Deconstructed Taco Bowls
Step up taco Tuesday with this healthy deconstructed taco recipe. Read on for the deconstructed taco recipe and concept as well as taco bar ingredient ideas.
Related: Spring roll in a bowl recipe
Related: Steak and Arugula Salad Recipe
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What is a deconstructed taco?
A deconstructed taco is an easy way to get the flavors of your favorite taco without the crumbly mess of tacos! You eat deconstructed tacos with a fork and customize however you like!
The best part is that you can meal prep deconstructed tacos for lunches or dinners for the whole week or you can feed to a crowd.
how to make deconstructed tacos
Deconstructed tacos are fun for the whole family. Follow the recipe below for our family favorite, or customize however you like. Skip the chips and the tortillas to make a super healthy deconstructed taco bowl.
supplies to make life easier
The below items make making deconstructed tacos a million times easier and quicker, but are by no means a necessity! Use whatever you have on hand to cook beans, meat, and potatoes.
Deconstructed taco Ingredients
Beans ingredients
- 1 cup dry black beans (if using canned beans you can cut out the next ingredients in this section and step 1 below)
- 1 cup bone broth – see my recipe for homemade bone broth here
- 2 cups filtered water
- 1 red onion, sliced in wedges
Tacos ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 3 tbs avocado oil
- 5 tbs taco seasoning
- 1 large sweet potato
- 1 green bell pepper
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 bunch cilantro
- 1/2 avocado
- Jalapenos, chopped
- Ancho aioli – my homemade ancho aioli is so easy and delicious! You could also just do sriracha mayo.
- Tortilla chips
deconstructed taco Instructions
- Start by preparing your beans. If you’re using canned beans you can skip this step. If you’re using a pressure cooker then add your beans, water, bone broth, and red onion into the pot and set the top nob to sealing. Set on high pressure for 30 minutes then natural release for 15 minutes. *see tips for an alternate method.
- Once beans are going, start your meat. Preheat a cast iron skillet over medium-low heat. Add your avocado oil and let that preheat. Add your ground beef and break it up using a masher or the end of your spatula. Let the meat slowly cook, flipping occasionally until browned.
- Once the meat is pretty much brown, add your taco seasoning (be generous) and let the seasoning soak into the meat.
- While your meat and beans are cooking, chop all your veggies. We like to use sweet potatoes, bell peppers, jalapenos, cilantro, and avocado in our deconstructed tacos.
- Once the meat is browned and seasoned, transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside. Save the grease and oil for the next step.
- Fry your potatoes in the grease and oil from the ground beef. Turn the burner up to medium-high, add your potatoes and let brown on all sides until crispy.
- Assemble by adding meat, then potatoes, then beans, then cheese, veggies, and drizzle with ancho aioli.
Deconstructed taco storage
Refrigerator storage
Leave off the ancho aioli, avocado, and tortilla chips then refrigerate in an airtight container. When ready to enjoy, heat in the microwave or oven until heated through, then add the additional toppings.
Make ahead option
Double or triple this recipe to make ahead meals for the week. Leave off the ancho aioli, avocado, and tortilla chips then refrigerate in an airtight container. When ready to enjoy, heat in the microwave or oven until heated through, then add the additional toppings.
Freezer option
You can cook the meat portion ahead of time and freeze it to make this an even less hands-on meal. Do the same for the beans.
Tips for deconstructed tacos
- Add the cheese on top of all the hot ingredients so it melts and gets nice and gooey!
- Make your own bone broth for even more nutrient dense beans.
- If you don’t have a pressure cooker you’ll want to soak the beans overnight, then drain the water, and using the same ingredients as the pressure cooker method, just cook in a dutch oven covered with a lid for about 1 hour and 15 minutes in a 350 degree F oven (or stove set to medium).
- The meat will release lots of grease and combine with the avocado oil. Save this! You’ll use it for the potatoes
how to serve deconstructed tacos
Taco bowl – Just throw it all in a bowl and enjoy!
Deconstructed taco salad – throw all the ingredients on top of a bed of lettuce.
Dip tortilla chips – dip tortilla chips into your deconstructed taco so it’s like loaded nachos.
Set up a taco bar – Make it fun by setting up a bar of all your favorite taco ingredients and letting the family make their own deconstructed taco bar!
Meal prep – You can meal prep your deconstructed tacos for an easy make-ahead dish. They’re great for lunches and dinners.
Tacos in a bag – A fun way to enjoy these is by placing the ingredients in a personal-size bag of Frito chips or Doritos and mixing them all up.
when to serve deconstructed tacos
Taco Tuesday
Cinco De Mayo
Meal prep lunches/dinners
Hosting a taco bar dinner party
Game night dinner
taco bar ingredient ideas
Meat
- Shredded chicken
- Barbacoa beef
- Ground beef
- Chorizo
- Pork
- Carne asada
Starches/grains
- Sweet potatoes
- Brown rice
- Corn
- Quinoa
- Cilantro lime rice
- Black beans
Cheese
- Monteray jack
- Pepperjack
- Colby
- Manchego
- Cheddar
Veggies
- Mexican caviar (a blend of fresh veggies and beans) – if using this as a topping for deconstructed tacos, simply omit the beans portion of the recipe above.
- Shredded lettuce
- Bell peppers
- Jalapenos
- Red onion
- Tomatoes
- Avocado
- Green onions
Sauce
- Ancho aioli
- Sriracha mayo
- Sour cream
- Guacamole
- Chipotle mayo
Extras
- Pico de gallo
- Tortilla chips
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more dinner recipes
Spiced Pumpkin & Chorizo Chili
honey jalapeno chicken tenders recipe
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Pin it for later – Deconstructed Taco bowls
Related: Low sodium taco seasoning
print the deconstructed taco recipe
Deconstructed Taco
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Start by preparing your beans. If you're using canned beans you can skip this step. If you're using a pressure cooker then add your beans, water, bone broth, and red onion into the pot and set the top nob to sealing. Set on high pressure for 30 minutes then natural release for 15 minutes. *see tips for alternate method.
- Once beans are going, start your meat. Preheat a cast iron skillet over medium-low heat. Add your avocado oil and let that preheat. Add your ground beef and break it up using a masher or the end of your spatula. Let the meat slow cook, flipping occoasionally, until browned.
- Once the meat is pretty much brown, add your taco seasoning (be generous) and let the seasoning soak into the meat.
- While your meat and beans are cooking, chop all your veggies. We like to use sweet potatoes, bell peppers, jalapenos, cilatnro and avocado in our deconstructed tacos.
- Once meat is browned and seasoned, transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside. Save the grease and oil for the next step.
- Fry your potatoes in the grease and oil from the ground beef. Turn the burner up to medium high, add your potatoes and let brown on all sides until crispy.
- Assemble by adding meat, then potatoes, then beans, then cheese, veggies, and drizzle with ancho aioli.
Notes
Deconstructed taco storage
Refrigerator storage
Leave off the ancho aioli, avocado, and tortilla chips then refrigerate in an airtight container. When ready to enjoy, heat in the microwave or oven until heated through, then add the additional toppings.Make ahead option
Double or triple this recipe to make ahead meals for the week. Leave off the ancho aioli, avocado, and tortilla chips then refrigerate in an airtight container. When ready to enjoy, heat in the microwave or oven until heated through, then add the additional toppings.Tips for deconstructed tacos
- The meat will release lots of grease and combine with the avocado oil. Save this! You’ll use it for the potatoes.
- If you don’t have a pressure cooker you’ll want to soak the beans overnight, then drain the water, and using the same ingredients as the pressure cooker method, just cook in a dutch oven covered with a lid for about 1 hour and 15 minutes in a 350 degree F oven (or stove set to medium).
- Add the cheese on top of all the hot ingredients so it melts and gets nice and gooey!
- Make your own bone broth for even more nutrient-dense beans.
how to serve deconstructed tacos
Taco bowl – Just throw it all in a bowl and enjoy! Deconstructed taco salad – throw all the ingredients on top a bed of lettuce. Dip tortilla chips – dip tortilla chips into your deconstructed taco so it’s like loaded nachos. Set up a taco bar – Make it fun by setting up a bar of all your favorite taco ingredients and letting the family make their own deconstructed taco bar! Meal prep – You can meal prep your deconstructed tacos for an easy make-ahead dish. They’re great for lunches and dinners. Tacos in a bag – A fun way to enjoy these is by placing the ingredients in a personal-size bag of Frito chips or Doritos and mixing them all up.when to serve deconstructed tacos
Taco Tuesday Cinco De Mayo Meal prep lunches/dinners Hosting a taco bar dinner party Game night dinnertaco bar ingredient ideas
Meat- Shredded chicken
- Barbacoa beef
- Ground beef
- Chorizo
- Pork
- Carne asada
- Sweet potatoes
- Brown rice
- Corn
- Quinoa
- Cilantro lime rice
- Black beans
- Monterey jack
- Pepperjack
- Colby
- Manchego
- Cheddar
- Shredded lettuce
- Bell peppers
- Jalapenos
- Red onion
- Tomatoes
- Avocado
- Green onions
- Ancho aioli
- Sriracha mayo
- Sour cream
- Guacamole
- Chipotle mayo
- Pico de gallo
- Tortilla chips
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