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    Home » All Recipes » Dinner

    Easy Vegan Jackfruit Tacos

    September 3, 2023 By Melissa Huggins / 20 Comments

    This post contains affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

    Jump to Recipe

    Taco night will never be the same with these mouth-watering Jackfruit Tacos. The texture of shredded jackfruit is the perfect replacement for traditional pork tacos. It will knock your socks off!

    closeup view of two jackfruit tacos on a white plate.

    Fruit as a replacement for taco meat - what kind of sorcery is this? I know it sounds completely nuts, but it's freaking delicious and the texture is spot-on! You've gotta trust me and give it a try.

    They are super easy to make, kid-friendly, and they will be on your table in 30 minutes! I love making them for Taco Tuesday with Loaded Vegan Nachos and Blood Orange Margaritas. They're always a hit!

    What is jackfruit?

    Jackfruit is a tropical fruit from Southeast Asia and it looks like a giant dinosaur fruit. Seriously, it's a super long, prickly, green monster! It’s one of the largest fruits on the planet and can reach up to 50 pounds. Totally Jurassic Park!

    It has a meaty, fibrous texture with large seeds throughout. The jackfruit tree can grow up to 150 jackfruits over two harvest seasons and all that fruit can feed an army.

    What does jackfruit taste like?

    When a jackfruit is fully ripened, it's very sweet and almost tastes like Juicy Fruit gum. It tastes wonderful when it's fresh, but it's really messy to cut, so I don't buy it often. You can find fresh or unripened jackfruit (young) in the can though.

    The unripened jackfruit is virtually tasteless and it has the ability to absorb lots of flavor from seasonings. Also, it has an uncanny resemblance and texture to shredded meat which makes it a great replacement for pulled pork, chicken, or fish recipes. When it cooks it will fall apart and shred, while absorbing all the goodness. You can also shred it beforehand to speed up the cooking process.

    For savory recipes, you need to buy canned young jackfruit in water or brine. Whatever you do, don't buy the jackfruit packed in syrup for this recipe. It won't be what you are expecting. If you can't find jackfruit in your local grocery store, you can find it in most Asian grocery stores or markets.

    How to make Jackfruit Tacos

    two process photos showing how to shred jackfruit in a food processor.

    Shred the jackfruit in a food processor by pulsing it a few times to get a "shredded meat" texture. Don't over pulse or it will be mushy.

    If you have a small food processor, you may need to work in batches. If you don't have a food processor, you can cut the jackfruit into thin slices and shred some by hand.

    six process photos showing how to cook filling in a pan.
    • Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until translucent.
    • Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant. Now add the tomato paste and cook for 30-60 seconds.
    • Add the shredded jackfruit and sauté for a few minutes. Now add the spices and sauté until fragrant.
    • Pour in the vegetable broth and simmer until it has cooked down completely. Taste for seasoning and add more if needed. Remove from heat.

    Warm up your corn tortillas one at a time in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook for 30 seconds on each side to soften.

    overhead view of two jackfruit tacos fully assembled on a plate.

    What can I serve with jackfruit tacos?

    The options are endless, but here are some of my favorites: Lime Wedges, Vegan Sour Cream, Fresh-Cut Cilantro, Sliced Green Onion, Hot Sauce, Salsa, Pico De Gallo, Sliced Radishes, Shredded Red Cabbage, Creamy Chipotle Sauce, or Guacamole.

    More 30-minute meals to enjoy

    • Vegan Pad Thai
    • One-Pot Basil and Tomato Orzo
    • Vegan Pineapple Fried Rice

    Did you make this recipe? Let me know what you think by leaving a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️  rating and sharing your feedback in the comment section below. It would make my day!

    ⭐️ Subscribe to the Vegan Huggs Newsletter and receive weekly recipes straight to your inbox! You'll also receive my FREE eCookbook featuring my top 10 recipes. 

    Recipe

    two jackfruit tacos on a white plate.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
    5 from 34 votes

    Jackfruit Carnitas Tacos

    Taco night will never be the same with these mouth-watering Jackfruit Tacos. The texture of shredded jackfruit is the perfect replacement for traditional pork tacos. It will knock your socks off!
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time15 minutes mins
    Total Time30 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Gluten-Free, Mexican-Inspired, Vegan
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 202kcal
    Author: Melissa Huggins

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons avocado oil (or preferred oil)
    • 1 small onion , finely diced
    • 3-4 cloves garlic , minced
    • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
    • 2 14-ounce cans young jackfruit in water or brine. Rinsed and drained well
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • 2 teaspoons chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt , more to taste
    • ¾ cup vegetable broth
    • 8 Corn tortillas

    Recommended Equipment

    • Food Processor (optional)
    • Large Skillet
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    Instructions

    • Start by shredding the jackfruit in a food processor. Pulse a few times to get a "shredded meat" texture. Don't over pulse or it will be mushy. If you have a small food processor, you may need to work in batches. If you don't have a food processor, you can cut the jackfruit into thin slices and shred some by hand. 
    • Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
    • Add the garlic and sauté for 30-60 seconds until fragrant. Now add the tomato paste and cook for 30-60 seconds more. 
    • Add the shredded jackfruit and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Now add the spices and sauté until fragrant about 1 minute. 
    • Pour in the vegetable broth and cook until the liquid has cooked down completely about 3-4 minutes. Taste for seasoning and add more if needed. Remove from heat. 
    • Warm up your corn tortillas one at a time in a large skillet over medium heat.  Cook for 30 seconds on each side. Now build tacos to your taste. See notes for serving ideas. Enjoy! 

    Notes

    Serving + Topping Ideas: Lime Wedges, Vegan Sour Cream, Fresh-Cut Cilantro, Sliced Green Onion, Hot Sauce, Sliced Radishes, Salsa, Pico De Gallo, Shredded Red Cabbage. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2Tacos | Calories: 202kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 232mg | Potassium: 249mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 605IU | Vitamin C: 2.9mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 1.5mg
    Tried this recipe?Follow me @veganhuggs and mention #veganhuggs!

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    About Melissa

    I’m Melissa Huggins – the creator of Vegan Huggs. I started this blog to share delicious vegan recipes that everyone will love. Yep, that includes carnivores, too! Read more...

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 34 votes (27 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Claudia Martinez

      June 03, 2024 at 5:03 pm

      5 stars
      It’s so good!

      Reply
      • Melissa Huggins

        August 02, 2024 at 11:47 am

        Hi Caludia, I'm so happy it was hit! Thank you for giving it a try. 🙂

        Reply
    2. Kaley

      July 27, 2023 at 3:03 pm

      5 stars
      First time having jackfruit! I can’t believe how good the texture is. So flavorful too. This is a keeper.

      Reply
      • Melissa Huggins

        July 31, 2023 at 12:40 pm

        Yes, jackfruit is so underrated. Glad you got to try using it, Kaley. 🙂

        Reply
    3. Emily Webber

      August 09, 2022 at 11:07 am

      5 stars
      These were FREAKING PHENOMENAL! I recently purchased a massive can (i.e., 6 pounds) of jackfruit and didn't want it all to be devoted to BBQ sandwiches (the only way I've had jackfruit up until now). That's when I found this recipe. I'm blown away! The seasonings you call for are exactly what I have in my kitchen - hooray for easy, common ingredients! When coupled with my own recipe for chipotle sauce + lettuce + tomatoes, the tacos were sublime! This is a new favorite! Thank you so much!

      Reply
      • Melissa Huggins

        August 12, 2022 at 9:22 am

        Hello Emily, you are welcome and I am glad you found this recipe! Jackfruits are so versatile and can be used in so many dishes, but this one is a family favorite too. 🙂

        Reply
        • Home

          August 16, 2022 at 7:31 pm

          5 stars
          This was amazing! My family asked for me to make it again soon. All the flavors worked beautifully well together. Thank you.

        • Melissa Huggins

          August 20, 2022 at 2:01 pm

          Glad to hear it, Home. 🙂 Thanks for giving it a try and for the great feedback.

    4. Lisa Ramirez

      May 06, 2021 at 7:07 pm

      5 stars
      just made this recipe but used fresh jackfruit ... the flavor was amazing

      Reply
      • Support @ Vegan Huggs

        May 07, 2021 at 8:49 am

        Hi Lisa! We are so happy to hear that you loved the tacos! Thanks so much for giving them a try 🙂

        Reply
    5. Patti

      March 14, 2021 at 2:11 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you! I made this for lunch today. My husband and I both really enjoyed the meal.

      Reply
      • Support @ Vegan Huggs

        March 26, 2021 at 7:25 am

        Hi Patti! We are so happy to hear that you both loved the recipe 🙂 Thanks so much for trying it out!

        Reply
    6. Cecilia Downey

      December 19, 2020 at 8:00 pm

      5 stars
      this is so good! first time working with jackfruit and it was way easier than I thought it would be. would absolutely recommend!

      Reply
      • Support @ Vegan Huggs

        December 26, 2020 at 12:13 pm

        Hi Cecilia! We are so happy to hear that you loved the recipe and found it easy to work with the jack fruit! Thanks for giving it a try 🙂

        Reply
    7. Cheryl

      August 07, 2017 at 7:53 am

      I love this recipe! I use it to make enchiladas instead of carnitas and I also add some chipotle for spice.thanks for a great recipe.

      Reply
      • Melissa Huggins

        August 07, 2017 at 3:09 pm

        Hi Cheryl, thank you for your feedback. I'm so happy it all worked out for you. I'm totally craving enchiladas now 🙂

        Reply
    8. Amber

      November 01, 2016 at 9:36 pm

      This is exactly the recipe I needed! Plant Food for People has a food truck that makes killer jackfruit tacos, but when I finally SAW a jackfruit in the market, I had no idea how to even begin working with it. I can't wait to try this recipe. Pinning it now...

      Reply
      • mhuggs

        November 05, 2016 at 5:44 pm

        Thank you, Amber! I was lost with jackfruit at first, too. It works well for so many recipes. I'm kind of addicted 🙂

        Reply
    9. Anna

      June 18, 2016 at 6:22 am

      This sounds and looks fantastic Melissa! I can't find it anywhere over here, but keep seeing it on other blogs, and it makes my mouth water! 🙂 I must search for it a bit harder 😉 xxx

      Reply
      • mhuggs

        June 21, 2016 at 8:38 pm

        Hi Anna, Thank you so much! It's such a great meat substitute and so versatile. Have you tried searching online? I rarely find it anywhere, except online or in Asian markets. Good luck on your search 😉

        Reply

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