These hearty quinoa and black bean tacos are seasoned to perfection for a plant-based meal that is deliciously satisfying. Try this tasty recipe for your next taco night!

quinoa and black bean tacos
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Why I Love This Recipe

I’m always looking for new things to add to my tacos. When I realized I didn’t have a quinoa taco recipe on the blog, I knew I needed to change that. I love the texture of quinoa, and it was so good in my quinoa taco skillet, I knew I needed to create a taco filling that would let the quinoa shine! This recipe does require a few steps, but it’s worth the effort! I’ve also provided shortcuts if you need to get dinner together faster.

Quinoa Tacos ingredients

Ingredients and Substitutions

  • Quinoaโ€“ While quinoa is technically a seed, it cooks like a grain! Itโ€™s similar to rice and it makes a great base for the taco filling.
  • Tomato paste– This adds an umami flavor to the quinoa, which helps to make this meatless meal extra satisfying.
  • Vegetable broth– I prefer a chicken-style broth like Edward & Son’s “not chicken” broth. But any vegetable broth is fine.
  • Garlic– I used fresh garlic but you can substitute with garlic powder if necessary.
  • Cumin– A little cumin adds a warm, earthy flavor to the quinoa.
  • Salsaโ€“ I like using a chunky tomato salsa in this recipe. Feel free to grab a medium or spicy salsa for more heat!
  • Black Beansโ€“ These add plenty of protein and fiber to make these tacos extra filling.
  • Nutritional yeast– This adds a savory, slightly cheesy flavor, but it’s completely vegan.
  • Tortillas– I used flour street taco sized tortillas, but you can use any taco shells you like.
  • Toppingsโ€“ My favorites are avocado, extra salsa, fresh cilantro, and/or diced red onion.

What is quinoa?

Quinoa is technically a seed, but it cooks like a grain. Quinoa has a light, fluffy texture when cooked, similar to rice. Quinoa is available in a range of colors, including: white, red, and tri-color, and can be found in most supermarkets and health food stores, near the rice. It’s gluten- free and it’s a good source of protein and fiber. For more information, check out this post about quinoa.

What is nutritional yeast?

Nutritional yeast is a type of deactivated yeast that is often used as a condiment or seasoning. It’s unique because it has a cheese-like flavor but it’s plant-based. Nutritional yeast is a good source of protein, fiber, and vitamins, especially B-complex vitamins, which are essential for energy, metabolism and a healthy nervous system. You can find it at most grocery stores in the health food section. You can even find it at Trader Joe’s and Amazon. For more ways to use it, check out my post about nutritional yeast.

How to Make Quinoa and Black Bean Tacos