You won’t believe the flavor in these fast and easy egg tacos! The vegetarian “taco meat” filling works for any meal of the day.
Looking for a 5-minute breakfast idea, an easy lunch, or a fast and easy dinner? Well, here’s a recipe that’s all three at once. (Audible gasp.) Meet these amazing egg tacos! This is one of our favorite kitchen tricks of all time. We created it as a dare from my sister to create a dinner recipe that can be made in 5 minutes. Sounds impossible, but it works!
Did you know that eggs can taste like taco meat? Yes, somehow the spiced scrambled eggs filling channels the flavor of taco meat. Alex and I have used this trick over and over to get fast dinners on the table, and our kids love it! It works for easy breakfasts or lunch ideas, too. This one’s in our arsenal of recipes every cook should know.
The key ingredients for egg tacos
Wait a minute: egg tacos that taste like they have meat? Yes, this trick is like kitchen magic. These scrambled eggs are perfectly seasoned and they take only 5 minutes to make. Here are the ingredients you need for the filling:
- Eggs: Buy organic eggs if you can, and local eggs if possible.
- Chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, and salt: You’ll notice it’s a heavy amount of seasoning: ½ tablespoon each for the chili powder, garlic powder and cumin. But trust us: this is what brings the meaty flavor!
- Tortillas: Flour tortillas are our preference, but as a gluten free recipe this works with corn tortillas or grain free tortillas.
- Toppings: We like pico de gallo, red onion, and cilantro, but you can use any toppings you like.
How to cook the eggs: a few tips!
The key to these egg tacos is the special method for cooking the eggs. Many people over cook scrambled eggs, and break them into too small of pieces. This method makes luscious folds of eggs, so the filling texture holds up in the tacos. Here’s what to know:
- Cook over medium low heat. Don’t have the heat too high: you’ll want it just above low heat.
- Scrape with a spatula as the eggs solidify, for 3 to 4 minutes. They’ll start to form together into a meat-like texture.
- Don’t stir too much! You don’t want tiny bits of eggs, you’ll want it to hold together into a cohesive texture.
Toppings for egg tacos
Once you’ve cooked the eggs (in just 5 minutes!), all you have to do is top the tacos! For this egg tacos recipe, we tried to keep it as simple as possible. But if you have more time, the sky’s the limit! Here’s what we added to these tacos, then a few more ideas to get your wheels turning:
- Salsa fresca or pico de gallo: We used store-bought to keep it quick, but you can also use homemade.
- Jarred salsa: Or go traditional with a jar of red salsa or salsa verde.
- Red onion: Use thinly sliced fresh onion (rinse and drain it a few times to remove the bite, if you like!). Pickled red onion adds a tangy flair.
- Cilantro: Quickly tear off a few leaves for a great garnish
- Lettuce: Crunchy romaine lettuce adds another nice texture
- Sour cream: Use standard or dairy free sour cream.
- Jalapeno: Add a kick! Try thin sliced fresh or pickled jalapenos.
- Crema or sauce: Try Cilantro Lime Crema, Cilantro Lime Sauce or Creamy Cilantro Sauce.
Tip: how to warm tortillas
You absolutely must warm your tortillas for egg tacos: it gives them just the right supple texture. No one likes a tough, cold tortilla! While you’re at it, place them in a tortilla warmer to keep them toasty while you’re eating (here’s the tortilla warmer we use). Here are two ways for how to warm tortillas:
- Stovetop: Char the tortillas by placing them on an open gas flame on medium for a few seconds per side, flipping with tongs, until they are slightly blackened and warm (this also infuses a charred flavor).
- Oven: Wrap a few tortillas (in packets of no more than 5) in aluminum foil and place on the oven grates to 350°F for 15 to 20 minutes.
Sides to serve with egg tacos
Want to make these egg tacos into a full-blown meal? They work as a fast breakfast, healthy lunch or easy dinner. If we only have 5 minutes, we just whip these up and scarf them down. But if we have a few extra minutes, here are some sides we like to pair:
More egg recipes
These egg tacos are one of our favorite tricks that we make again and again! Egg recipes are always saving us for quick weeknight meals. Here are some of our other ways to make eggs into a meal:
Dietary notes
This egg tacos recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free.
Description
You won’t believe the flavor in these fast and easy egg tacos! The vegetarian “taco meat” filling works for any meal of the day.
- 4 eggs
- ½ tablespoon chili powder
- ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- ½ tablespoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 4 taco-sized flour tortillas or corn tortillas
- Pico de gallo or salsa fresca
- 1 handful thinly sliced red onion
- Torn cilantro leaves
- Hot sauce
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the 4 eggs. Add the chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, and kosher salt, and whisk until combined.
- In a skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the eggs and cook over medium low heat, scraping as the eggs solidify, about 3 to 4 minutes total. As you scrape, they’ll start to form together into a meat-like texture. Don’t scrape too much or you’ll make too small of pieces: just enough for that it comes together!
- If time, warm and char the tortillas by placing them on an open gas flame on medium for a few seconds per side, flipping with tongs, until they are slightly blackened and warm. (See How to Warm Tortillas.)
- Top with salsa fresca (drain extra liquid before serving), thin sliced red onions, torn cilantro leaves, and hot sauce.
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican Inspired
- Diet: Vegetarian
