Smash Tacos (Made With Chickpeas)
These Vegan Smash Tacos are made with Chickpeas, and topped with a tangy Caesar Dressing, and ready in about 20 minutes!
I’ve been seeing a Chicken Caesar Smashed Taco making the rounds on the internet, and even some vegan versions using Chickpeas, so I thought I’d try my hand at it and I’m glad I did!
These are not only super easy to whip up, but so dang good! I’ve been eating them for lunch and dinner the past few days and can’t wait to make more variations on it!
This Smash Taco Recipe also makes about 1.5 pounds worth, and I recommend doing 2 oz. portions, so that’s 12 Tacos!
ingredients for a Chickpea Smash Taco
- Chickpeas – I’m using canned chickpeas, but fresh will work too. You’ll need about 3 cups (500g) of cooked chickpeas. If you use low sodium canned chickpeas you will likely have to adjust the salt since I used regular canned chickpeas.
- Flavorings – Soy Sauce, Pickle Brine, Vegan Mayo, will be our wet flavorings. Onion and Garlic Powder, Dried Parsley and Thyme, Nutritional Yeast will be the dry seasonings. You can also add anything you like, I tried some out with Cumin and Cayenne and they were fantastic!
- Binders – I’ll be using Cornstarch and Instant Potato Flakes for the binders. You can also use Breadcrumbs if you like instead of the Potato Flakes.
- Caesar Dressing – I made my homemade Vegan Caesar Dressing, but you can use store-bought too of course!
- Lettuce – I went with Romaine, but Iceberg will work too!
- Vegan Parmesan – I grated a Violife Wedge, but use any Vegan Parm you like! Or skip it if you can’t find any!
- Crispy Onions – Instead of Croutons, I used Crispy Onions!
- Tortillas – You can use corn or flour, both work great! Just get the taco sized ones!
How to make a soy and gluten free Smash Taco?
For Soy and Gluten Free, swap the Soy Sauce for Coconut Aminos. I used Potato Flakes and Cornstarch, so it’s naturally GF on that end too. And obviously use Corn Tortillas for GF!
how to make a Smash Taco with Chickpeas
Make the Caesar Dressing, unless using store-bought.
Add the Chickpeas and the rest of the ingredients to a food processor. Blend the mixture until it’s smooth with some chunky bits still. If you don’t have a food processor you can add everything to a large mixing bowl and mash with a fork or potato masher.
Toss lettuce with Caesar Dressing.
For each Taco, grab a 2 – 3 oz portion of the Chickpea Mixture and roll into a ball.
Heat up a non-stick or well seasoned skillet over medium heat and add a little cooking oil. Once pan is hot, add the chickpea ball, and then top with a tortilla. Smash down with a burger press or stiff spatula.
Cook for 3 – 5 minutes or until the chickpea patty is nicely browned. You can flip and cook the tortilla to your liking as well if you’d like it to get browned and crispy.
Top Taco with some of the dressed lettuce, more Caesar Dressing, Grated Vegan Parmesan, I also like adding some crispy onions, or pepperoncinis, but add whatever you like and enjoy!
Storage
You can store the Chickpea Mixture for 3 – 4 days in the fridge. The Dressing will last about a week. I don’t recommend storing lettuce that’s been dressed as it’ll get limp and soggy.
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Smash Tacos (Made with Chickpeas)
Equipment
Ingredients
Chickpea Mixture
- 2 (16 oz) Cans of Chickpeas (See Notes)
- 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 3 – 4 Tbsp Vegan Mayo (or Neutral Oil)
- 2 Tbsp Pickle Brine (Or Vinegar)
- 2 Tbsp Nutritional Yeast
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- 1 tsp Dried Thyme
- 1 tsp Dried Parsley
- 2 Tbsp Cornstarch
- 3 – 4 Tbsp Instant Potato Flakes (or Breadcrumbs)
- Salt and Pepper
Tacos
- Tortillas (Flour or Corn)
- Vegan Caesar Dressing
- Romaine or Iceberg Lettuce (about 1/2 cup per taco)
- Vegan Parmesan
Instructions
Prep
- If making the Caesar Dressing, do that now and set aside.
- Chop and wash your Romaine or Iceberg Lettuce and set aside.
Chickpea Mixture
- Drain and wash the Chickpeas. Pat them dry with a paper towel or clean kitchen towel.
- Add the Chickpeas and the rest of the ingredients for the Chickpea Mixture to a food processor. If you don’t have a food processor you can add everything to a large mixing bowl and mash with a fork or potato masher.
- Blend the mixture until it’s smooth with some chunky bits still. Taste and adjust for seasoning. You can store this mixture in the fridge for 3 – 4 days.
Smash Taco
- Toss lettuce with as much Caesar Dressing as you'd like.
- For each Taco, grab a 2 – 3 oz portion of the Chickpea Mixture and roll into a ball.
- Heat up a non-stick or well seasoned skillet over medium heat and add a little cooking oil. Once pan is hot, add the chickpea ball, and then top with a tortilla. Smash down with a burger press or stiff spatula.
- Cook for 3 – 5 minutes or until the chickpea patty is nicely browned. You can flip and cook the tortilla to your liking as well if you’d like it to get browned and crispy.
- Top Taco with some of the dressed lettuce, more Caesar Dressing, Grated Vegan Parmesan, I also like adding some crispy onions, or pepperoncinis, but add whatever you like and enjoy!
Notes
- Chickpeas – I’m using canned chickpeas, but fresh will work too. You’ll need about 3 cups (500g) of cooked chickpeas. If you use low sodium canned chickpeas you will likely have to adjust the salt since I used regular canned chickpeas.
These were amazing! One of the most satisfying and delicious chickpea smashes I have ever had.
Oh nice, so glad you dug them too! Thank you!
Guys this was delicious, I’d highly reccommend trying this recipe.
I swaped out the chickpeas for green lentils and it worked out great 😊
Oh interesting! I was thinking of trying brown lentils, glad it worked out, thank you!
Liked this so much I’m making it again; thanks!
This was AMAZING!!!! The ranch was the best I’ve ever had!! 🎉
Will be making this A LOT 💚💚💚
Excellent! You used Ranch instead of Caesar? I gotta try that out!
Im not vegan and not even vegetarian but have been looking for good vegan recipes to reduce my animal product consumption. This recipe is a absolute keeper!!!! This will 100% go into my rotation! A flavorful and satisfying meal!!
That’s awesome, glad I can help you eat more plants! Thanks!
My Husband is a certified Chickpea Hater, do you think this will work with a butter bean or Great Northern?
Yes should be good!
Very tasty and great for meal prep! The chickpea base comes together quite quickly and different fillings offer a lot of variety. So far I’ve tried the tacos with the ceasar salad filling and a miso pickled onion and radish filling. Next, I think I’ll try tomatoes and cucumber with a kebab sauce.
Oh so glad to hear this! Yeah I think there’s so many different combos, can’t wait to try some more myself!
This is Awesome! Made Chickpeas from scratch the day before. It came together super easy, quickly. Even made your Cesar Dressing – yum. Made a batch of Derek Sarno’s “The Best Parmesan”, used instead of nooch and to sprinkle on top. The crispy onions & romaine added crunch. My husband, not a man of many words, when asked how was it, replied “REALLY GOOD” so I know he liked it a lot too. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Oh wow, I love to hear this! So glad we got him to enjoy it haha! Thank you!!
Ok, this recipe is a banger, 10/10. Adding cumin and cayenne puts it over the top. I did use brine, but didn’t have capers for the vegan dressing, so I just used guac, romaine, peppers and onions to top. SUPER GOOD. Healthy, budget friendly, vegan (plus2 cans worth of aquafaba to use for other stuff this week!)
Heck yes, glad the substitutions worked out! Thank you!
I was so excited to try this and it did not disappoint! It was so tasty and satisfying. Every recipe of yours I’ve made has been awesome!
Excellent! Love to hear this, so glad you are digging the recipes, thank you!
These are SO GOOD! We topped with veggies and a variety of dressings/hot sauces. I love how quickly these cook, and how the patties stick to the tortilla! Thanks so much for this recipe! 10 stars!!
Amazing to hear, thank you!!
This is the third recipe of yours that I’ve tried and I remain impressed. This way the tortilla and filling crisped up in the pan and contrasted the creamy caesar dressing really satisfied my cravings. Your recipes are quickly ascending to the top of my list; eager to try more!
This makes my day to hear, thank you!
Insanely delicious.
Glad you like it! Thank you!
This was a massive hit with my family! Even the picky kid asked for more! The dressing is banging also.
Awesome, always love when we can appease the picky eaters! Thank you!