Vegan Jackfruit Carnitas Tacos
Jackfruit is one of those ingredients that genuinely earns its reputation — when it's shredded and cooked down with the right spices, the texture is uncanny in the best possible way. Here, young green jackfruit gets braised in a bright mix of fresh orange juice, lime juice, and vegetable broth alongside cumin, smoked paprika, and oregano until it's deeply tender and packed with flavor. The real magic happens at the end, when you crank up the heat and press the shreds against the pan until the edges go golden and slightly crisp — that caramelized bite is what makes these tacos feel genuinely satisfying rather than just a substitution. Everything is completely plant-based, built from whole, recognizable ingredients with no meat alternatives or processed stand-ins required. Piled onto warm, lightly charred corn tortillas and finished with diced white onion, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime, each taco is bright, smoky, and a little addictive. Sliced avocado and your favorite salsa or hot sauce round things out beautifully if you want to go all in. This recipe serves four and is the kind of weeknight dinner that quietly converts skeptics at the table.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the carnitas
- 2 cans (20 oz each) young green jackfruit in brine or water, drained and rinsed
- 2 tbsp olive oil, divided
- 1 medium white onion, finely diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ cup fresh orange juice (from about 1 large orange)
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 1 lime)
- ½ cup vegetable broth
For serving
- 8 small corn tortillas
- ½ cup white onion, finely diced
- ½ cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
- 1 avocado, sliced (optional)
- salsa or hot sauce, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Pat the drained jackfruit dry with paper towels. Using your hands or two forks, pull apart any large chunks into shreds, discarding any tough core pieces. The texture should resemble pulled meat.
- 2
Heat 1 tbsp of the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add the diced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.
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