Crispy Chickpea Tacos

Mmmmm…tacos, am I right? At my house, tacos are never just for Tuesdays. I love a good taco, but even more, I love a good veggie taco. That’s where my new recipe for Spicy Vegan Chickpea Tacos comes into play. Perfectly seasoned and lightly roasted, chickpeas are the taco filling you never knew you needed in your life. Until now.

Chickpeas are a great source of plant-based protein with 6 grams per every 1/2 cup. They are a budget-friendly option too. You can get a can of chickpeas for under $1 at most grocery stores! They crisp up perfectly for this recipe and are a great vessel for flavor-packed seasoning.

Table of Contents

1. Ingredients for Chickpea Tacos
2. Toppings
3. How to Make Vegan Chickpea Tacos
4. Chickpea Taco FAQs
5. More Plant-Based Taco Recipes:
6. Spicy Chickpea Tacos Recipe

Ingredients for Chickpea Tacos

The filling part of these tacos is pretty simple so you can go crazy with toppings. Here’s what I’m putting together for my vegan chickpea tacos:

• Corn tortillas: Gluten bloats my belly and contributes to inflammation in my body, so I eat it sparingly. Corn tortillas are perfect for this recipe, just make sure you warm them up slightly so they don’t crumble on you.
• Canned chickpeas: Chickpeas are the main protein on this plate and I show you how to crisp them up to perfection.
• Yellow onion: This is my go-to type of onion to cook with. It’s fragrant without overpowering a dish and inexpensive to buy. Feel free to use the onion of your choice.
• Avocado oil: Since we are roasting the chickpeas, a high-heat oil like avocado oil is a great choice.
• Lime juice: A little citrus juice beautifully brightens up the chickpeas nicely.
• Maple Syrup: I love mixing sweetness and heat and the small amount of maple syrup does just that!
• Taco seasoning: Use the recipe below or grab the store-bought or homemade taco seasoning mix of your choice for the ultimate flavor.

Toppings

Now for the fun part: toppings. You can keep it totally fresh and simple with diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, avocados and diced or pickled jalapeños or you can get creative with some plant-based toppings like vegan cheese sprinkle, cashew cream and vegan avocado crema.

Keeping these tacos plant-based even in the toppings will still taste AH-mazing, it will also deliver more nutrients like protein and healthy fats in a way that doesn’t sit heavy in your tummy but instead turns into usable energy.

Vegan Taco ‘Meat’ Options

I honestly don’t miss the meat in vegan tacos that are loaded with other textures, proteins and all-out delicious ingredients. My favorite veggie taco fillings include chickpeas, cauliflower and sweet potatoes, roasted butternut squash and potatoes.

If I want a more ‘meat-like’ texture then I turn to this incredible walnut taco meat or some savory jackfruit BBQ. These are both great options for those still wanting the taste and feel of a traditional taco filling yet are adventurous enough to try it vegan.

Honestly, toss some taco seasoning on any veggies and you’ve got a great taco filling!

How to Make Vegan Chickpea Tacos

This recipe focuses on the crispy chickpeas and lets you guide the toppings you want.

1. Make sure those canned chickpeas are rinsed and drained well before putting them in a bowl. Combine with the diced onion, avocado oil, lime juice, maple syrup and seasoning mixture. Toss well to coat every last chickpea. We don’t want any of them to feel left out! A good coating will also ensure they crisp to perfection in the oven.
2. Pour out the coated chickpeas onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and try to spread them out as evenly as possible before sticking them in the oven.
3. Roast the chickpeas until they are a lovely golden color and crunchy. They will feel super light and have a chip-like crunch when you test them. Drizzle with just a bit more oil and evenly coat again to help them not dry out too much.

While the chickpeas are roasting, warm up the corn tortillas in whichever way you prefer. My mom likes to stick them between paper towels and microwave them while I prefer a dot of oil in a cast iron skillet and almost ‘searing’ them on both sides.

Once your chickpeas are done you can toss them into the warmed shells and serve them with all the fresh toppings you want.

Chickpea Taco FAQs

More Plant-Based Taco Recipes:

Tacos are my jam! So I’ve got several recipes to share that are oh-so-tasty as well as meatless. Feel free to add meat if you want, yet they are all pretty scrumptious without it.

• Healthy Taco Salad: This lovely salad can be served ‘salad bar’ style so everyone can get exactly what they want.
• BBQ Jackfruit Tacos: Jackfruit is a unique ingredient that is fabulous on tacos!
• Spiralized Taco Salad: This fun taco salad uses sweet potato ‘swoodles’ and is seriously good.
• Austinite Tacos: These tacos were inspired by a trip to Austin, TX and are my go-to for a flavorfully filling taco night.
• Tacos de Papa: This Mexican-inspired recipe is so fun to enjoy as an entree or a passable appetizer.

Don’t forget to leave a rating and review after you try this recipe. These reviews help me and other members of our community out so much!