Name: Baked Walnut Taco Meat With Black Beans
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 medium yellow onion (chopped into chunks); 2 cloves garlic; 2 cups walnuts; 1 15-oz can black beans (drained and rinsed); 1 packet taco seasoning; 2 Tbsp tomato paste

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This six ingredient walnut taco meat is your new weeknight staple. It’s nutty, meaty (hold the meat), packed with bold flavors, and ridiculously easy to make. Bonus: everything comes together in under 45 minutes!

Serve it anywhere you need vegan taco meat, like these taco salad meal prep jars, buffalo white bean tacos, or vegan breakfast tacos with tofu scramble!

A baking sheet with clusters of golden-brown walnut taco meat on parchment paper, with a metal spoon resting on the sheet.

Most vegan taco meat uses tofu or lentils, but I went with a walnut and black bean combo here for crispy edges, bold flavor, and that perfect chewy bite. Whether you’re craving tacos, burrito bowls, or nachos, this is the kind of pantry-friendly recipe you’ll want to make on repeat, folks!

Taco ’Bout a Winner

Only 6 Ingredients: No endless shopping lists here. We’re keeping it short and sweet with just a few pantry staples!
Stupid Versatile: Tacos, bowls, nachos, lettuce wraps—anything you’d normally throw meat in, this meatless taco filling can do better.
Great For Meal Prep: It stores like a champ and tastes even better the next day.

Two hard shell tacos filled with seasoned ground vegan meat, lettuce, tomato, shredded cheese, cilantro, and drizzled with white sauce on a metal tray.

Here’s What You’ll Need

Everything for this walnut and black bean taco filling should already be in your pantry (or super easy to snag at the store!). Jump down to the recipe card for exact measurements.

Walnuts: We’ll use raw walnuts here for their neutral taste and tender-meaty texture. (If you don’t have raw walnuts, toasted also work!)
Black Beans: You can use home-cooked beans, but canned black beans give the most consistent texture and are super convenient here.
Aromatics: Feel free to use yellow or white onion, and make sure your garlic is fresh!
Taco Seasoning: This combo gives our plant-based taco crumbles a slightly spicy, smoky depth.
Tomato Paste: Gives this nut-based taco meat a deeply savory boost.

Six glass bowls on a green checked tablecloth containing black beans, chopped onion, taco seasoning, garlic cloves, tomato paste, and walnuts, each labeled with text—perfect ingredients for making Walnut Taco Meat.

Let’s Make Walnut Taco Meat

You’ll be shocked at how easily this vegetarian taco meat recipe comes together. This is an overview of the recipe. Jump to the recipe card for the full printable recipe!

Blend everything until just combined (it’s okay if there are some chunks!).
Bake on a parchment-lined baking sheet in as thin of a layer as possible.
Serve warm anywhere you would use taco meat!

Flip It!

For the crispiest texture, don’t skip flipping the taco meat! After 15 minutes in the oven, remove the tray and use a spatula to flip and break up the mixture to get those irresistibly edges.

Four hard shell tacos filled with seasoned ground walnut taco meat are arranged on parchment paper, with some filling scattered around them.

Sarah Bond holding a baking sheet with browned crumbled food, likely Walnut Taco Meat or another meat alternative, in a bright kitchen.

Customizable

Feel free to customize this walnut taco meat to your liking! You can use sunflower seeds for a nut-free version. And black beans are classic, but kidney or pinto beans work just as well here.

Two hard shell tacos filled with ground vegan taco meat, shredded cheese, lettuce, diced tomatoes, and topped with a white sauce, served in a metal tray.

Pairs Well With

Tempeh Taco Salad: Replace the tempeh taco meat with this walnut and black bean taco filling for an equally delish lunch.
Vegan Burritos: Add some to these homemade vegan burritos for an even more filling meal.
Air Fryer Nachos: Sprinkle some walnut taco meat over top these cheesy, melty nachos for the ultimate combo.

A bowl of cooked seasoned ground vegan taco meat with a spoon, surrounded by bowls of shredded cheese, chopped lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, and taco shells on a checkered tablecloth.

Two hard shell tacos filled with Walnut Taco Meat, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, cilantro, avocado, and drizzled with white sauce, served on a metal tray.

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Baked Walnut Taco Meat With Black Beans

5 from 3 ratings

By: Sarah Bond

Prep: 15

Cook: 30

Total: 45

Servings: servings

This 6-ingredient walnut taco meat is bold, hearty, and meat-free. Ready in under 45 minutes for an easy, flavorful vegetarian dinner staple.

Ingredients

▢ 1 medium yellow onion, chopped into chunks
▢ 2 cloves garlic
▢ 2 cups walnuts
▢ 1 15-oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
▢ 1 packet taco seasoning
▢ 2 Tbsp tomato paste

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C).
Blend: Add 1 medium yellow onion and 2 cloves garlic to a food processor and blitz until broken down. Add in 2 cups walnuts, 1 15-oz can black beans, 1 packet taco seasoning, and 2 Tbsp tomato paste. Pulse just until evenly combined (it's okay if there are still some bigger pieces).
Bake: Spread mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet in as thin of a layer as possible. Bake for 15 minutes, then use a spatula to flip everything overn and break up the big chunks. Return to the oven for another 15 minutes. It should be browned and crispy at the edges when finished.
Serve warm anywhere you would use taco meat!

Notes

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also freeze everything for up to 2 months in a flat layer in a reusable bag or container. Reheat in a skillet or oven for the best texture.

Can I use raw walnuts? Yes! Raw walnuts work best here. Toasted ones can be a bit too bitter or oily, and we’re baking them anyway.

Can I make this in a skillet instead of the oven? Yes! Use a large non-stick or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Stir frequently and cook until browned and dry. It won’t get quite as crispy as the oven but still tastes great.

Nutrition

Nutrition information calculated by Sarah Bond, degreed nutritionist.

did you make this?Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!

5 from 3 votes

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