35 Top Taco Recipes

Tacos continue to surge in popularity and it's easy to see why –– the small tortilla bundles are filled with a variety of meat, seafood and vegetables cooked in savory sauces and are piled with bright, spicy toppings. Here are some of Cooking Channel's best.

Related To:

Photo By: Tara Donne

Photo By: Evan Sung for The New York Times

Photo By: Emmer Schmidt

Photo By: Tara Donne ©Tara Donne

Photo By: Barry Russell ©Barry Russell

©Romulo Yanes

Photo By: Tara Donne

The Ultimate Fish Tacos

Pair Tyler Florence's crispy mahi mahi taco filling with a pink chile mayonnaise, made with chipotles in adobo, and a crunchy mango-radish salsa for the ultimate tacos packed with fresh flavors and textures.

Get the Recipe: The Ultimate Fish Tacos

Braised Pork Tacos

Slow and gentle cooking transforms pork shoulder into succulent, pull-apart shards of meat. Coupled with smoky chipotle sauce and pickled onions, you’ll have the perfect taco for your fiesta.

Get the Recipe: Braised Pork Tacos

Chili-Rubbed Steak Tacos

A fragrant chili powder, cinnamon, garlic and cayenne pepper rub readies lean sirloin steak for grilling in this unbelievably tasty taco recipe. The limey avocado salsa — made lighter with crunchy cucumber — balances all that spice.

Get the Recipe: Chili-Rubbed Steak Tacos

Fish Tacos with Chipotle Cream

Ellie’s chipotle cream — made out of yogurt, mayo and chipotles in adobo — is so flavorful, you only need to dress these lean fish tacos in a tablespoon of the sauce.

Get the Recipe: Fish Tacos with Chipotle Cream

Beef Tacos

The beef in these tacos needs little more flavoring than a spicy, briny marinade of pickled jalapenos. Grilled to your liking, they are packaged with onion, cilantro and potent salsa de arbol.

Get the Recipe: Beef Tacos: Tacos de Carne Asada

Swordfish Tacos

Swordfish coated in a fresh tarragon, shallot and white wine marinade is begging to be wrapped in a charred flour tortilla and topped with zesty tomatillo salsa.

Get the Recipe: Swordfish Tacos

Skirt Steak Tacos with Roasted Tomato Salsa

Bobby grills plum tomatoes until they're charred and soft, and then purees them with sauteed serrano chiles, onion, cilantro and garlic to make a roasted tomato salsa that pairs perfectly with his skirt steak taco filling.

Get the Recipe: Skirt Steak Tacos with Roasted Tomato Salsa

Chili Braised Lamb Tacos

Kelsey braises bone-in lamb shanks in a homemade chile paste until they're tender enough to shred, then loads the meat into toasted tortillas. Topped with tomatillo guacamole, sliced radishes and pickled peppers, these tacos are filled with fresh Mexican flavor.

Get the Recipe: Chile Braised Lamb Tacos

Grilled Skirt Steak with Grilled Tomatillo Salsa

A spicy-sweet rub readies skirt steak for filling these flavorful tacos, encased in homemade corn tortillas. A fresh tomatillo salsa adds that sour tang characteristic of the green fruit and lime creme fraiche balances out the dish with zesty brightness.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Skirt Steak with Homemade Corn Tortillas, Grilled Tomatillo Salsa, and Cilantro

Fish Tacos

Chunks of tender, lime-marinated mahi mahi form the perfect taco base and when topped with crunchy lettuce, fresh pico de gallo and avocado, harken to their Southern California (by way of Mexico) origins.

Get the Recipe: Fish Tacos

Shredded Pork and Pineapple Tacos

Adorn Kelsey's slow-cooked shredded pork with quick pickled red onions and an array of garnishes, like sweet diced pineapple, cojita cheese and shredded red cabbage, for a winning fiesta dish.

Get the Recipe: Shredded Pork and Pineapple Tacos

Spicy Chicken and Chorizo Tacos

The fiery toppers for these tacos –– chipotle sour cream and quick pickled jalapenos –– can both be fully prepped in the time it takes the meats to roast in the oven.

Get the Recipe: Spicy Chicken and Chorizo Tacos

Sabrina’s Tacos

Inspired by a great meal he enjoyed on the Yucatan Peninsula, Bittman shares this recipe for Sabrina's Tacos with roasted chiles, corn, potatoes and onions.

Get the Recipe: Sabrina's Tacos

Cumin-Seared Scallop Tacos

The secret to Kelsey's essential tacos is perfectly seared scallops (use a cast-iron skillet) and lots of fresh, bright condiments.

Get the Recipe: Cumin-Seared Scallop Tacos

Yayo's Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos

Yayo's OMG Food Truck in Nashville, Tennessee takes fish tacos to the next level with beer-marinated mahi mahi filets. They are lightly fried to achieve a golden brown crust and combined with orange coleslaw and a creamy cilantro sauce for a fragrant take on tacos.

Get the Recipe: Yayo's Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos

Turkey Tacos

Matt Armendariz found the perfect use for leftover turkey or chicken –– a taco that packs a spicy punch.

Get the Recipe: Turkey Tacos

Grilled Shrimp Tacos with Tropical Salsa

These shrimp take your taste buds on a south-of-the-border tour, from the spicy chipotle adobo marinade to their tropical topping of mango and tender cactus chunks flavored with epazote, a tangy Mexican herb. A squiggle of citrus crema caps off this flavor trip.

See More Photos: Fresh Summer Seafood Recipes

Cauliflower-Lentil Tacos with Fresh Guacamole

When tender lentils and riced cauliflower are combined and spiced up with chili powder, cumin and coriander, they become such a hearty, vegetarian taco filling that you won't miss the meat.

Get the Recipe: Cauliflower-Lentil Tacos with Fresh Guacamole

Baja Style Fish Tacos

Transform fresh fish filets into the perfect taco filling by coating them in a beer-laced batter, frying until crisp, then topping with a lemon-infused cream sauce.

Get the Recipe: Baja Style Fish Tacos

Carnitas Tacos

The trick to making this tender, succulent pork is marinating it overnight in a mixture of orange juice, oregano, thyme, garlic and condensed milk. It is then browned in pork lard and bundled in a corn tortilla. All these carnitas then need is a simple squeeze of lime and a sprinkle of diced onions.

Get the Recipe: Carnitas Tacos

Kung Pao Shrimp Tacos

After shrimp are stir-fried in a wok with garlic chili sauce, ginger and soy sauce, they're piled into a warm tortilla and garnished with slaw, honey-roasted peanuts and a drizzle of Sriracha for the ultimate fusion of Asian and Mexican flavors.

Get the Recipe: Kung Pao Shrimp Tacos

Tacos al Pastor

Meat prepared "al Pastor" is similar to the Greek gyro because it is slow-cooked on a vertical rotisserie. Chuck roasts pork in a marinade of fresh pineapple, onions and spicy guajillo chiles for authentic Mexican flavor before bundling it in these rustic tacos.

Get the Recipe: Tacos al Pastor

Tacos with Chicken in Poblano Chile Sauce

The bright green poblano chile sauce in this dish, made the mild peppers, onions and chicken stock, is a cinch to prepare and easily elevates simple chicken tacos.

Get the Recipe: Tacos with Chicken in Poblano Chile Sauce

Carnitas Tacos with Homemade Tortillas

With this recipe from Texas chef Tim Byres, you can turn your kitchen into a taco-slinging operation. A powerful dry rub made with spices like curry powder and paprika infuses the pork shoulder with plenty of flavor, while a two-ingredient recipe for masa tortillas will make you think twice about the store-bought stuff.

Get the Recipe: Carnitas Tacos with Homemade Tortillas

Grilled-Garlic Marinated Skirt Steak Tacos

Skirt steak, already a very flavorful cut of beef, is marinated in garlic and lime juice and then grilled to medium-rare for ideal enjoyment. Layer the thin slices of meat inside of a warm tortilla with charred spring onions for a smoky, flavorful taco.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Garlic-Marinated Skirt Steak Tacos

Jumbo Lump Crab Taco, Pickled Chiles and Avocado

Michael Symon’s dressed-up crab tacos will add some Iron Chef style to your next fiesta.

Get the Recipe: Jumbo Lump Crab Taco, Pickled Chiles and Avocado

Shrimp Cocktail Tacos

Taco night will be a breeze with Lisa Lillien’s guilt-free version, using precooked shrimp and prepared bean and corn salsa.

Get the Recipe: Shrimp Cocktail Tacos

Pork Belly Tacos

If you're looking for a fun twist on tacos, add watermelon and 5-spice-flavored pork belly to your corn tortillas.

Get the Recipe: Pork Belly Tacos

Pineapple Pulled Pork Tacos

Most of the work for this recipe happens in the oven: Pork shoulder cooks in a pineapple-ginger broth for two-and-a-half to three hours.

Get the Recipe: Pineapple Pulled Pork Tacos

Breakfast Tacos with Chorizo, Egg and Potato

Meet your new favorite brunch dish: egg tacos. The combination of chorizo, potato and plenty of cheddar cheese is a great way to start your day.

Get the Recipe: Breakfast Tacos with Chorizo, Egg and Potato

Sassy Wonton Tacos

Looking for an easy appetizer? Just mix together chicken, coleslaw mix, cilantro and a sesame-ginger barbecue sauce for Hungry Girl's low-calorie taco treat.

Get the Recipe: Sassy Wonton Tacos

"Don Juan" El Taco Grande

These Texas-size breakfast tacos are filled with bacon, potatoes and cheddar cheese — and you may never stop eating them.

Get the Recipe: "Don Juan" El Taco Grande

Tuna Tartar Tacos

For a fancier twist on tacos, fry up some dumpling wrappers and stuff them with homemade tuna tartar and wasabi guacamole. Your taste buds will thank you.

Get the Recipe: Tuna Tartar Tacos

Mexican Pot Roast Tacos

Tyler's Mexican spin on pot roast is slow-cooked, super-juicy and even tastier once it's topped with homemade salsa and guacamole.

Get the Recipe: Mexican Pot Roast Tacos

All-American Beef Taco

Alton Brown's tacos are classic and may remind you of your favorite fast-food joint. His Taco Potion #19 spice blend is easy to make in bulk and store in the cupboard for whenever your next craving hits.