating these tacos and wondered why in the world would anyone want to eat a chicken when they can have jackfruit!?
TACOS: this Mexican handheld food with endless topping combos is an all-time fave for me. There's an entire day of the week dedicated to tacos called #tacotuesday! So I'm clearly not the only one who get's this excited about tacos. Just as this shirt says, mas tacos por favor.
So there you have it, Easy Vegan Jackfruit Tacos. These tacos are a perfect quick and easy weeknight meal, packed full of spices, with a squeeze of lime on top and maybe a cerveza on the side. Happy taco-ing!
To make Easy Vegan Jackfruit Tacos: First, you are going to need jackfruit. (I know, you're probably shocked). It's important that you find young green jackfruit in brine or in water, and not the sweet ripe kind in syrup. You can pick it up on Amazon, or check out any Asian grocery store.
For optimal texture, cut the jackfruit into thin slices from core to the outer edge as seen in the picture above. This breaks up the tougher core as much as possible and makes for the best shredded texture.
Do NOT discard the core or seeds, they are totally edible and you are just wasting precious jackfruit!
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add the onions and garlic and sauté for about 5 minutes until the onions have softened and begin to brown.
Add the chopped jackfruit, broth, agave, lime juice and all the spices to the pot and cover. Reduce heat and let it simmer until the jackfruit softens slightly, and about ½ of the liquid is absorbed. About 5 minutes.
Take a potato masher and smash all the jackfruit to get that shredded texture. Pretty cool huh? If you find it a bit wet, just cook a little longer. If you find it a little dry, just add a splash more vegetable broth.
To assemble the tacos, warm the taco shells according to the package directions. When warmed, add a scoop of the jackfruit, with the toppings and a squeeze of lime juice. OR you can top with whatever your favourite taco toppings are! I also love a squeeze of hot sauce. Omnomnom.
Takes just 25 minutes to whip up for a perfect weeknight meal. So delicious even meat eaters will love this!
- 2 20oz cans green jackfruit in water or brine , drained, rinsed, and chopped (see instructions)
- 1 tablespoon light oil (such as canola or vegetable)
- 1 yellow onion , sliced
- 4 cloves garlic , minced
- ½ cup vegetable broth or water
- 1 tablespoon agave
- ½ lime , juiced
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 8 taco shells , hard or soft (gluten-free if preferred)
- 1 avocado , sliced
- ¼ red onion , thinly sliced
- ¼ cup cilantro , roughly chopped
- lime wedges
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For optimal texture, cut the jackfruit into thin slices from core to the outer edge as seen in the pictures above in this post. This breaks up the tougher core as much as possible and makes for the best shredded texture. Do NOT discard the core or seeds, they are totally edible, and you are just wasting precious jackfruit!
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Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add the onions and garlic and sauté for about 5 minutes until the onions have softened and begin to brown.
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Add the chopped jackfruit, broth, agave, lime juice and all the spices to the pot and cover. Reduce heat and let it simmer until the jackfruit softens slightly, and about ½ of the liquid is absorbed. About 5 minutes.
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Now take a potato masher, and smash all the jackfruit up to get that shredded texture. If you find it a bit wet, just cook a little longer. If you find it a little dry, just add a splash more vegetable broth.
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Warm the taco shells according to the package directions. When warmed, add a scoop of the jackfruit, and top with an avocado slice, a couple red onion slices, some cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice. Or you can top with whatever your favourite taco toppings are! I also love a squeeze of hot sauce.
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @itdoesnttastelikechicken on Instagram and hashtag #itdoesnttastelikechicken.
Bon appetegan!
Sam.
Sam, you are an absolute genius. I am perusing all kinds of Internet places for years but you are THE BEST and the smartest of them all. All your recipes are great and my favourite. If there are any items readers cannot find in the regular grocery store, they should look in the Asian (Chinese, Thai, Indian). Only I never thought about looking for Jack Fruit there and just assumed that the readers who are using them must live somewherre where it is available. Now, I am so happy I too can make these meals. As soon as possible I will be on my way to buy some. Thank you so much for all your work.
I found your recipe after buying a tin of jackfruit (as we like to find new things to eat!) and then looking for a good way to use it! I'm glad we did as it was lovely! I acutally missed that it needed two tins and so like another person who commented I used one tin but did the rest the same. We just added some red and green peppers, a splash of chipotle chilli sauce and topped it with raw sheeps yoghurt. Great flavour and texture and one we will definitely be doing again.
I have never tried jackfruit tacos, but I had a can of jackfruit and made this for lunch. Yum, thank you! I threw in a can of black beans to sub for the other can of jackfruit, for some protein. I kept the spices the same, but honestly I'd add more next time. I like spicy! I omitted the agave and I'm glad I did because the jackfruit has a natural sweetness. Or maybe it's the brine I was tasting? I used Trader Joe's, and another reviewer commented on the briney taste. I still thought it was delicious though, and this is going into my rotation. Again with the black beans, as I think it makes a great taco filling. Too bad no one else in my family will eat this...I'll have to make us all watch the documentaries you recommend!
made the jackfruit tacos for dinner last night and they were delish! added shredded purple cabbage and thinly sliced red pepper, some guac and a little salsa! tasted better than any taco we've gotten out.
thanks for all the great recipes!!
Wonderful! You're most welcome, Susan 🙂
I am brand new to healthy eating. I LOVED THIS RECIPE!! I’m going to double it next time and use half for chili .
Flavor was amazing!!!
interesting.
I am Vietnamese, where I live a lot of jackfruit and I have never enjoyed this jackfruit tacos.
I will try it next time.
thank you
Can you use fresh Jackfruit? I live in Costa Rica, so its available year round. Just ask the farmer for a young one?
I'm sure you can, I've never had the pleasure of having a fresh jackfruit here in Canada 🙂
Enjoy!
This is such a good recipe! I've tried a whole bunch out but since finding yours about a year ago its my go-to for jackfruit tacos. Its super simple, fast and delicious 🙂
Aww yay!! SO happy to hear that, Shell 🙂
Oh my goodness this is satiating! I like spicy meals so I increased the chili powder, topped with a little red salsa, red onion, cilantro, avocado and jalapeno.
Wonderful!
I am going to use this recipe for tamale filling for our Christmas dinner. Can't wait!,
Wonderful recipe, I love how simple it was to make, I'm new to plant based eating and your recipes have helped so much, thank you!
You're most welcome 🙂
Instead of vegetable broth, I used a mild chunky pico de gallo salsa at the same measurement. I also used red onion instead of white with the jackfruit mixture. It added a more flavorful taste.
Sounds great!
Thank you!
Good afternoon, i can't find jackfruit in a can, would i be able to use the the fresh jackfruit to make the make the tacos??
I'm not lucky enough to have access to fresh jackfruit so I have never worked with it. If the jackfruit is young and green (and not ripe) then I imagine it should work just fine 🙂
Hi, I can't wait to try this and like all recipes, I'll tweek it to suit my taste, but I just have a question about the agave. What does this bring to the party and will it be critical if I leave it out?
A bit of sweetness. Skip if you prefer
What would you suggest to make it look more like shredded beef instead of chicken? I didn't eat anything with feathers even when I was a carnivore, and it may sound silly, but I don't think I could eat/enjoy anything that even LOOKED like chicken! 🙂 I know I could caramelize the onions a little more but not sure that would be enough. My mom always used Kitchen Bouquet to make gravy richer and darker, but since I've never used it, I wonder if it would make it too salty? Would dark soy sauce (omitting the agave and salt in the recipe) affect the taste? Can't wait to make this!
Hi Sheryl, you could try my pulled jackfruit instead which is darker in colour. Keep in mind it's just a fruit, so you don't have to compare it to meat. Enjoy!
This recipe is delicious! But I'm using half the amount of jackfruit called for, changing nothing else, and getting a good 4 servings (8 tacos) out of it. Also, canola oil, unless organic and cold pressed, is terrible for you, as is vegetable oil no matter how it is obtained. People who know this will of course sub a healthier oil, but for people who don't, I hate to see these oils suggested in recipes.
Glad you enjoyed! Actually, I would say no oil is a health food. Many people omit the oil in these types of recipes by simply doing water or broth sauté.
I had to laugh when you said don't throw out the cores or seeds because I already had! I just opened my first can of jackfruit half an hour ago and "cleaned" it all up as that's what I had seen in a different video! I thought what a sad waste..... It was practically half the can! But now I know to keep it in the future. I'm glad I watched your video! I'm looking very forward to finding out what jackfruit is all about
Thanks so much Wendy! Yes, it's such a waste, I'm really not sure why other people say to do that! I hope you have fun with jackfruit 🙂
great stuff , but super annoying video
thanks for recipe.
So don't watch my videos then, easy solution. Glad you enjoyed the recipe 🙂
I love the videos, stop being so mean, I have tried so many of your recipes and they are great, Thankyou Sam
You're most welcome, Susan. So glad you enjoy my content!
yaaaas hehe silly haters
Hi! We're not vegan but trying to cut down on meat consumption! I've been wanting to try jackfruit for awhile and we tried our very first recipe for supper last night! I'm amazed how close the look, color, and texture is to pulled pork!! We loved your recipe but we definitely needed to double the spices for a 30 oz. bag of jackfruit. I would actually triple the spice mix next time! I'm wondering if marinating the jackfruit overnight would also help with the flavour - any ideas? Thanks again and looking forward to more jackfruit recipes!!
Hi Erin, so happy you enjoyed! I am guessing the jackfruit you purchased isn't in brine like the canned version? If that's correct then that's likely the reason your jackfruit was lacking a little punch. Free free to adjust flavours as needed! 🙂
We just had this for dinner. The hubby and the four year old adore it, so it looks like it will be one of our regulars. Thanks!
Haha! Awesome! So happy everyone enjoyed it 🙂
Sam - sometimes you are a lifesaver at dinner time! If I've gotten lost in work and suddenly - what's for dinner??? I can always find a recipe of yours that is perfect for - what I might have left in the fridge! Tonight it was - ooops used most of the ingredients yesterday that I needed for what I had originally planned on for dinner tonight, and then saw a can of Jackfruit on my shelf. Jackfruit Tacos anyone! Thanks....
Aww that's awesome, Dan! So happy my recipes work so well for you 🙂
Hiii, this is amazing, you are amazing!!! Just bought your book, can't wait to make the goods! Request! Jackfruit Bao? To go with some Vegan Ramen 🙂 Thanks again for this amazing blog 😀
Aww thank you so much, Molly! Request noted 🙂 I hope you love the book 🙂
I cannot eat chili or paprika spices so what spices would you suggest using instead.
You can omit them and add more of the other spices to taste. Enjoy!
Thanks for makin my chosen life style easy for me as a new vegan. I like your style and energy
Thank you so much!
Can I use fresh jack fruit for this recipe? Would I need to change anything if so? Saw some fresh jack fruit at my local grocer and thought I’d try it but most recipes call for canned jack fruit!
I don't have the pleasure of having access to fresh jackfruit, so I have never worked with it. I imagine that as long it is a young green jackfruit (and not a fully ripe one) the recipe should work just fine. Enjoy!
You say 'don't waste the seeds & core' of the jackfruit - do you have any ideas/recipes for them?
Thank you!
Hi Eeka, you use the seeds and core in this recipe. Enjoy! 🙂
My family loves this meal, thank you! Just wondering if I can prep and then keep in the fridge to reheat later. How long would it last in the fridge do you think?
Thanks
Hi Nat, absolutely. The jackfruit should keep for 3 - 4 days when kept in an air-tight container in the fridge. Enjoy!
Made these for our end of Sabbath dinner the other night. They were SO DELICIOUS. We’re gonna start a new tradition thanks to you — Shabbat + Tacos = Shabbacos
Haha! Awesome! Happy Shabbacos!
Super tasty! My chili powder was spicier than I anticipated so I added a bit more maple syrup, which I used in place of the agave syrup.
I also did not have a potato masher, so I ended up breaking up the jackfruit with the back of a spatula. The texture was slightly mushier but it worked well enough, just in case anyone else was looking for alternative to the masher!
Wonderful! So happy you enjoyed it so much, Ean 🙂
Wow! So so good!!! My husband liked it too.
This was my first time with jackfruit, yikes! Thank you so much for the pictures and the YouTube video, you made it so easy! {clapping}
Thank you so much for making cooking fun again 😀
*For anyone nervous to try this meal - We have been meat eaters for 40 years and are jumping into a plant based diet. I promise it's good!
Haha! Awesome! So happy you enjoyed it so much, Valeen 🙂
try taking the jackfruit and putting in a food processor rather than using a potato masher. the results are pretty much the same but so much easier;
SO yummy! Omnivore hubby went back for seconds, and somehow I still had leftovers for lunch the next day (the flavors had melded even more, win!) Topped it with avocado, tomatoes from our garden, and the sour cream-ish recipe from your book, and added a side of veggie refried beans.
Looking forward to trying your BBQ Jackfruit recipe next. Oh, and those tofu bites you just posted. Om-nom!!
Woohoo!! So thrilled you are enjoying so many recipes, Karen 🙂
WOWZA! I made this for my kitten Taco’s 1st birthday celebration (this was for the humans, of course! I made her a kitten birthday cake 🙂 lol) I’m vegan and this is my first time cooking with jackfruit and this recipe was an absolute HIT! Thanks so much!
That's awesome!! So happy you loved it so much, Melissa. Happy birthday kitty 🙂
So easy, so delicious!
Awesome! Thrilled you enjoyed it!
Do you think you could use thawed frozen jackfruit?
I've never tried it before (I've never seen it for sale where I live), but I am sure it would work similarly. Enjoy!
Even though it’s not “young and green”??
Oh no, in that case it won't be the same. Ripe yellow jackfruit is very sweet and not as stringy. You want young green jackfruit to get the right flavours and texture.
Yesss! So cooking this tonight. Weirdly woke up with an urge for tacos and had recently made "aromatic crispy jackfruit pancakes" (amazing btw, am one by one converting the carnivores!). Gpogled "vegan tacos" and here you are again! I love your recipes and blog. Keep on spreading the food love!
Thank you so much, Sarah! Enjoy 🙂
My first time trying jack fruit and I loved it in this recipe. I'll be making this again and trying your jack fruit tacos too. Thank you for this great, easy recipe!
You're most welcome, Leanne! So happy you enjoyed it 🙂
Do you think I could do this in a crockpot? Would anything change?
I don't have a crockpot, so I am unsure, but it seems like it would work to me!
I scored jackfruit at our local Trader Joe’s. Their jackfruit is canned in brine, so I sought a way to reduce the vinegary taste. I rinsed and rinsed the jackfruit and even let it soak in wate for a little while - all to no avail. Even with your wonderful recipe, we still taste the briny flavor. Do you have any suggestions to reduce the briny flavor that is turning my husband against jackfruit? I suppose we can use a different brand, but the Trader Joe’s is so easy to find. (Wow, I sound like a whiner.)
Hi Juliann, that's too bad! The jackfruit I get is also in brine but it is a different brand and I can't say the taste bothers me. I would try adding a teaspoon or two of brown sugar to help cut the brininess. Hope that helps!
I made this last night for a family get together and it was amazing! I did add some salsa as it cooked. I think next time I'll spread it on a baking pan and broil it for a bit after it cooks. Looking forward to making it again!
Wonderful! So happy you enjoyed it, Nicole 🙂
These were great!!! Super easy for a weeknight meal for a mom who doesn’t have a lot of time to cook in the evenings. Served them as pictured with corn tortillas and added some salsa to top them off. Thanks!
You're most welcome! So happy you enjoyed them, Jillian 🙂
YAAAAASSS. yum. Simple and delicious. Nature is so cool.
Used maple syrup instead of agave for those wondering and it turned out delicious with corn tortillas.
Amazing! Love it 😀
Holy cow!!!! These were AMAZING. Hands down the best vegan meal I have ever made. I topped mine with tomato, bell pepper, onion, and homemade taco sauce. Wish I could share a picture. I love your recipes so much, thank you!
Woohoo!!!! So happy to hear that. You're most welcome, Kat. 😀
What would estimate the volume of jackfruit to be? I bought a big bag of jackfruit in water (and have never used the canned version), and I am trying to gauge how many cups of actual Jackfruit are in the 20 oz cans.
I'd say roughly 2 cups per 20 oz can. Enjoy!
I made these last night and yum! My husband who isn't vegan enjoyed them as well. Great texture and flavor. I topped mine with corn, guac, and cilantro.
Yay! So happy you enjoyed them!
I love your recipes so much! I have tried the Jackfruit barbecue and am going to the store today to buy ingredients for the Jackfruit tacos and spicy bean salad with Chipotle lime dressing! My husband, who is a meat lover, has been bragging that it is so good that he can't tell the difference from the real thing. he is even volunteering me to cook them for our friends and relatives! HAHA Guess I will have to stock up on Jackfruit! Thank you so much for your recipes! I have been vegetarian for almost a year and am delighted to find your web site,
My only question is that I can't seem to print out your recipes when I click on print?
Wow that's amazing! So happy you and your husband love my recipes so much, Nancy 🙂 Hmmm... not sure what's happening with the print button for you. I just tested it and it works well for me. Could you perhaps email a screenshot of what's going on for you and let me know what device you are using (mac, iphone, ipad, pc, etc.) and the browser (safari, chrome). [email protected]
Eating this right now, and I'm in love!! It is absolutely delicious!! Thanks for the great recipe 🙂
Woohoo! You're very welcome, Melissa. Thrilled you enjoy it.
Absolutely delicious!! Even my omnivore hubby loved them
Woohoo! Love it 😀
Really delicious! I topped it with pico de gallo, and it was fantastic. I did have to simmer my jackfruit longer than 5 minutes (maybe 20ish) though in order to get it to shred nicely. Thanks for the inspo!
So happy you loved it, Alexandra! Hmm... maybe different brands are a little tougher? Glad you enjoyed!
Sounds great! If I cant find agave, what can I use instead?
Your recipes are amazing Sam!! TY!
Thank you so much Gina! Maple syrup or corn syrup will work. Enjoy!
Looks wonderful! I make a very similar preparation, but I add a bit of chipotle chili. Not so much that it is face scorchingly hot, but enough that you get that smoky spicy flavor that is unique to chipotle. The photos are quite appetizing! Nice work!
Thanks so much, Matthew! Chipotles are awesome and would make a great addition!
Thank you for this recipe, my family loved it! It really was amazing!
My avocados weren't ripe so we had diced tomatoes and cucumbers, shredded lettuce and salsa. Thanks again!
PS I'm really impressed with all your recipes!
Thank you so much, Sara! So happy you are enjoying all my recipes so much. 😀