12 Taco Recipes for Busy School Nights

Serious Eats has published a collection of 12 taco recipes to help families manage the back-to-school dinner rush. The recipes range from dead easy to super involved, with many designed for make-ahead preparation.

The source states that taco night can cheer up grumpy family members during the hectic transition from summer. The offered recipes provide a variety of fillings, including seafood, beef, and pork. These are balanced by bright salsas and fresh toppings.

Poc Chuc (Yucatán-Style Grilled Pork)

This recipe mimics traditional Yucatán pork tacos marinated in sour orange. It achieves a citrusy flavor by tossing grilled pork loin chops with a tangy citrus salsa after cooking. The method allows for better browning. Grapefruit, orange, and lime juice combine to mimic hard-to-find sour oranges. The meat is served in corn tortillas with pickled onions and avocado.

Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken

This recipe promises shreddy, juicy taco meat ready upon returning from work. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are cooked confit-style in a slow cooker with tomatillos, chiles, aromatics, and oil. Minimal liquid is used, but the vegetables and chicken release juices to create an umami-rich sauce. Serve in warm tortillas with sliced radishes and hot sauce.

Streamlined and Fusion Creations

The collection includes several streamlined or fusion dishes. Ground beef tacos are designed to be juicier and more flavorful than kit versions while remaining simple. Panuchos, typically a multi-step bean-stuffed tortilla dish, are simplified with a chicken topping. Crispy smashed taco-loaded potatoes combine loaded potatoes with Tex-Mex taco flavors.

Specialized Taco Methods

More involved recipes offer specific techniques. Beef tongue tacos involve slow-simmering the tongue in an aromatic broth, then crisping it in skimmed beef tallow. The resulting broth can be used for dipping. Baja fish tacos require soaking fish in vinegar and salt before frying, served with a fried serrano salsa and coleslaw.

Tacos Gobernador are Sinaloan shrimp and cheese tacos that are griddled until crisp. Homemade tacos al pastor use a tested method with thinly sliced pork sirloin and bacon, baked in layers to mimic a traditional trompo. Easy Mexican chorizo tacos can be made from seasoned ground pork or premade chorizo, fried for a crisp texture.

Hearty and Breakfast Options

Two recipes incorporate potatoes for heartier meals. Crispy potato and chorizo tacos combine crisp, creamy potatoes with spicy chorizo. Adding an egg makes it an ideal breakfast taco. Jamaican beef tacos are a mashup with Jamaican patties, featuring ground beef seasoned with Scotch bonnet peppers and curry powder, topped with a tropical fruit slaw.