This vegan taco bowl is they perfect way to feed all types of eaters with one meal. It's easily customizable and can be prepped ahead!
This post was originally published on March 8, 2016.
We love tacos and sometimes we love taking those taco ingredients and putting them together in bowls. This is a way to create component meals, which are when you make a bunch of ingredients and allow everyone to put them together how they want! Win win for all.
In addition to being kid and parent friendly these bowls are healthy, delicious, and so easy to mix up to keep things interesting! Make them even easier by using pre-prepared fillings and toppings.
Ingredients
Although these taco bowls can be completely customized, here are our favorite filling options:
- Shredded cabbage
- Mexican rice
- Lentil walnut taco meat
- Black beans
- Avocado
- Salsa
- Spicy Cilantro Cream
How to Make a Vegan Taco Bowl
This meal is too easy to make! Here's what you need to do:
- Start by loading the bowl with rice, beans, taco meat, and cabbage.
- Add toppings and enjoy!
More filling and topping suggestions
Add extra flavor to your taco bowls or switch things up with other toppings! Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Jalapeño
- Cilantro
- Limes
- Tomatoes
- Bell Peppers
- Onions
- Corn
- Shredded cheese or cheese sauce
- Hot sauce
- Vegan Sour Cream
- Guacamole
- Pinto Beans
- Taco Seasoned Jackfruit
- Mushroom Carnitas
Tips and tricks
These vegan taco bowls are so simple to make, keep it extra easy with these suggestions:
- If you use the recipe for lentil walnut taco meat, it makes 4 cups and you only need ¼ cup. Either reduce the recipe, or make the whole recipe and use the rest for future meals.
- Keep the cook time short by having the fillings and toppings prepared in advance.
- Prep extra rice, beans, corn, veggies, etc. and use them to make more meals throughout the week. (Learn more tips on making component meals to keep your sanity!)
- Make it fun and family friendly by setting up a build your own taco bowl bar. This way everyone can fill their bowls with what they like.
Common Questions
Taco bowls also go by the names taco salad and burrito bowls. Whatever you call them, they're all delicious!
Anything that sounds good! Great options include rice, beans, corn, peppers, salsa, guacamole. See above for a complete list of options.
Add all the fillings to a bowl, load with toppings, and dig in with a fork!
More Vegan Mexican Food Recipes
If you're like us and can't get enough Mexican inspired food each week, try these additional plant based recipes:
- High Protein Mexican Pasta Salad
- Vegan Burritos
- Pozole Verde
- Vegan Birria Tacos
- Mexican Street Corn Salad
- Black Bean Enchiladas
- Crispy Potato Tacos
Vegan Taco Bowl Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups shredded cabbage
- 2 cups Mexican rice , or use any rice you prefer (use ready made for a fast meal)
- 1 cup lentil walnut taco meat , or any other taco meat you prefer (see note)
- 1 cup black beans , homemade or store bought
- 1 avocado
- ½ cup salsa
- ½ cup Spicy Cilantro Cream , or any other sauce you prefer (homemade or store bought)
To Serve (optional):
Instructions
- Build the taco bowls by putting the ¾ cup cabbage, ½ cup rice, and ¼ cup taco meat and ¼ cup beans at the bottom of each bowl.
- Top with ¼ the avocado, 2 tablespoons salsa, 2 tablespoons spicy cilantro cream and any other garnishes you prefer!
- Enjoy!
Notes
- My lentil walnut taco meat makes 4 cups, so you only need ¼ the recipe. Or make the whole thing and freeze for later use.
- You can adapt these to be whatever you prefer with the toppings and main ingredients.
- The time is for using frozen or ready made ingredients. If you make everything from scratch the total time will be about an hour.
- Nutrition facts are for the main ingredients only. They will change depending on what you use and top it with.
Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.
Nutrition
Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.
Vanessa @ VeganFamilyRecipes
Ok....first things first...THAT fork is AWESOME! It looks perfect in those pictures. Great branding 😉 And now for that stunning taco bowl. I love it! This is calling my name. I swear I could eat something like this every single day. Stumbling & Pinning cause I love it so much 😀
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Vanessa! I had the fork custom-made for the blog. I love it too! And thanks for your kind words about the recipe. I could totally eat this kind of thing every day too!
pragati
Those refried beans look super spicy! Love this colorful bowl. I wonder if avocadoes are cheaper in San Diego, or fresher.
veggiesdontbite
Avocados are definitely amazing where I love! Fallbrook is an avocado capital and I can drive there. SO good. We could live on them! Thanks so much!
The Vegan 8
Even though I just ate our Mexican bowls tonight for dinner, I could still totally devour yours next! They look totally awesome and I love that you added potatoes to it, major brownie points right there! And the more sauce, the better! I laughed out loud at your comment "little latin lovers" LMAO!!! So damn funny!
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Brandy! Yes potatoes were a must have since I base this off of a combination of some of our favorite tacos, one being my tacos with potatoes. Carbs upon more carbs right?! And once you eat this, you will become a Latin lover ?
Uma Srinivas
I love Mexican food. That to Taco salad is my favorite one! This looks delicious Sophia. Like to try!
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Uma! I love Mexican food too!
Sam | Ahead of Thyme
This sounds amazing! I can't wait to try this maybe tomorrow!! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
veggiesdontbite
Thank you Sam! Let me know if you give it a try. Such a yummy bowl of my favorite flavors!
Mel@avirtualvegan.com
I LOVE bowls of food and this one looks particularly good. There are so many great flavours. I love the sound of your garlicky lemon crema!
veggiesdontbite
Thank you Mel! I love all the different flavors! The crema is really garlicky and tangy and so good!
Linda @ Veganosity
Love me a Mexican taco bowl! I could eat two of those right now. I'm sooooo hangry.
That fork is awesome. 🙂
veggiesdontbite
Oh no! Hangry isn't good! LOL! Thanks so much! Isn't the fork adorable?!
Jenn
Yes, bowls are the best!! Totally customizable for each person. And who doesn't love a burrito bowl....yummy!
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Jenn! We love throwing together a bowl, many times out of laziness. LOL
Mandy
This bowl of deliciousness is so perfect!!! LOVE how colorful this is AND the double sauces (triple if you count the salsa)!!! YAY! What a fantastic combo of ingredients, too. I love that you used purple potatoes and avocado just makes everything better. Looks amazing, Sophia!! <3
veggiesdontbite
The more sauces the better! LOL! Yes, this was one that needed a few different sauces in my opinion. I just love the different flavors they each bring! Thanks so much Mandy!
Dana
Oh my gosh, I want that fork!
Also, this veg bowl looks absolutely divine. Would eat... all of it. (Probably all four.)
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Dana! I love the fork! Aly of For Such a Time Designs custom made it for me. And it's the perfect meal to use it to eat!
Mica @ Let's Taco Bout It Blog
Sophia,
I LOVE that cute spoon! Where did you get it? I'm digging your recipe bowls. I'm a huge fan since I'm always on the go and don't have time to cook for me and the Other Half. Saving this recipe and all of the others!
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Mica! Bowls are the best to leave for others for dinner. Easy to throw together once everything is prepped! I got my form custom made by Aly from For Such a Tine Design!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I love taco/burrito bowls...but I think I love your fork even more 😉 Haha!
veggiesdontbite
Ha! Thanks Rebecca! I got it custom made. You should get a fork, and use it to eat this bowl! Double the goodness!!
Danielle Omar -- Food Confidence RD
Love this gorgeous veggie bowl and especially love the cool fork! 🙂
veggiesdontbite
Thanks so much Danielle! I love my fork too, and the bowl!
Bella B (xoxoBella)
This looks delicious! I need to find a fork like that! I love it!
veggiesdontbite
Thanks Bella! The fork is custom made for me by For Such a Time Design!
Debi at Life Currents
This looks awesome! I love it! In fact, I9 might have to make this for lunch this week. Mexican is my favorite food and this has all the goodies in it!
veggiesdontbite
Thank you Debi! It's my favorite too and this is definitely loaded with all the goodies! Let me know if you try it!