Taco Tuesday | Themed Dinner Ideas You Need to Try!

Meal planning is made so much easier when you use themed dinner ideas. Today I’m sharing some yummy themed dinner ideas for your next Taco Tuesday dinner. 

I love themed meal planning because it helps me come up with ideas without thinking too hard and long about it. For instance, when planning your menu for the week, your thought process might look like this:

This Tuesday our themed dinner menu will be Taco Tuesday. What can I make that’s a fun twist on Taco Tuesday?

Be sure to check out The Ultimate List of Themed Dinner Ideas here.

In our household, we’re vegetarian. In fact a large majority of our extended family is vegetarian as well. Sometimes I make vegetarian dinners that are just you know, naturally vegetarian. However, sometimes I take recipes that call for meat and replace the meat with a vegetarian option.

Being a vegetarian has many health benefits.

Vegetarian substitutions for meat:

You’ll find these products in the freezer aisle or health food section of your local grocery store. You can also find these products at most health food stores like Whole Foods.

• ground beef or turkey > vegetarian burger crumbles
• chicken > Quorn Meatless Pieces
• chicken breast > Quorn Meatless Filets
• shredded chicken or pork > canned jackfruit
• beef, chicken, or pork > black beans, pinto beans, or chickpeas
• deli meats > Lightlife Deli Slices
• sausage > Gimme Lean Breakfast Sausage, Field Roast Apple Sage Sausage

Taco Tuesday Themed Dinners

How to plan your menu in 4 easy steps:

1. Select your main dish.
2. Choose 2 – 3 side dishes that compliment your main dish.
3. Think about variety of food groups. Try to choose something from each of the main food groups.
4. Focus on providing well rounded, nutritious meals.

28 Main Dish Recipes

These fun and tasty main dishes are the perfect star of your next themed Dinner!

Yield: 8

Summer Squash Patties

21 Side Dishes Ideas

Use one of these delicious side dish options to round out your meal.

Yield: 8

Summer Berry Cherry Fruit Crisp

A warm, rustic dessert made with sweet berries and cherries, topped with a buttery oat crumble and baked to golden perfection in a cast iron skillet. Perfect served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Theme Day Menus: Taco Tuesday

Let’s put it all together. I’ll show you how I would create menus based on the themed dinner ideas I’ve shared above. 

related: Wish someone would do all your menu planning for you? Good news! Eat at Home Meal Planning service is a simple solution for busy women just like you. 

8 Themed Menu Plans

Several of the main dish recipes above would stand very well on their own without the need for side dishes. However, good side dishes always round out a meal and even help feed a large family – or crowd.

Themed Dinner Idea #1

• 10 Minute Vegan Taco Bowl

Themed Dinner Idea#2

• Easy Navajo Tacos
• Mexican Grilled Corn
• Chips and Garlicky Blender Salsa

Themed Dinner Idea #3

• Quick and Easy Vegan Tostadas
• Fresh Spinach Guacamole and Chips
• Cilantro Lime Rice

Themed Dinner Idea #4

• Crispy Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos
• Chipotle Corn Salsa and Chips
• Instant Pot Mexican Rice

Themed Dinner Idea #5

• The Ultimate Baked Tacos
• Fresh Lime Black Bean Salsa

Themed Dinner Idea #6

• Easy Vegan Tempeh Tacos
• Creamy Nut Free Vegan Nacho Cheese
• Chips

Themed Dinner Idea #7

• Cheesy Taco Lasagna
• garden salad

Themed Dinner Idea #8

• Walking Taco Bar
• Double Batch Smashed Beans

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