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Cauliflower Tacos in the Air Fryer

4.67 / 5 ( 3 Reviews )

Easy to make vegan tacos in the air fryer for a simple yet delicious take on tacos for your next Taco Tuesday night.

Aug 5, 2024 The links in the post below may be affiliate links. Read the full disclosure

Cauliflower tacos in the air fryer

Taco Tuesdays have become a family tradition in our house and I love to be able to switch it up and make different taco recipes so it is not the same thing all the time.

These cauliflower tacos are a great way to have a filling dinner where you still get a bunch of healthy veggies and have a meatless dinner option, but you still get a good amount of protein.

Oh! Did I mention that you can make this whole meal right in the air fryer?! No need to worry about having soggy vegetables or soggy tacos. The cauliflower air fryer tacos will be fried to a tender yet crispy texture that you are going to love.

Ingredients and Supplies You’ll Need

Cauliflower tacos in the air fryer ingredients

Ingredients:

Cauliflower florets (washed and ready to eat)
Frozen peppers and onions
Black beans, drained
Olive oil
Fresh lime juice
Honey
Cumin
Chili powder
Smoked paprika
Salt
Black pepper
Minced garlic

Supplies:

Air fryer
Small mixing bowl
Whisk
Large mixing bowl
Wooden spoon

Make sure to grab yourself a Cosori 5.8QT air fryer if you haven’t yet! Or even add it to your Christmas or birthday list. It is truly my favorite and I use it all the time!

Don’t Forget the Toppings!

Make sure to grab any of your favorite taco toppings to complete this easy taco recipe.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Fresh cilantro
Cotija cheese
Feta cheese
Mozzarella cheese
Pico de gallo
Avocado
Guacamole
Salsa verde
Onions
Lime juice
Pickles red onions

cauliflower tacos in the air fryer

Should I Defrost the Peppers and Onions?

For this recipe, you will want to keep the pepper and onions frozen. Since they are being paired with cauliflower which is a more dense vegetable, they would get overdone and soggy if they are added to the pan and thawed out.

By keeping them frozen you will be able to get both the pepper and onion mix as well as the raw cauliflower done perfectly.

Does the Cauliflower Need to Marinate Beforehand?

If this was a chicken dish I would say definitely, but no it is definitely not necessary to marinate it ahead of time. You will still get great flavor by just mixing it up right before you pop it all into the air fryer.

How to Make Cauliflower Tacos in the Air Fryer:

Step 1: Prepare the Veggies

cauliflower tacos in the air fryer

Start by making sure that the cauliflower has been washed, and then chopped into bite-sized pieces. Then place the cauliflower and onion mixture into a large mixing bowl and set it aside.

Step 2: Make the Marinade

cauliflower tacos in the air fryer

Now, place the olive oil, freshly squeezed lime juice, honey, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and minced garlic all into a small mixing bowl.

Once it is all measured out, whisk the ingredients together to create the marinade for your tacos.

Step 3: Mix it Up

cauliflower tacos in the air fryer

After you have the marinade made up, grab your bowl with the cauliflower and pour it over top.

Use tongs to mix it all together to make sure the marinade is coating all of the vegetables.

Step 4: Begin Frying

cauliflower tacos in the air fryer

Now, place the marinated cauliflower mixture into the air fryer basket and return it to the air fryer.

Then air fry for 380F or 193C for 7 minutes.

After 7 minutes, add in the washed and drained black bean and mix everything again, adding another 7 minutes to the timer at the same temperature.

Step 5: Check the Veggies

cauliflower tacos in the air fryer

When the timer is up, stir the vegetables and check to see if they are done. They should be tender and crispy.

If they are, remove the vegetables and begin making up your tacos with your favorite toppings. If they are not, then place them back into the air fryer for another 2 minutes at 400F or 205C.

By this time they should be done, so remove the vegetables and scoop the taco mixture onto your favorite tortillas and enjoy!

Make it a little spicy:

If you want an easy, and a little spicy sauce to drizzle on top, mix up about 1/2 cup of mayonnaise with chipotle seasoning, a little lime juice, and water until is is a drizzle texture. This will give you a creamy sauce with a little bit of a kick.

cauliflower tacos in the air fryer

Delicious Dishes to Serve with Tacos

For this recipe, you are welcome to just eat and enjoy the tacos and call it good! However, if you want to add any dishes to serve with the tacos, let me give you a few suggestions!

Go All Out with Even More Air Fryer Options:

You could also serve the tacos with a homemade slaw by mixing cabbage into the spicy sauce I mentioned earlier with the chipotle seasoning. Serve it on the side or as a topping for these delicious tacos.

cauliflower tacos in the air fryer

Final Thoughts

I always love the idea of making dinner that is meatless but without having to worry about how much protein I am getting. And with the addition of the black beans, you can definitely still get protein and have a filling meal. Plus, you can also use the protein wraps in place of a traditional tortilla if you want even more.

I also love that you can have this dinner ready in under 20 minutes and still have a fantastically flavorful meal that is healthy!

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