Whether they’re from a truck, a drive-thru, or your favorite Mexican restaurant, tacos undeniably make a delicious cheat meal. Of course, you also have the option of making your own version of this popular south-of-the-border food. It’s simple, quick, and gives you the power to keep it diet-friendly.
If you’re not sure how to go about preparing tacos that are both delicious and healthy, we’ve got you covered with some of our faves.
Check ’em all out, and try the one that best suits your tastebuds.
10 Tasty, Diet-Friendly Taco Recipes
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Travis Rathbone
Shrimp Tacos With Jicama Shells
These customizable, seriously low-carb shrimp tacos are the perfect summer meal. For the recipe, cooking instructions, and macro count, click here.
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Sam Kaplan / M+F Magazine
Steak Fajita Taco With Avocado Crema
Make this for a healthy taco night meal. Remember, spread meats in a single layer in your pan and let sear undisturbed for about a minute. This promotes caramelization (yum!) and reduces sticking.For the recipe, cooking instructions, and macro count, click here.
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Andrew Purcell
Vegetarian Tofu Taco
Thanks to its meaty texture and deep flavor, smoked tofu is a welcome new twist on this vegetarian staple. With about 25g of protein in a 3-oz serving, smoked tofu is no lightweight in the protein department: Researchers at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, found that soy protein was just as effective as casein protein in preventing muscle breakdown and stimulating muscle-protein synthesis.For the recipe, cooking instructions, and macro count, click here.
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M+F Magazine
Mini Steak Tacos in Lettuce Cups
If you’re watching your carbs, here’s an easy, quick recipe that’s perfect for dinner, complete with a zesty avocado salsa to match. And yes, you can still call them tacos without the tortilla.For the recipe, cooking instructions, and macro count, click here.
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M+F Magazine
Cajun Catfish Taco
Chef’s tip: A lot of fish tacos have a mayo-based sauce; this is more like a vinaigrette, which has a cleaner taste and is much healthier.For the recipe, cooking instructions, and macro count, click here.
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Renee Comet / Getty
Mexican Chicken and Black Bean Taco
Slow-cooker chicken tastes unbelievably delicious, especially in tacos filled with spinach, beans, salsa, and cheese. Tease your Insta followers by taking a pic that’ll make ’em drool.For the recipe, cooking instructions, and macro count, click here.
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TheCrimsonMonkey / Getty
Asian-inspired Fish Taco
It’s no wonder fish tacos are so popular; they’re versatile, nutritious, easy to make, and you can eat them with your hands. What’s not to love? My recipe features mahi-mahi. Just about any fish will work, but I like mahi-mahi because it has a firm, yet flaky, white flesh and sweet flavor. You can grill the fish, but preparing it in the oven on a nonstick sheet, as we do here, is easy and you don’t have to worry about the fish sticking or falling apart. Using a nonstick sheet also means you don’t have to use any extra oil, which will cut back on the calories. Enjoy.For the recipe, cooking instructions, and macro count, click here.
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Nick Ferrari / M+F Magazine
Protein-Packed Egg and Bean Breakfast Tacos
Generally you don’t think of tacos as breakfast food, but this avocado, and tomato filled taco is doing it’s best job to change your mine. Not only is this taco filling, but it also backs a solid amount of protein with a plentiful flavor. For the recipe, cooking instructions, and macro count, click here.
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Christopher Testani / M+F Magazine
Beer-Braised Chicken Tacos
Beer is awash in antioxidants, the compounds that help annihilate potentially harmful free radicals in the body, so don’t feel guilty about throwing a little extra brew in the skillet.For the recipe, cooking instructions, and macro count, click here.
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LauriPatterson / Getty
South-of-the-Border Chicken Tacos
This simple, yet more macro-friendly take on classic tacos couldn’t be quicker to assemble.For the recipe, cooking instructions, and macro count, click here.
These customizable, seriously low-carb shrimp tacos are the perfect summer meal.
For the recipe, cooking instructions, and macro count, click here.
Steak Fajita Taco With Avocado Crema
Make this for a healthy taco night meal. Remember, spread meats in a single layer in your pan and let sear undisturbed for about a minute. This promotes caramelization (yum!) and reduces sticking.
For the recipe, cooking instructions, and macro count, click here.
Vegetarian Tofu Taco
Thanks to its meaty texture and deep flavor, smoked tofu is a welcome new twist on this vegetarian staple. With about 25g of protein in a 3-oz serving, smoked tofu is no lightweight in the protein department: Researchers at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, found that soy protein was just as effective as casein protein in preventing muscle breakdown and stimulating muscle-protein synthesis.
For the recipe, cooking instructions, and macro count, click here.
Mini Steak Tacos in Lettuce Cups
If you’re watching your carbs, here’s an easy, quick recipe that’s perfect for dinner, complete with a zesty avocado salsa to match. And yes, you can still call them tacos without the tortilla.
For the recipe, cooking instructions, and macro count, click here.
Cajun Catfish Taco
Chef’s tip: A lot of fish tacos have a mayo-based sauce; this is more like a vinaigrette, which has a cleaner taste and is much healthier.
For the recipe, cooking instructions, and macro count, click here.
Mexican Chicken and Black Bean Taco
Slow-cooker chicken tastes unbelievably delicious, especially in tacos filled with spinach, beans, salsa, and cheese. Tease your Insta followers by taking a pic that’ll make ’em drool.
For the recipe, cooking instructions, and macro count, click here.
Asian-inspired Fish Taco
It’s no wonder fish tacos are so popular; they’re versatile, nutritious, easy to make, and you can eat them with your hands. What’s not to love? My recipe features mahi-mahi. Just about any fish will work, but I like mahi-mahi because it has a firm, yet flaky, white flesh and sweet flavor. You can grill the fish, but preparing it in the oven on a nonstick sheet, as we do here, is easy and you don’t have to worry about the fish sticking or falling apart. Using a nonstick sheet also means you don’t have to use any extra oil, which will cut back on the calories. Enjoy.
For the recipe, cooking instructions, and macro count, click here.
Protein-Packed Egg and Bean Breakfast Tacos
Generally you don’t think of tacos as breakfast food, but this avocado, and tomato filled taco is doing it’s best job to change your mine. Not only is this taco filling, but it also backs a solid amount of protein with a plentiful flavor.
For the recipe, cooking instructions, and macro count, click here.
Beer-Braised Chicken Tacos
Beer is awash in antioxidants, the compounds that help annihilate potentially harmful free radicals in the body, so don’t feel guilty about throwing a little extra brew in the skillet.
For the recipe, cooking instructions, and macro count, click here.
South-of-the-Border Chicken Tacos
This simple, yet more macro-friendly take on classic tacos couldn’t be quicker to assemble.
For the recipe, cooking instructions, and macro count, click here.
