A vegetarian play on carnitas, these instant pot jackfruit tacos are going to satisfy your weeknight craving for Mexican food.
I’m happy that jackfruit is having a moment. I mean it’s still having a moment. Sure it’s been around for a little while but it was just named one of the top food trends for 2019, which means it basically just won the Oscar for best new food.
I first tried jackfruit years ago, on a taco from a food truck in Boston, and was BLOWN away. I was like this stuff is fruit?! But it tastes like meat! Mind. Blown. So what exactly is jackfruit? It’s a giant fruit (no joke, it can grow up to 100 lbs) that is indigenous to India but now grows in tropical and subtropical climates like Southeast Asia. Unripe or green jackfruit is what you can use for savory applications, like taco “meat” or pulled “pork”. Ripe jackfruit is orange/yellow and is sweet and sticky, making it perfect for dessert applications. How interesting is that? One fruit can either be used as a vegetarian meat replacement or in dessert depending on its ripeness.
I bought my jackfruit in a can from Trader Joes and it was soaking in its own brine but you could also be super ambitious and look for the whole fruit in the produce section. Just don’t ask me how to cut it. I’m not there yet lol. Despite being a meat replacement, jackfruit doesn’t actually contain much protein so pair it with some beans or Greek yogurt for an extra protein boost. It is however a nutrient-dense fruit rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, magnesium, vitamin B6 and fiber.
I’m excited by how easy it was to make these tacos in the Instant Pot. Ya’ll know my love for the IP by now. All I had to do was throw all the ingredients in the IP, set it, and then I had time to throw in a load of laundry and do the dishes! #SUCKERFOREFFICIENCY. This would be a quick and easy weeknight meal idea. And if you want to take it an extra step to make the texture and flavor even more carnitas-like, you can throw the jackfruit onto a baking sheet and let it bake under the broiler until it’s nice and crispy. But if you don’t want to dirty another pan and create another step for yourself, I’m with ya! They’re delicious as is.
These tacos are spicy, savory and packed with flavor. Delicious with an extra squeeze of lime, dollop of Greek yogurt or sour cream and a drizzle of hot sauce. I used corn and avocado on these babies but feel free to experiment with different toppings like cabbage, beans, rice, etc.
To keep the recipe vegan, you can use a vegan sour cream or just omit it and for a gluten-free version, just be sure to use a gluten-free soy sauce.
Enjoy these tacos on a weeknight when you’re pressed for time or a Saturday night accompanied by a margarita and chips and guac 😉
Instant Pot Jackfruit Tacos
(9 votes, average: 3.78 out of 5)
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- Yield: Serves ~6
Description
A vegetarian play on carnitas, these instant pot jackfruit tacos are going to satisfy your weeknight craving for Mexican food.
Ingredients
For the jackfruit carnitas:
- 2, 20-ounce cans jackfruit, drained and rinsed
- 1 red onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon oregano
- 1 chipotle in adobo sauce, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3/4 cup vegetable broth
- Salt to taste
For serving:
- Corn tortillas, warmed
- Avocado, sliced
- Corn
- Lime wedges
- Cilantro
- Greek yogurt or sour cream
Instructions
- Shred the jackfruit using your fingers or a knife so that it looks similar to pulled pork consistency.*
- Add shredded jackfruit, onion, garlic, cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, oregano, chipotle pepper, tomato paste, soy sauce and vegetable broth to the Instant Pot and stir to combine.
- Secure lid onto Instant Pot. Close the steam vent (should be on sealing). Set to high pressure for 8 minutes. Allow natural pressure release for 10-15 minutes.
- After 10-15 minutes, use quick release valve to release steam.
- Once pressure is released, open lid and stir jackfruit. Season with salt, to taste.
For the tacos:
- Assemble tacos by evenly distributing jackfruit carnitas, avocado, corn, lime, and cilantro among corn tortillas. Serve immediately.
Notes
You could also shred the jackfruit with a fork after it is done cooking.
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I’ve made this a couple times now and it turned out great. Thank you! ^_^
So glad that you enjoyed it, Marta!
If I only do one can of jackfruit do I need to change the amount of time I set the instant pot for?
You could probably cut the time in half.
I like to try this
Do you drain the cans or add to the ip?
Thanks
Drain the cans first. Enjoy!
Hello
I love jackfruit but dont have an InstaPot.
How can I make this without the InstaPot?
Thank you
Looks delicious!
This is soooo good! We just got an instant pot and had a can of jackfruit lying around, so halved the recipe. It turned out great! I will also be trying the broiler trick for when I do this for friends and want to be a little fancier.
So happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, Cara!
I tried this recipe and it was very delicious. My family enjoyed it as well. Will be making this again. One thing I’ll probably do is mix the chili powder in the water first so it doesn’t have that grainy taste.
I’m glad to hear your whole family enjoyed it, Terry!
These look so good! I didn’t know you can get jackfruit in a can, I’ve only seen it whole one or two times and I’ve been way too intimidated to buy it. Cans make life so much easier!
Oh yeah, I wouldn’t mess it with it outside of a can! LOL
I love jackfruit and I love tacos, so winning combo right here!
Yes!!
Who would have thought this wasn’t meat!? Definitely need to make these now!
Enjoy, Emily!
I’ve always wanted to give jackfruit a try and this is the perfect simple recipe to do just that! This looks so good and I especially love that it’s all plant-based.
Yay! Enjoy!
I’ve never worked with jackfruit before! Thanks for giving me a reason to!
Give it a whirl!
this looks like the perfect application for jackfruit!
Thanks!
Were do you get the jackfruit at.. I’m in milton florida we don’t have a Kroger’s here..Does Walmart.. Winn Dixie Or Target sell it.. Thank You :Yolanda
Hi! I got it at Trader Joe’s. I’m not sure about those other stores but I’m sure one of them would carry it!
What a great recipe! I love taco Tuesday!
Thanks, Amy! I love taco Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday…;)
These photos are gorgeous! The first time I tried jackfruit was with a fresh one and I wasn’t a huge fan… plus it was expensive! Still haven’t tried it from a can, but these are making my mouth water! Time to give the canned jackfruit a go. 🙂
Thanks, Catherine! Canned is less expensive! At least at TJ’s it was 🙂
Totally trying this! I haven’t used the instant pot much lately and I bet this gets soo much flavor in the jackfruit!
Awesome!
This looks good enough to be from a restaurant 🙂
Ah, you’re so sweet! 🙂