Instant Pot Tacos With Lentil Walnut Taco Meat

Try these homemade vegan tacos stuffed with lentil walnut taco meat! They are delicious, flavorful, and simple to make for dinner. This taco recipe is also really great to add to your meal prep schedule! 

this Recipe

I ask my family what they want for dinner at least a few times a week. And, they almost always respond the same way: lentil tacos!

I’ve always got a batch of my lentil tacos in the fridge (or the freezer) as they are not only my family’s favorite but one of mine as well. They taste just as good on a tortilla as they do in a salad or folded into a burrito bowl.

Now that I’ve got my Instant Pot almost permanently on the counter, I figured it was time I recreate my lentil taco recipe for the Instant Pot. While lentils don’t take that long to cook, making them in the pressure cooker allows me to throw everything in at once and walk away.

These days, that’s music to my ears!

This vegan taco meat is an amazing meat substitute whether you are vegan or not. It is great for anyone looking to cut back on meat or even add more variety of foods into their diet. Plus, you can save a lot of time!

I love to make these lentils and walnut meat to go in my wraps and tacos as a tasty protein option. It tastes just like taco meat and pairs perfectly with all kinds of Mexican-style dishes and meals.

If you are looking for a way to step up your taco game, here it is!

Tips On How To Make Instant Pot Tacos With Lentil Walnut Taco Meat

This recipe for lentil walnut taco meat is truly a delicious recipe that everyone should try, vegan or not!

This protein-packed taco filling is hearty and made out of lentils and walnuts. Perfect for anyone on a vegan diet or for those trying to cut back on meat.

Here are a few tips to help you make amazing vegan taco meat every time without fail!

• After falling in love with this pumpkin walnut chili, I knew I wanted to add walnuts to this lentil taco recipe. It adds nice texture and body and is the perfect complement to the hearty lentils. I know it sounds weird, but they aren’t crunchy after they cook. They become almost like ground meat and absorb the taco spice well.
• If you don’t have walnuts, you could also try using almonds or shelled pumpkin seeds. The results won’t be exactly the same, but they will still taste just as good! You can also omit them, if desired. 
• Don’t skimp on the seasonings. I know that this recipe might seem really heavy-handed on the seasonings, but those amounts are needed! In order to have realistic-tasting taco meat, you want all of that flavor. For a low-sodium version, I recommend this Low Sodium Taco Seasoning.
• Make sure to completely cook the onions to avoid adding a strange texture to the lentils. They should be just turning translucent and getting caramelized for maximum flavor!
• It is best to use the Instant Pot for cooking this taco meat since it can be programmed to cook the lentils perfectly. You do not want to overcook the lentils, or they will start to become too soft and break apart into a paste.
  
  

How To Add Variety To Lentil Walnut Tacos

• For a very meaty mix, you could also throw in some crumbled extra firm tofu. Just make sure to completely press it before using, or it will add in too much moisture. This is a great way to give this taco meat an extra protein boost!
• Add in whatever toppings you like. We love crumbled queso fresco, salsa roja and avocado but any combination works!
• This filling also works great as an enchilada filling, roll into tortillas of top and smother with my easy enchilada sauce, cover with cheese and bake until hot and bubbly!
  
  

What To Serve With Lentil Walnut Taco Meat Tacos

I love these tacos wrapped in a flour tortilla with lots of shredded lettuce and homemade salsa, but they also taste great over a loaded salad or homemade lentil nachos. Either way, it’s a healthy, protein-packed weeknight meal that you are sure to love!

This taco meat is very versatile and can be added to simple meals, like tacos and vegan burrito bowls. The options are endless, and you can get really creative with how you use this vegan taco meat!

I hope you enjoy these Instant Pot vegan tacos with lentil walnut meat as much as we do. If you try it, make sure to come back, leave a comment and rate it. Your feedback helps others and seeing you make my recipes makes my day! 

More Vegan Taco Recipes:

• Slow Cooker Taco Soup
• Vegan Fish Tacos
• Lentil Tacos with Roasted Cauliflower
• Vegan Tofu Migas Tacos
• Vegan Tofu Tinga Tacos

Looking For More Recipe Ideas?

If you are looking to dive deep into starting a healthier lifestyle, I just released a new 7-day email course on “The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Protein” with 40 new recipes- and it’s FREE!

You’ll learn everything there is to know about plant-based protein options and how to incorporate them into your everyday recipes.

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Instant Pot Walnut Lentil Tacos

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4.94 from 16 votes

Instant Pot Lentil Walnut Tacos! You’ve gotta try these vegan tacos. Lentil and walnut taco filling cooked in the Instant Pot, the perfect weeknight dinner!

Servings: 12 tacos

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Equipment

• Instant Pot

Ingredients 

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup diced white or yellow onion
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
• 1 cup dried brown lentils
• Taco toppings of choice: shredded lettuce, tomato, jalapenos
• Flour or corn tortillas, warmed

Instructions

• Turn the Instant Pot on and press the sauté button. Add the olive oil, onion and sauté until onion is tender and cooked through, stirring often, about 3-4 minutes.
• Add the spices and stir together. Hit cancel and add the vegetable broth, walnuts and lentils and stir to combine.
• Place the top on, move valve to sealing and cook on high manual pressure for 15 minutes. Once the timer beeps, cover the valve with a towel and switch it to quick release to release all of the pressure.
• Open lid and gently stir, seasoning with more salt and pepper as desired. 
• Serve lentils warm on tortillas of choice with toppings.

Notes

For the stove-top: Sauté the onion in olive oil until soft, then add in the spices. Cook another 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Add in vegetable broth, lentils and walnuts and increase to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook until lentils are tender, about 20-25 minutes.

 

This recipe was updated in July 2021. Previous recipe is here:

• 1 white onion, diced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 1/4 cups vegetable broth
• 1 (15 ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
• 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 cup dried brown lentils

1. Turn on Instant Pot and press the sauté button. Add the olive oil, onion, garlic clove and sauté until onion is tender and cooked through, stirring often, about 3-4 minutes.
2. Add the spices and stir together. Hit cancel then add the vegetable broth, tomatoes, walnuts and lentils and stir to combine.
3. Place the lid on and cook on high manual pressure for 15 minutes. Let pressure come down naturally for 4 minutes, then quick release. Remove the lid and stir lentils, seasoning to taste if needed.
4. Serve lentils on tortillas of choice with toppings. The lentil mixture will thicken as it cools.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tacoCalories: 106kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 5gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 0.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 261mgPotassium: 196mgFiber: 5gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 204IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 18mgIron: 2mg

Course: dinner, instant pot, main

Cuisine: Healthy, Vegan, Vegetarian

Author: Alexandra Caspero

If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, and tag your Instagram photos with #delishknowledge. I absolutely love seeing your creations. Happy cooking!