Taco Recipes the Whole Family Will Love

Image: iStock

Is there any night that gets a bigger "yay" from the crowd than taco night?! Not in our household. Everyone adores taco night. The adults love the big flavors and the fact that tacos are incredibly easy and quick to make -- perfect for stressful, busy days and weeknights -- and the kids love the fact that they get to assemble their own plates (it's like a crafts project we can eat!) and eat with their hands. Of course, all of the recipes below can be adjusted to create taco bowls instead. 

These can be a less messy option, and if we opt to avoid using chips and rice, also low-carb. A good rice replacement, for those who are looking to cut out more carbs, can be quinoa -- or even just loading up on more veggies. Many of these recipes are authentic (yay for carne asada!) but we have plenty of vegetarian options and fun twists on the taco, as well. (We're a big fan of Korean tacos, for example -- love that bulgogi flavor). 

That said, taco night isn't the only night of the week that elicits plenty of joy from both parents and kids alike. We are a huge fan of other dinners kids can assemble themselves (a super-smart idea that brings the workload down for mom)! Other affordable family dinner recipes help those on a tight budget (so, y'know ... pretty much all of us). When it comes to making something impressive-ish for a birthday dinner or a get-together with other adults, we love turning to one-skillet dishes. They're super easy and require basically no cleanup! We also love main courses made with five ingredients or fewer for nights when anything more complicated than five ingredients seems literally impossible.  

With crowd-pleasing tacos, it's always helpful to have some variations on hand to keep those weekly taco nights from getting boring. Check out these recipes for inspiration to try new flavors and new twists on the old classic.

• Tacos Al Pastor

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  We love this authentic, classic tacos al pastor recipe. Al pastor is one of our favorite kinds of tacos, and it's a traditional Mexican dish. The pineapple juice and fresh chopped pineapple add so much brightness to the flavor of the spiced pork. 

• Tilapia Fish Tacos

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  Tilapia fish tacos are so delicious, and tilapia is a wonderful fish for tacos because it's so inexpensive, so mild, and cooks so quickly. We love this recipe because it's so easy and comes together in less than 20 minutes. 

• Chicken Tinga Tacos

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  This recipe for chicken tinga tacos isn't lying about its status -- these tacos are delicious! Spicy with that low, slow heat, flavorful, and easy enough for a weeknight dinner -- plus they're fairly healthy. 

• Buffalo Cauliflower Tacos With Avocado Crema

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  For anyone who loves buffalo wings but is trying to avoid eating plates of them for health reasons, these Buffalo cauliflower tacos with avocado crema absolutely scratch the itch of that craving, while being really good for us. 

• Authentic Carne Asada Tacos

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  What we love most about these authentic carne asada tacos is that the recipe is more of a suggestion than anything else. This resulting tacos are absolutely delicious, but the recipe it's also a great baseline to play off of. And it's easy to make on the grill, too

• Sweet Potato & Black Bean Tacos With Avocado-Pepita Dip

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  Ready for something absolutely amazing -- not to mention super nutritious? This recipe for sweet potato and black bean tacos with avocado-pepita dip is absolutely excellent ... and packed with vitamins and protein, too. 

•  Blackened Cod Fish Tacos With Sriracha Crema

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  This recipe for blackened cod fish tacos with sriracha crema yields the absolutely most delicious, spicy tacos -- so great with shredded purple cabbage. Skip the crema for anyone who doesn't like heat!

• Barbacoa Tacos

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  Barbacoa tacos are traditional in Mexico, and this recipe is authentic. But it's still a super easy recipe -- just marinate some beef, then dump it in the slow cooker with some extra ingredients! Absolutely yummy. Also great for taco bowls.  

• Sofritas Tacos With Sweet Cilantro Slaw

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  We've had a similar version at Chipotle before, but these sofritas tacos with sweet cilantro slaw are even better. We think the best part is the sweet cilantro slaw, which is delicious and only uses honey, no sugar. 

• Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

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  Slow cooker pork carnitas is one of the best fillings for tacos, and since it's made in the slow cooker, it's also one of the absolute easiest. Amazingly tender, falling apart, and packed with delicious flavor -- just top with great taco toppings like sliced fresh radishes and pickled red onion. 

• Ahi Tuna Tacos

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  These ahi tuna tacos are elevated enough for a dinner party, but easy enough to put together in 20 minutes. We love the flavors, but make sure to use top-quality tuna because it's not cooked all the way. 

• Korean Beef Tacos 

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  Korean beef tacos are made with incredible bulgogi steak, and are honestly one of those moments of cultural exchange in food that makes us happy we're alive in this day and age. What a great fusion cuisine treat, which arose organically in cities with thriving Mexican and Korean communities!

• Fish Taco Lettuce Wraps With Mango Salsa

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  These fish taco lettuce wraps with mango salsa are absolutely delicious, and they're also low-carb. For those looking to throw in some nights throughout the week with lower-calorie, healthier options, bookmark this recipe.

• Grilled Veggie Tacos With Chimichurri

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  We absolutely love the amazing flavor of the chimichurri sauce in this incredible recipe for grilled veggie tacos with chimichurri. The veggies suggested in the recipe work well, but it's OK to throw almost anything that sounds good on the grill, and it'll go great with this sauce. 

• Chorizo Tacos

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  We love chorizo more than almost anything, and we think this recipe for chorizo tacos is one of the best taco recipes we've ever enjoyed. They're so easy to make, and take so little time -- great for weeknights. 

• Grilled Shrimp Tacos With Avocado Salsa

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  These grilled shrimp tacos with avocado salsa are incredibly light and summery -- perfect for dinner in hot weather. The avocado salsa is sort of like a mix between salsa and guacamole, and it's incredible on chips, too. 

• Instant Pot Chicken Mole Tacos

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  So mole, with its deep chocolate notes, is one of our favorite things in Mexican cooking. It's not traditionally made for tacos, but sometimes, it's delicious to break tradition. This recipe for Instant Pot chicken mole tacos is a stunner -- and so fast! 

• Ground Beef Tacos

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  This recipe for ground beef tacos may not be authentic, but it's absolutely a great, easy weeknight meal, and it tastes delicious. Sub out the spice blend with a packet of "taco spice" to make the whole thing even simpler!

• Instant Pot Hawaiian Chicken Tacos With Jalapeño Ranch

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  This recipe for Instant Pot Hawaiian chicken tacos with jalapeño ranch is so incredibly tasty, and takes just 10 minutes of prep -- we love our multi cooker, and we especially love dinners that require as little as possible from us on weeknight

• Mushroom Tacos

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  With a texture similar to meat, portobello mushrooms make a smart vegetarian option on the taco bar! This recipe for The Best Mushroom Tacos lives up to its name. We're a fan of the big flavors and satisfying textures.