Cauliflower Tacos

Made with seasoned, roasted cauliflower and finished with avocado cream, these Cauliflower Tacos are surprisingly hearty and full of flavor!

Pair these plant-based tacos with a side of Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice and Instant Pot Refried Beans for a plant-based dinner that is perfectly balanced and filling.

Whether you are looking for more plant-based recipes or just want to enjoy a creative and delicious recipe using cauliflower, you will LOVE this recipe for Roasted Cauliflower Tacos. 

Not only is this recipe ridiculously easy to prepare and relatively affordable to make, but the flavors are also out of this world. From the hearty cauliflower that has been seasoned with homemade taco seasoning and roasted until tender and crispy, to the fresh avocado lime sauce, these cauliflower tacos have everything you are craving in a good taco--a variety of textures, flavors, and temperatures. 

And just like my recipes for Lentil Tacos and Black Bean Tacos, this recipe for Cauliflower Tacos comes together with a few minutes of hands-on prep and a handful of ingredients to create a simple, healthy meal. Making these irresistibly good Cauliflower Tacos the perfect recipe to enjoy any night of the week.

Notes on Ingredients

• Cauliflower: Be sure to select a head of cauliflower that feels heavy and is without blemish.
• Taco Seasoning: I highly recommend using homemade Taco Seasoning to control the flavor and sodium content.
• Avocados: Select ripe avocados for the creamiest avocado sauce.
• Limes: Using the juice of fresh limes will make the brightest, tangiest, avocado sauce.
• Tortillas: Use corn tortillas, flour tortillas, gluten-free tortillas, or even lettuce wraps to serve Cauliflower Tacos. I personally prefer using my homemade flour tortillas, as they are soft and hearty.

How to Make Cauliflower Tacos

The process of making cauliflower tacos is not complicated. Season and roast the cauliflower and while the cauliflower is roasting, prepare your avocado sauce and toast your tortillas. Then it is as easy as assembling and devouring!

Step One: Roast Cauliflower

Roasting the cauliflower until tender, browned, and caramelized is the key to making delicious, hearty cauliflower taco meat.

• Cut the cauliflower into bite-size florets and place it onto a large sheet pan.
• Drizzle the cauliflower with olive oil and season with taco seasoning and use your hands to evenly coat the cauliflower with the seasonings.
• Spread the cauliflower out onto the pan so that it is not overlapping. Overcrowding the sheet pan will result in the cauliflower being steamed instead of roasted. It is better to use 2 pans than to try to fit the cauliflower onto one pan.
• Roast for 30-40 minutes, until tender and browned, flipping once during the cooking process. I like to take my cauliflower to the brink of burning, as I love those charred crispy bits in my tacos, but roast to your desired crispiness.

Step Two: Prepare Avocado Sauce

While the cauliflower is roasting, use that time to prepare the avocado sauce which adds a bright, fresh, creamy contrast to the crispy cauliflower.

• Cut the avocado open, remove the pit, and scoop the flesh of the avocado into a blender or mini food processor.
• Add the fresh lime juice, lime zest, and salt to the food processor.
• Blend until smooth and creamy, adding 1 tablespoon of water if needed to achieve a creamy consistency.

Alternatively, you can mash the avocado with a fork, but using a mini food processor will help to achieve super creamy results and makes for easier drizzling over your tacos.

Step Three: Assemble Tacos

You can opt to use your cauliflower taco meat just as you would classic beef taco meat, but my favorite way to serve the roasted cauliflower is on a toasted tortilla shell drizzled with avocado sauce.

• Toast each tortilla in a dry skillet for 10-30 seconds per side, until warm and pliable.
• Top each tortilla with the roasted cauliflower and then drizzle generously with the avocado sauce.
• You can also opt to serve these Cauliflower Tacos with sliced radishes, shredded red cabbage, and Pickled Red Onions. Feel free to add queso fresco or sour cream as well if you are not dairy-free.

Storage & Reheating

Cauliflower Tacos are best consumed immediately after assembling to ensure that the texture of the cauliflower stays crispy.

However, if you have leftover roasted cauliflower and leftover avocado sauce, store both separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat the cauliflower by broiling for 2-3 minutes per side. Do not microwave, as the cauliflower will lose its texture and become mushy. Assemble the cauliflower on tortillas and serve with the leftover avocado sauce.

More Tex-Mex Meatless Meals

Want More Plant-Based Recipes with a Tex-Mex spin? Check out a few of my favorites:

• Veggie Fajitas
• Copycat Chipotle Sofritas
• Mexican Quinoa Salad
• Sweet Potato Burritos
• Black Bean Tacos
• Bean Burritos

If you have tried out these Roasted Cauliflower Tacos, I would love for you to leave a comment and a review below. 

This post was originally published in 2019 but was updated in 2023.