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    Home / Recipes / Vegan Entrees

    Quick & Easy Zucchini Taco Skillet

    Published: Jul 12, 2024 · Modified: Jul 12, 2024 by Kathy Carmichael · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    This quick and easy zucchini taco skillet recipe is a one-pot wonder made in under 30 minutes! It's the perfect weeknight meal the whole family will love. So dig into this fresh vegan taco skillet recipe.

    The recipe is in a bowl with a fork on the table.

    I am always looking for a quick and easy way to make dinner everyone will love. So, today, I created a one-skillet, easy zucchini taco skillet recipe with an array of veggies and zucchini noodles as the star of the show! I love zoodles, so this vegan taco skillet dinner in under 30 minutes is a perfect weeknight meal.

    Jump to:
    • Zucchini Vegan Taco Skillet Ingredients
    • Zucchini Vegan Taco Skillet Ingredient Substitutions
    • How to Make a Vegan Taco Skillet Recipe
    • Recipe Variations
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Tips
    • Vegan Recipes for the Whole Family
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    One-skillet meals are my go-to when I need a fuss-free dinner. Summertime begs for quick and easy meals without a mess and only one pan to clean. With zucchini in season, this zucchini taco skillet recipe tastes fresh with incredible summer flavors.

    And if you love zucchini recipes, try zucchini noodle Salad, stuffed Zucchini, or Zucchini Fries!

    Zucchini Vegan Taco Skillet Ingredients

    Recipe Ingredients: Zucchini noodles, black beans, tomatoes, lentils, onion, garlic, taco seasoning, corn, green onions, and cilantro.
    • Zucchini Noodles: While zucchini noodles do not taste exactly like pasta noodles if you cook them properly (meaning until they are al dente, not mushy), they are surprisingly fresh and satisfying.
    • White Onion: White onions are slightly sweeter, a bit milder in taste than yellow onions.
    • Garlic: I prefer using fresh garlic cloves for the best flavor.
    • Brown Lentils: I used Trader Joe's steamed brown lentils. It's an easy shortcut.
    • Fire-Roasted Tomatoes: Fire-roasted tomatoes are canned tomatoes that are fire-roasted over an open flame to accentuate their flavor. They taste sweet and subtly smoky right out of the can instead of bitter and acidic like most standard canned tomatoes.
    • Black Beans: Black beans are soft, creamy, and mild. They don't have an overwhelming flavor, so they are good in many dishes. They take on flavor from salt and the ingredients they are cooked with.
    • Corn: I used leftover grilled corn for the vegan taco skillet recipe.
    • Taco Seasoning: I used vegan taco seasoning I bought at Whole Foods.
    • Green Onions (Garnish): Green onions are a garnish for this skillet dinner.
    • Cilantro (Garnish): A few cilantro leaves give this dish a fresh taste.

    Zucchini Vegan Taco Skillet Ingredient Substitutions

    • Instead of zucchini noodles, try carrot or sweet potato noodles. A lot of grocery stores even carry these noodles already spiralized.
    • Yellow onions are an excellent substitute for white onions.
    • If you don't have fresh garlic, try these substitutions: minced garlic: use ½ teaspoon of jarred minced garlic in place of each clove; garlic flakes, also called dehydrated (or dried) minced garlic, use ½ teaspoon of garlic flakes in place of each clove, or granulated garlic: use ¼ teaspoon of granulated garlic in place of each clove.
    • Cook brown, black or green lentils (cooked al dente), or use canned lentils, rinsed and drained. However, do not use red lentils. They are used in stews and soups, because they are softer than other lentils.
    • Use canned diced tomatoes instead of fire-roasted tomatoes and add ½ teaspoon of liquid smoke.
    • Pinto beans are similar to black beans.
    • Although I used grilled corn, canned corn, or cooked frozen corn works well.
    • Make homemade taco seasoning: ¼ cup chili powder, 2 Tablespoons cumin, 1 Tablespoon cornstarch, 1 Tablespoon garlic powder, 1 Tablespoon salt, 1 Tablespoon paprika, 2 teaspoons oregano, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper. Store in a jar and use as needed.
    • Chop up some chives and garnish instead of using green onions.
    • Many people taste soap when eating cilantro, so choose another fresh garnish, such as parsley or basil.

    How to Make a Vegan Taco Skillet Recipe

    I am sauteing the onions and the garlic in a pan on the stove.
    1. Use a spiralizer to make the zucchini noodles.
    2. Select a large skillet with sloped sides to hold all the ingredients.
    3. Begin by sauteing the garlic and onions until the onions are translucent over medium-high heat.
    4. Add a small amount of vegetable broth or water if the garlic and onions stick to the bottom of the pan.
    5. Now, add the cooked lentils, and stir into the onion/garlic mixture.
    6. Next, add the beans, tomatoes, corn, taco seasoning, and the water.
    7. Stir the ingredients together until the mixture begins to bubble and thicken.
    8. Stir in the zucchini noodles and reduce the heat to medium-low. Mix into into the hot ingredients.
    9. Cook for 3 minutes! You want the zucchini noodles al dente. They will get mushy if cooked too long.
    I added the zucchini to the skillet with the other ingredients.

    Recipe Variations

    The vegan taco skillet recipe is served in a bowl with a napkin next to it.
    • For a salt-free recipe, choose unsalted tomatoes and black beans, and make the homemade taco seasoning without the salt (provided in the substitutions section above).
    • Include more veggies like mushrooms or any other vegetables you prefer. If including mushrooms, cook with the onions and garlic.
    • Serve with southwest dressing to drizzle over the top.
    • For more tomato flavor, add a can of tomato sauce or a small amount of tomato paste.
    • Add jalapenos for spiciness.
    I am serving zucchini taco skillet in a bowl on the table.

    Recipe FAQs

    What do lentils do for your body?

    Lentils are rich in fiber, folate, and potassium, making them an excellent choice for the heart and managing blood pressure and cholesterol. They are also a source of energizing iron and vitamin B1 which helps maintain a steady heartbeat.

    Are black beans or pinto beans healthier?

    Pinto and black beans are highly similar in their nutritional values. They offer protein, fiber, calories, iron, vitamin B1, and more.

    How do you make zoodles not soggy?

    Cook for only 3 minutes; do not cover the pan or overcrowd the pan.

    Tips

    • If you don't have a spiralizer, an apple peeler can create spiralized vegetables very well. Or, you can use a mandoline, handheld spiralizer, potato peeler, julienne peeler, or a box cheese grater.
    • The best way to make zucchini noodles for meal prep is to spiralize them in advance and keep them in the fridge uncooked. Then, when you're ready to cook, pat them dry first.
    • Zucchini noodles do not reheat well when combined with the other ingredients. However, you can also reheat it on the stove. Still, I recommend heating the zucchini noodles separately from the sauce because they will release water each time they are reheated.
    • You can freeze zoodles. Fill your freezer bags with the zucchini noodles. Remove as much air as possible from the bag, label it, and freeze it flat for easy storage. Use within 3-5 months. Use frozen and cook briefly, only about a minute.
    • I recommend spiralizing just about 1 pound of zucchini per serving (for a large, lunch or dinner-sized meal) – that equates to about two medium-sized zucchini or 2 cups cooked.
    • If zucchini doesn't interest you, try carrot or sweet potato noodles. However, both require a longer cook time than zucchini noodles.

    Try this vegan taco skillet recipe for a quick and easy lunch or dinner. It all cooks in one skillet!

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    If you love this zucchini taco skillet recipe, give us a 5-star review and comment below. We would love to hear from you!

    📖 Recipe

    Taco skillet Recipe

    Zucchini Taco Skillet

    Kathy Carmichael
    This quick and easy vegan taco skillet recipe is a one-pot wonder made in under 30 minutes! It's the perfect weeknight meal the whole family will love.
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Course Entrees
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 168 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 cups Zucchini Noodles 2 zucchinis, spiralized.
    • 1 ½ cups Cooked Brown Lentils
    • ½ cup White Onions diced
    • 2 cloves Garlic minced
    • 1 cup Corn grilled, canned or cooked frozen
    • 1 14.5 ounce can Fire-Roasted Tomatoes
    • 1 15 ounce can Black Beans rinsed and drained
    • 2 Tablespoons Taco Seasoning
    • ½ cup Water

    Garnishes

    • ¼ cup Green Onions chopped
    • ¼ cup Cilantro chopped

    Instructions
     

    • Spiralized the zucchini and set it aside.
    • Select a large skillet with sloped sides to hold all the ingredients.
    • Begin by sauteing the garlic and onions until the onions are translucent over medium-high heat.
    • Add a small amount of vegetable broth or water if the garlic and onions stick to the bottom of the pan.
    • Add the cooked lentils and stir into the onion/garlic mixture.
    • Next, add the beans, tomatoes, corn, taco seasoning, and water.
    • Stir the ingredients together until the mixture begins to bubble and thicken.
    • Stir in the zucchini noodles and reduce the heat to medium-low.
    • Cook for 3 minutes!

    Video

    Notes

    • If you don't have a spiralizer, an apple peeler can create spiralized vegetables very well. Or, you can use a mandoline, handheld spiralizer, potato peeler, julienne peeler, or a box cheese grater.
    • The best way to make zucchini noodles for meal prep is to spiralize them in advance and keep them in the fridge uncooked. Then, when you're ready to cook, pat them dry first.
    • Zucchini noodles do not reheat well when combined with the other ingredients. However, you can also reheat it on the stove. Still, I recommend heating the zucchini noodles separately from the sauce because they will release water each time they are reheated.
    • You can freeze zoodles. Fill your freezer bags with the zucchini noodles. Remove as much air as possible from the bag, label it, and freeze it flat for easy storage. Use within 3-5 months. Use frozen and cook briefly, only about a minute.
    • I recommend spiralizing just about 1 pound of zucchini per serving (for a large, lunch or dinner-sized meal) – that equates to about two medium-sized zucchini or 2 cups cooked.
    • If zucchini doesn't interest you, try carrot or sweet potato noodles. However, both require a longer cook time than zucchini noodles.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 168kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 11gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.2gSodium: 121mgPotassium: 880mgFiber: 9gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 711IUVitamin C: 39mgCalcium: 57mgIron: 4mg
    Tried our recipe?Let us know how it was!
    Kathy Carmichael

    Hi! My name is Kathy, I am a retired high school English teacher & vegan enthusiast and blogger. My entire blog is fully plant-based vegan. I truly believe what we eat & how we live determines our health & the preservation of our planet! 🙂

    www.kathysvegankitchen.com/about-me/

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