Taco Tuesday | Themed Dinner Ideas You Need to Try!
Meal planning is made so much easier when you use themed dinner ideas. Today I’m sharing some yummy themed dinner ideas for your next Taco Tuesday dinner.
I love themed meal planning because it helps me come up with ideas without thinking too hard and long about it. For instance, when planning your menu for the week, your thought process might look like this:
This Tuesday our themed dinner menu will be Taco Tuesday. What can I make that’s a fun twist on Taco Tuesday?
Be sure to check out The Ultimate List of Themed Dinner Ideas here.
In our household, we’re vegetarian. In fact a large majority of our extended family is vegetarian as well. Sometimes I make vegetarian dinners that are just you know, naturally vegetarian. However, sometimes I take recipes that call for meat and replace the meat with a vegetarian option.
Being a vegetarian has many health benefits.
Vegetarian substitutions for meat:
You’ll find these products in the freezer aisle or health food section of your local grocery store. You can also find these products at most health food stores like Whole Foods.
- ground beef or turkey > vegetarian burger crumbles
- chicken > Quorn Meatless Pieces
- chicken breast > Quorn Meatless Filets
- shredded chicken or pork > canned jackfruit
- beef, chicken, or pork > black beans, pinto beans, or chickpeas
- deli meats > Lightlife Deli Slices
- sausage > Gimme Lean Breakfast Sausage, Field Roast Apple Sage Sausage
Taco Tuesday Themed Dinners
How to plan your menu in 4 easy steps:
- Select your main dish.
- Choose 2 – 3 side dishes that compliment your main dish.
- Think about variety of food groups. Try to choose something from each of the main food groups.
- Focus on providing well rounded, nutritious meals.
28 Main Dish Recipes
These fun and tasty main dishes are the perfect star of your next themed Dinner!
10-Minute Vegan Burrito Bowl
This vegan burrito bowl is so tasty and whips up in just a few minutes! It is so delicious and perfect for taco Tuesday!
Vegan Gochujang Cauliflower Tacos
Delicious vegan gochujang cauliflower tacos with avocado, cilantro, red onions and corn - perfect fusion of cultures!
Easy Homemade Navajo Tacos
This Easy Navajo Tacos recipe serves a crowd (8 people) and it’s so tasty! This recipe will cost just $8.42 to make, and $1.06 per serving.
Picadillo Tacos - Crispy Ground Beef and Potato Tacos (Tacos de Picadillo)
This Picadillo Tacos recipe (Tacos de Picadillo) makes crispy ground beef and potato tacos that are so easy to make. This recipe serves 10 and costs $11.14 to make. That’s just $1.11 per serving.
Spicy Cheesy Pinto Bean Bowls (or bean dip)
Need a tasty, easy recipe to use your dried pinto beans? Try this spicy cheesy pinto bean bowls!
How To Make a Walking Taco Bowl - Recipe for a Crowd or Weeknight
These homemade taco bowls are an EASY recipe for how to make walking tacos. They are delicious and healthy! Learn how to make a turkey taco bowl for 4-6 people, or even walking tacos for a crowd of 50 or 100 people.
Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes are a nutritious and filling way to enjoy all the flavors of Taco Tuesday plus some!
Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos Recipe
These sweet potato and black bean tacos are the perfect healthy vegetarian option when you craving tacos, but don’t want to feel guilty eating them.
Chuys Chicken Tortilla Soup (copycat recipe!)
Filled with chicken, veggies, garlic, and plenty of spice, this Mexican soup tastes almost just like the Chuy’s version – but healthier!
Taco Salad
This is one of my favorite go-to meals when I’m in a hurry! It’s super simple to put together and it can feed a crowd!
Greek Chicken Tacos Recipe
These Greek chicken tacos are a delicious fusion of Mexican and Greek cuisines. A nice change for Taco Tuesday, and super easy too!
Walking Taco Bar
Our Walking Taco Bar is the perfect way to serve up a saucy taco filling and your favorite toppings for the big game. Crush the chips in your bag, top them with a flavorful beef taco filling, pile high with lots of taco toppings, add a plastic fork and you’re all set!
Easiest Taco Night...Ever!
Easiest taco night ever! You never have to worry about the first tacos getting cold while you cook the rest with these epic baked tacos.
Taco Stuffed Tomatoes + 30 low carb & tomato recipes
A gorgeous, simple way to enjoy fresh summer tomatoes that will have everyone begging for more! This is a super simple recipe that even kids can help make. It’s a feast for the eyes, low in carbs, yet high in flavor and super fun for kids and adults alike.
Butternut Squash Nugget Tacos With Sweet Vegan Mayo
This vegan option for taco Tuesday will impress everyone! Butternut Squash Nugget Tacos With Sweet Vegan Mayo sauce recipe is so delicious.
Quick & Easy Vegetarian Tostadas with Quinoa (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
Mexican made easy! These Quick & Easy Quinoa Tostadas are gluten-free, vegan, and top 8 allergy-free! A great family-friendly & meatless weeknight dinner recipe you can have on the table in 15 minutes from start to finish.
Cheesy Taco Lasagna
A taco meets lasagna in this cheesy and beefy taco Tuesday Mexican Lasagna dish!
Melissa's Mostly Raw Tacos - A Virtuous Woman: A Proverbs 31 Ministry
This is one of the easiest “raw” recipes I have and it’s based on a recipe I found in the book Rawsome Recipes by Robyn Boyd.
Best Taco Meatloaf
This recipe for taco meatloaf or Mexican meatloaf is so easy to make. Everyone always clears their plates! Just mix up ground pork, ground beef, a 10-ounce bag of Doritos, salsa, cheese, taco seasoning, and eggs.
Vegan Pumpkin Tacos
These quick and easy vegan pumpkin tacos are made with oven-roasted pumpkins and red peppers, topped with delicious vegan sour cream and fresh coriander. They are super simple, filling and they taste delicious.
Buffalo Ranch Chicken Tacos
These Buffalo Ranch Chicken Tacos are full of flavor. Soft tortillas filled with chicken, Pico de Gallo, cheese and finally topped with buffalo ranch sauce.
Taco Tater Tot Casserole
With taco meat, cheese, and crispy tater tots, this Taco Tater Tot Casserole is a new and delicious way to enjoy Taco Tuesday! Tuesday!
Crispy Potato Tacos w/ Black Beans & Slaw-This Healthy Kitchen
Crispy potato tacos with hearty black beans a creamy slaw equals taco perfection!
The Ultimate Baked Tacos - Creamy Ground Beef Baked Tacos
Creamy ground beef baked tacos are made with corn or flour shells, ground beef, taco seasoning, cream cheese, and salsa and topped with shredded cheese. If you are looking for an easy ground beef dinner ideas, these tacos are so simple and also great for Taco Tuesday.
Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos
These vegetarian sweet potato and black bean tacos are everything you could want in this fresh dinner.
Easy Vegan Tempeh Tacos Recipe
Tempeh tacos are packed with plant-based protein and nutrition. Not to mention they are extremely delicious and easy to make.
Easy Family Dinner Ideas: Taco Salad Recipe and DIY Rope Placemat Decor
This savory and crispy taco salad recipe is quick and easy to make! Plus it comes with a simple and casual DIY rope placemats tutorial.
Taco Brown Rice Bowls
Brown rice taco bowls! All the taco flavors in this wholesome dish with lots of texture and flavor.
21 Side Dishes Ideas
Use one of these delicious side dish options to round out your meal.
Mango Guacamole (Whole30, Vegan)
Sweet, juicy mangos, spicy jalapeño, creamy avocado, and bright lime juice are just some of the ingredients that make this Whole30 and Vegan Mango Guacamole recipe something truly special. It’s always a crowd pleasing dip to serve with your favorite tortilla or plantain chips, or on top of any Mexican-inspired dish!
Mango Salsa for Fish Tacos
This salsa works up quickly and easily, and adds a bright pop of flavor to anything it’s served with!
Double Batch Smashed Beans
Two types of beans, chili & refried, smashed together then topped with melted cheese. Double Batch Smashed Beans is a new side dish for your taco nights.
Fresh Spinach Guacamole
This Fresh Spinach Guacamole takes the classic dip and makes it even healthier by adding some fresh spinach while keeping the classic guacamole flavors
Homemade Pickled Jalapenos
Elevate the flavour of many dishes with these Easy and Quick Homemade Pickled Jalapenos. Perfect for Taco Tuesday! You will always want to have a jar of these homemade pickles on hand – you can even make a big batch and gift them to family and friends!
Chipotle Corn Salsa Recipe
This addictive Chipotle Corn Salsa is a perfect accompaniment to any Mexican food. Sweet roasted corn makes a perfect pairing with smoky chipotle peppers. Such an amazing and fresh side dish recipe for summer gatherings, Taco Tuesday or Cinco de Mayo!
Elote Recipe or Mexican Grilled Corn
Sweet corn is grilled and then slathered with lime juice and mayonnaise, seasoned with chili powder, and sprinkled with salty Cotija or Parmesan cheese. This is a perfectly addictive snack or side dish.
Instant Pot Refried Beans from Scratch
Refried beans from scratch are so much better than canned! This Instant Pot recipe requires very little hands-on work and can take you from dried beans to finished dish in under an hour.
Simple Oven Roasted Bell Pepper Strips and Onions
These Simple Oven Roasted Bell Pepper Strips and Onions are a simple side dish packed with flavor! They are delicious on their own or make a tasty addition to fajitas or on top of rice!
Chipotle Copycat Cilantro Lime Rice
Cilantro lime rice is packed with fresh herb and zesty flavors. Better than Chipotle’s, because it’s homemade and you get to adjust the flavors. A filling side dish to any Mexican meal.
Two Easy Sides for a Taco Dinner - A Virtuous Woman: A Proverbs 31 Ministry
Here are a couple of side dishes that are just as quick and easy to make and require only two ingredients each!
15 Minute Instant Pot Mexican Rice
Mexican Rice is easy to make in the Instant Pot! This is the perfect side dish for Taco Tuesday!
Mexican Corn Casserole
This Mexican Corn Casserole is quick and easy to make. It makes a delicious side dish for a holiday dinner or Taco Tuesday Supper.
Mexican Pickled Onions with Lime Juice
Lime juice makes these quick pickled onions a perfect match for Mexican food. They're quick and easy to make, and a must for any Taco Tuesday meal.
Mexican Black Beans
Mexican black beans (frijoles negros) using canned black beans seasoned with cumin, minced garlic, and chopped onion cooked in chicken broth and topped with cilantro.
Queso Blanco Recipe
Spicy peppers and creamy cheese make this dip over the top. Amazing on tacos, nachos, and burritos.
Guacamole Recipe
One of the best Guacamole made with easily available ingredients from scratch.
Delicious Crockpot Refried Beans
Crockpot Refried Beans are delicious paired with any Mexican main dish. Dry pinto beans are slow-cooked with onion, garlic, jalapeño pepper, and a couple of seasonings to create this delicious and easy side dish.
Fresh Garlic-y Blender Salsa (better than restaurant style!)
Homemade garlic blender salsa is SO easy to make and tastes 100x better than anything you can get from a jar (or even your favorite Mexican restaurant).
Fiesta Lime Black Bean Salsa
This lime black bean and feta salsa is a perfect side for Taco Tuesday! Easy, healthy, and delicious alongside tortilla chips or on a bed of lettuce.
Creamy Nut-Free Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce (Gluten-Free, Paleo)
No dairy needed in this Creamy Nut-Free Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce! Low-fat, gluten-free, paleo, and allergy-free; everyone can enjoy some healthy dipping! A tummy-friendly recipe, made quick & easy in a blender. You’ll be using this queso sauce for more than just chips!
Theme Day Menus: Taco Tuesday
Let’s put it all together. I’ll show you how I would create menus based on the themed dinner ideas I’ve shared above.
related: Wish someone would do all your menu planning for you? Good news! Eat at Home Meal Planning service is a simple solution for busy women just like you.
8 Themed Menu Plans
Several of the main dish recipes above would stand very well on their own without the need for side dishes. However, good side dishes always round out a meal and even help feed a large family – or crowd.
Themed Dinner Idea #1
Themed Dinner Idea#2
Themed Dinner Idea #3
- Quick and Easy Vegan Tostadas
- Fresh Spinach Guacamole and Chips
- Cilantro Lime Rice
Themed Dinner Idea #4
Themed Dinner Idea #5
Themed Dinner Idea #6
Themed Dinner Idea #7
- Cheesy Taco Lasagna
- garden salad
Themed Dinner Idea #8
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