15 Taco Recipes that Aren’t Ground Beef

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Ground beef isn’t the only way to make taco night happen. If you’ve got odds and ends in the fridge or just want something different, it’s worth having a few backup ideas. These taco recipes lean on what’s easy, flexible, and fast—without defaulting to the usual. They’re also useful when you want to cook around dietary preferences or stretch ingredients further. It’s still all about tacos, just with a smarter mix of what’s already on hand.

Blackened Fish Tacos

Six fish tacos topped with shredded cabbage, cilantro, and lime wedges are arranged in metal taco holders on a table.
Blackened Fish Tacos. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

Crispy edges, flaky fish, and a hit of heat make these tacos a bold pick for dinner. They’re fast to pull together and belong on any short list of taco recipes worth repeating.
Get the Recipe: Blackened Fish Tacos

Taco Potatoes

A blue plate with a hard shell taco filled with ground beef and cheese, served with cubed roasted potatoes and pinto beans.
Taco Potatoes. Photo credit: Ginger Casa.

Tacos meet baked potatoes in this clever weeknight fix. It’s a no-fuss move when you want the flavors of taco recipes without another night of tortillas.
Get the Recipe: Taco Potatoes

Applebee’s Wonton Chicken Tacos

A rectangular white plate with crispy wonton tacos filled with chicken, slaw, and herbs, garnished with sesame seeds and served with lime wedges.
Applebee’s Wonton Chicken Tacos. Photo credit: Call Me PMc.

Crunchy, sweet, and a little unexpected, these copycat tacos throw out the rulebook. They sneak into the taco recipes category with just enough flair to hold their ground.
Get the Recipe: Applebee’s Wonton Chicken Tacos

Easy Chicken Taco Skillet

A close-up of a skillet filled with cooked chicken pieces, melted cheese, diced avocado, red bell peppers, and chopped herbs.
Easy Chicken Taco Skillet. Photo credit: Fit as a Mama Bear.

No shells, no problem—just chicken, seasonings, and everything good in one pan. It’s the kind of taco recipe you keep on standby for low-effort nights.
Get the Recipe: Easy Chicken Taco Skillet

Mini Chicken Taco Cups

Mini tortilla cups filled with guacamole, sour cream, salsa, and chopped herbs, arranged on a tray with green and yellow chili peppers in the foreground.
Mini Chicken Taco Cups. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

These little guys bring big energy in a small shell. When taco recipes double as finger food, things get interesting fast.
Get the Recipe: Mini Chicken Taco Cups

Crock Pot Chicken Taco Soup

A bowl of chicken tortilla soup topped with shredded cheese and chopped green onions, served on a blue cloth with tortilla chips and a drink in the background.
Crock Pot Chicken Taco Soup. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

This one’s more spoon than shell, but the taco flavors show up in full force. Soup may not usually count, but taco recipes can bend the rules when they taste like this.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Chicken Taco Soup

Ground Pork Tacos

A taco on a white plate filled with ground meat, shredded cheese, chopped tomatoes, onions, purple cabbage, herbs, and lime. A red checkered cloth is to the side.
Ground Pork Tacos. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Pork doesn’t always get first dibs, but it knows how to work a tortilla. This one earns a spot in your go-to taco recipes just by being wildly underrated.
Get the Recipe: Ground Pork Tacos

Mexican Crockpot Chicken Tacos Recipe

A bowl of shredded chicken in sauce sits on a plate next to a taco filled with the chicken, chopped peppers, and herbs. Bowls of salsa and cilantro are nearby.
Mexican Crockpot Chicken Tacos Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Let the slow cooker do the heavy lifting while you forget you even planned dinner. Out of all the taco recipes that let you clock out early, this one’s a star.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Crockpot Chicken Tacos Recipe

Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos in Crock Pot

Two tacos filled with shredded meat, lettuce, diced tomatoes, and cheese on a white plate. Small bowls with sauce and a side dish are nearby on a speckled table.
Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos in Crock Pot. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Chicken so tender it basically shreds itself, all while you do anything but cook. If taco recipes had a vacation mode, this would be it.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos in Crock Pot

Easy Tofu Tacos Recipe with Cabbage Slaw and Avocado

Three tacos with grilled tortillas, red cabbage, cilantro, and sauce are served on a plate with a lime wedge.
Easy Tofu Tacos Recipe with Cabbage Slaw and Avocado. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Tofu keeps it light, while the slaw throws in some crunch and attitude. Not all taco recipes need meat to show up strong.
Get the Recipe: Easy Tofu Tacos Recipe with Cabbage Slaw and Avocado

Baja Fish Tacos

Two grilled fish tacos with lime wedges on a white plate, drizzled with white sauce and garnished with shredded vegetables.
Baja Fish Tacos. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

These bring the beach vibes without needing a sunburn. A little lime, a little crunch, and you’ve got one of the more fun taco recipes to mess with.
Get the Recipe: Baja Fish Tacos

Blackened Cod Tacos

Three grilled fish tacos topped with diced tomatoes, cucumber, and greens on a pink tile surface, with lime and tortilla chips nearby.
Blackened Cod Tacos. Photo credit: Two Cloves Kitchen.

A smoky sear and some bold seasoning push these tacos into repeat territory. Among taco recipes, this one’s proof that fish doesn’t have to play it safe.
Get the Recipe: Blackened Cod Tacos

Grilled Rockfish Tacos

Three fish tacos with shredded cabbage and cheese are arranged on a slate plate, surrounded by fresh cilantro, mango salsa, shredded cheese, and extra cabbage in bowls.
Grilled Rockfish Tacos. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Rockfish hits the grill while the toppings keep things fresh and fast. If you’re browsing taco recipes for something that tastes like it knows what it’s doing, this one clears the bar.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Rockfish Tacos

Crock Pot Chicken Tacos Recipe

Three tacos filled with shredded chicken, sliced avocado, cherry tomatoes, lime wedges, and cilantro on a white plate.
Crock Pot Chicken Tacos Recipe. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Chicken plus slow cooker equals very little effort and a whole lot of flavor. For taco recipes that make themselves, this one’s at the front of the pack.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Chicken Tacos Recipe

Crispy Potato Tacos with Sweet Potatoes

Two tacos filled with spiced chicken, red cabbage, and topped with green onions and cilantro, served with a side of dipping sauce and a mason jar drink.
Crispy Potato Tacos with Sweet Potatoes. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

When plain tacos feel boring, these crispy guys step in with crunch and a hint of sweet. They earn their spot on your taco recipes list without trying to act like something they’re not.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Potato Tacos with Sweet Potatoes

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