Best Taco Recipes - Cooking Light

John Autry

Ancho Chicken Tacos with Cilantro Slaw and Avocado Cream

With simple recipes for a weeknight meal and some fit for a more extravagant night of entertaining, tacos are just right for most any occasion. With a variety of ingredients to please any palate, these combinations are among Cooking Light's best, as decided by our readers.

First, we start off with an authentic Mexican-style taco. Bring this taste to your table by cooking the chicken in a mixture of ancho chili powder and cumin and serving over corn tortillas topped with slaw and avocado cream.

View Recipe: Ancho Chicken Tacos with Cilantro Slaw and Avocado Cream

Nina Choi

Tacos Al Pastor with Grilled Pineapple Salsa

These tacos have quite the kick with jalapeño, but the grilled pineapple salsa topping helps to cool them down. If you want to tame the spice, seed the jalapeño and chop it, or simply omit it.

View Recipe: Tacos Al Pastor with Grilled Pineapple Salsa

Levi Brown

Blackened Tilapia Baja Tacos

Blackening tilapia gives it a bold flavor, which is further enhanced with cilantro, lime, and avocado in a corn tortilla.

View Recipe: Blackened Tilapia Baja Tacos

Randy Mayor

Grilled Pork Tacos with Summer Corn and Nectarine Salsa

Embrace the warm summer weather and flavors by grilling the pork for these tacos, then adding a summer corn and nectarine salsa to the mix. Be sure to zest your lime before you slice and juice it.

View Recipe: Grilled Pork Tacos with Summer Corn and Nectarine Salsa

John Autry

Wild Mushroom, Flank Steak, and Poblano Tacos

This Tex-Mex favorite tastes as good as it looks. Please your family by letting everyone choose their own toppings to add to the tacos.

View Recipe: Wild Mushroom, Flank Steak, and Poblano Tacos Recipe

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Chicken Carne Asada Tacos with Pickled Onions

We replaced beef with seasoned chicken for a fresh take on this traditional Mexican dish.

View Recipe: Chicken Carne Asada Tacos with Pickled Onions

Randy Mayor

Fiesta Chicken Tacos with Mango and Jicama Salad

Add fresh fruits and vegetables to spicy chicken tacos for an inspired Mexican meal.

View Recipe: Fiesta Chicken Tacos with Mango and Jicama Salad

Tacos al Carbon

Although "al carbon" means to cook over charcoal, bring this dish indoors by sautéing steak, onions, and peppers to make a one-pan taco filling reminiscent of fajitas. The piquant flavors of lime and garlic in the dressing enhance almost anything, so feel free to substitute chicken, lamb, or shrimp for the beef.

View Recipe: Tacos al Carbon

Randy Mayor

Chipotle Shrimp Tacos

Shrimp is a fun twist on the traditional taco filling, and this recipe is great for a weeknight dinner or entertaining company. It only takes about 15 minutes and has a lot of flavor, as well as some heat from the chipotle chile powder. Serve with fresh orange sections.

View Recipe: Chipotle Shrimp Tacos

Randy Mayor

Lime-Cilantro Pork Tacos

These easy pork tacos get their fantastic flavor from lime juice, cilantro, and fresh jalapeño. Use the same pan to brown the pork and make the rave-worthy sauce.

View Recipe: Lime-Cilantro Pork Tacos

Jim Bathie

Spicy Turkey Soft Tacos

Turkey is a leaner alternative to ground beef, and gives a new taste and texture to what you expect in a taco filling. This recipe calls for making your own mole sauce, but don't let that intimidate you. It's easy to prepare and comes together in a flash. Be careful, though: the turkey will spatter from time to time in the pan during the browning process.

View Recipe: Spicy Turkey Soft Tacos

Karry Hosford

Tex-Mex Beef Tacos

Add some pizazz to traditional soft beef tacos by including corn kernels and black beans in the filling. They can also be served in crunchy corn taco shells.

View Recipe: Tex-Mex Beef Tacos

Lain Bagwell

Chipotle Pork Soft Tacos with Pineapple Salsa

Pork, a common taco filling throughout Latin America, takes well to spices. A slightly sweet fruit salsa helps balance the heat. Serve with lime wedges.

View Recipe: Chipotle Pork Soft Tacos with Pineapple Salsa

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Black Bean Tacos

Seitan has a neutral flavor and a chewy, meatlike texture. Look for it in the refrigerated sections of health food stores or Asian markets. It may also be labeled wheat gluten.

View Recipe: Black Bean Tacos