Delicious, fast, easy, cheap, and vegan! Everything about these easy TVP tacos speaks to my soul. Just 15 minutes to whip up this amazingly delicious and meaty taco filling. Top with your favorite taco toppings for a super easy dinner or lunch. YUM!
TVP (also called textured vegetable protein), is an affordable vegan meat alternative made from soy. Jess, who has worked with me for years, has been pushing me to make a recipe with TVP. I finally listened to her and tried it out. My god, she was so right. Thanks Jess!!
TVP is SO quick and easy to work with, and just like tofu or soy curls, it's very bland in flavor (which is a good thing) as it makes the perfect base to suck up any seasoning you toss its way. As soon as I tested out the TVP I knew I immediately wanted to make vegan taco meat with it as it has the perfect texture, and when seasoned correctly tastes just like ground beef tacos- but better!
These tacos are so good, Adam and I have had them multiple times this week already. Whip up these easy TVP tacos, and serve them with your favorite taco toppings, such as salsa, vegan sour cream, guacamole, vegan shredded cheese, chopped cilantro, chopped tomato, chopped onion, sliced avocado, or shredded lettuce. These are going to be your new favorite!
Common Questions:
What is TVP?
TVP is the short form for Textured Vegetable Protein. TVP contains just one ingredient: soy flour. TVP is most commonly found in granules as I use in this recipe, but you can also find it in large pieces such as chunks, slices, and strips. TVP is very affordable and shelf-stable so it's a great food to keep in your pantry at all times.
Where can I get TVP?
You may be able to find it in your grocery store in the health food section. Or you can find it at health food stores, international grocery stores, or you can order it online on amazon.
Does TVP need to be soaked?
TVP comes dehydrated so you need to add moisture. Some recipes call for soaking it ahead of time, but in this taco recipe, I found it quickest and easiest to add the dry TVP to the pan along with vegetable broth and allow it to soften and absorb the extra flavors right in the pan.
Is TVP high in carbs? Is it high in protein?
It's very low in carbs with only 9g of carbohydrates per ¼ cup of dry TVP granules. It's low in fat and very high in protein. So a great food for my vegan athletic friends!
How to make Easy TVP Tacos:
Heat the oil in a large skillet or non-stick frying pan. When hot add the onion and garlic and sauté until the onion turns translucent and just begins to brown, about 5 minutes.
Mix in the vegetable broth, TVP, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, cayenne, and salt.
Bring to a simmer and cook for about 5 minutes until the vegetable broth has absorbed and the TVP is tender and chewy. If it gets a bit dry just add a splash more vegetable broth. Or if it is too wet continue to simmer a little longer until the vegetable broth is absorbed.
Spoon into tortilla shells, and decorate with your favorite toppings. Enjoy!
These TVP Tacos are:
- Meaty
- Bursting with spices
- Chewy and tender
- Protein-packed
- Super quick and easy to make
More delicious vegan taco recipes you might enjoy:
Tofu Taco Crumbles
Easy Soy Curl Tacos
Easy Vegan Jackfruit Tacos
Lentil Tacos with Avocado Cilantro Sauce
If you try this recipe let us know by leaving a comment, rating it, and don't forget to tag @itdoesnttastelikechicken on Instagram.
Bon appetegan!
Sam Turnbull.
(click stars to vote)
Easy TVP Tacos (vegan!)
Servings: (makes enough filling for 6 - 8 tacos)
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Ingredients
For the TVP
- 1 tablespoon light oil, (such as canola or vegetable)
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
- 1 ¼ cups vegetable broth or vegan beefless broth
- 1 cup dry TVP granules, (textured vegetable protein)
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ⅛ - ¼ teaspoon cayenne, optional for spice
- ¼ teaspoon salt, (or to taste)
For the tacos:
- 8 small tortillas, (flour, corn, or gluten-free)
- Toppings of choice such as: salsa, vegan sour cream, guacamole, vegan shredded cheese, chopped cilantro, chopped tomato, chopped onion, sliced avocado, or shredded lettuce.
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large skillet or non-stick frying pan. When hot add the onion and garlic and sauté until the onion turns translucent and just begins to brown, about 5 minutes.
- Mix in the vegetable broth, TVP, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, cayenne, and salt. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 5 minutes until the vegetable broth has absorbed and the TVP is tender and chewy. If it gets a bit dry just add a splash more vegetable broth. Or if it is too wet continue to simmer a little longer until the vegetable broth is absorbed.
- Spoon into tortilla shells, and decorate with your favorite toppings. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
More meaty vegan recipes you might enjoy...
Betsy says
Delicious and so easy! I replaced the spices with 3 tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning for plenty of flavor. I made the broth with 1¼ cups water and 3 teaspoons of McKay's Beef Style Seasoning. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe!
Sara says
This recipe worked out perfectly, was easy, and was my first TVP experience. Now I'm just looking for more ways to use it. Yum!
Dani says
Another winner! I love when I type in something to cook like tvp tacos and you pop up! I know it's going to be a good dinner! thank you for making delicious recipes and so easy!
Jess @ IDTLC Support says
So kind! We're so happy to hear it!
Carol Salyers says
I have experimented a bit with vegan taco meat, especially when I realized how easy it is to use TVP. This recipe was great and I will make this a go-to recipe. I had a pack of low-sodium taco seasoning that I really shouldn't be using anyway, but I used your spices instead. No more seasoning packs for me, either. I actually only used the TVP part of the recipe because I was making more of a taco bowl last night. Now, to see if I can save this recipe!
Jess @ IDTLC Support says
Fantastic! Yes, TVP and spices are a plan for success!
Dena Swinson says
First time trying TVP and we are hooked! Pretty sure I could eat these tacos 5 nights a week. Thank you for all of your amazing recipes - I’ve made several now and we love them all.
Jess @ IDTLC Support says
Yes!! That's amazing and we're so thrilled you liked them!
Jenn says
Been a vegan for 20 years and only just starting to experiment with TVP.
This has been my go-to taco recipe for the summer! So easy and tasty! (And my non-vegan friends like it, too!)
Thank you!
Christy says
Great recipe! This was my first time to cook with TVP and I have to admit I was little skeptical. But, everybody enjoyed it. I added quite a bit more seasonings, but that was just a matter of personal taste. I liked how easy and convenient it was. And mostly I liked how I felt good after I ate it. It seemed "clean"--no overload of sodium (used low-sodium veggie broth) or other highly processed junk. Thank you!
Jess @ IDTLC Support says
That's great to hear!
Alex says
Made these for the first time and they were a hit. My first time cooking with TVP too. My eldest child is generally sceptical about my non-meat-meat attempts, but the first thing she said when I placed the filling on the table was “This smells like I might actually like it”. When she went back for a second helping with an “I can’t believe I’m doing this, can you believe it?!”, the verdict was clear. High praise, albeit challenging to interpret. The rest of us really enjoyed it as well 🙂 I added a healthy tablespoon of nutritional yeast for some vitamin B, but otherwise followed the recipe. Thank you!
Jess @ IDTLC Support says
That's fantastic!
LW says
Oh my stars!!! This is a wonderful recipe. Made these for lunch today and even my carnivore husband loved them.
A thousand thank you’s…
Jess @ IDTLC Support says
We're so happy for your review!
Jenn Bartlett says
Sam, these were so easy and SO DELICIOUS. I followed the recipe exactly. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. This was my first time using TVP. I was scared of it (how ridiculous is that??) but not anymore! My kids loved them too! (Big hit!) I look forward to trying more of your recipes!
Jess @ IDTLC Support says
Yay! We're so glad you like TVP now!
Carrie F says
Fantastic! Used an un-chicken broth, and made a cashew lime crema to add on with the usual toppings. Really great recipe. Perfect proportions. We doubled it for leftovers, can't wait to have them.
Kristine says
This recipe is BOMB! I love taco salad for lunch and I usually use a meat substitute and a packaged taco seasoning but this was so much cheaper and healthier and tastes amazing. Adding this into the weekly rotation! So good!
Sam Turnbull says
Haha awesome!!! So happy you loved it! 🙂
Danielle says
Not bad. I found it needed 1 tbsp tomato paste, 2 tbsp soy sauce and a dash of Maggi seasoning to make it more beef-like (could use some red wine but I didn't have any). I used a mushroom broth base as well.
I added more chili seasoning and cayenne and topped it off with a bit of lime juice.
Heidi says
This was a delicious recipe! Can you come up with a vegan white queso dip that is nut free? You are so clever with creating such great recipes. I recently bought 2 of your books and consider you to be one of the best vegan cooks out there!!
Sam Turnbull says
Aww thank you Heidi, here is a nut free cheese sauce, it's not white but it's tasty!
Joanne Johnson says
We are enjoying tacos on a weekly basis with this recipe!
Sam Turnbull says
Yay!! Happy to hear you love them 🙂
Brenda says
Gotta be honest, it blows my mind a little that this is the first time you've had TVP, as my extremely not-vegan self has eaten it (especially in tacos) many times. It's been my standard go-to for replacing ground meat for years, and I still keep a stash of it in the pantry, even though I mostly use the soy curl shards/crumbs left at the bottom of a bag these days!
Be interested to see what else you come up with now!
Sam Turnbull says
Thank you Brenda! My grocery store only recently started selling it!
Brenda says
Well I suppose that's a good reason!
Susan says
Thank you, Sam, for the great recipe for TVP tacos! So quick and delicious. In the past I haven’t cared for TVP because I found the texture to be spongy but your taco filling was not. I’m hoping you develop more recipes that use TVP because you are a genius!!
Sam Turnbull says
Aww thanks Susan! And I agree, TVP can be spongey, technique and measurements are important! 🙂
Kim says
I love how quick and simple this recipe is, without sacrificing flavor! Thank you so much for this!
Sam Turnbull says
You're most welcome Kim!
Holly says
Please help me with a TVP problem! I threw some TVP chunks directly into a brothy soup I was making and the final result was DISGUSTING. They came out like mushy, flabby globs of chicken fat. Gross!
What's the trick to keeping them meaty in "wet" recipes? Would rehydrating and squeezing them first work, or would they just go flabby again once added to the soup? What about rehydrating, squeezing, and then frying or baking them before tossing into the soup? Or does TVP just always turn to mush if the recipe is wet?
Sam Turnbull says
I haven't worked with the TVP chunks much yet, but my guess is that they work similarly to soy curls. So I would recommend trying one of my soy curl recipes but use your TVP chunks. You can see the recipes here. 🙂
Cal says
I've been making taco "meat" with TVP for years. In fact, I suggested it to you when you first introduced your TOFU Crumbles. TVP is a quicker and easier method. I'm pleased your were finally convinced to try it.
Sam Turnbull says
Haha! I was! More TVP recipes to come 🙂
Susan says
Awesome that there are more TVP recipes to come!
Sam Turnbull says
Yes! Working on one now 🙂