Easy Buffalo Chickpea Tacos - Baked Vegan Taco Recipe

Gorgeously easy buffalo chickpea tacos, oven-baked or air-fried for a crisp finish. An easy lunch or dinner (plant-based - dairy-free - vegan)

Oh boy, you are going to enjoy these.

My husband is super happy each time I make these buffalo chickpea tacos.

They are super simple to make and are flavoured with my easy buffalo sauce, which really packs in the flavour.

Give them a go for a Tex Mex style lunch or dinner for your next Taco Night (have you heard of Taco Tuesdays?), warm out of the oven or air fryer.

Mmmmmm!

Jump to:

• 🥘 Chickpea taco 'meat'
• 🍴 Mash those chickpeas!
• 🥣 Homemade buffalo sauce
• 📋 What you need to make buffalo chickpea tacos
• 🧀 For cheese ooze
• 🥑 What else can you add?
• 👩🏻‍🍳 Make them gluten-free
• 👩🏻‍🍳 Be smart, make them ahead
• 🍲 Storing buffalo chickpea smash
• 🌮 Crispy or soft tacos?
• 🥗 What to serve with chickpea tacos
• 🌯 More vegan Tex Mex & Mexican recipes
• ⭐ Save your favourite recipes for free!
• 👩🏻‍🍳 How to make easy buffalo chickpea tacos
• 📖 Recipe
• Comments

🥘 Chickpea taco 'meat'

Mashed chickpeas are the substitute for meat in these flavour-packed tacos.

The delectable buffalo chickpeas are made with canned (or jarred) chickpeas, which are ready-cooked and so convenient.

They are also full of protein, which keeps you fuller.

Of course, you can soak and cook dried chickpeas if that's your thing!

Me. I'm short of time and prefer the convenience of tinned chickpeas.

🍴 Mash those chickpeas!

Mash those chickpeas with a fork, there's no need to use a potato masher or a food processor.

A fork is sufficient for the job.

I'll give you one tip though, don't try to mash them in a bowl as it's just too awkward as you are mashing on an angle.

Try mashing on a flat plate instead, it's much easier.

You can leave a few chickpeas whole for texture too.

🥣 Homemade buffalo sauce

I make a super simple vegan buffalo sauce, which only takes a couple of minutes to make.

My recipe for spicy buffalo sauce is a small batch recipe, so there's no waste.

You can buy buffalo sauce, but it's not so readily available here in the UK and is often not suitable for vegans.

It's much better to make your own, you know exactly what is in it.

🧀 For cheese ooze

Vegan cheese doesn't always melt well or ooze, but you can help it along.

As you can see from the photos, I didn't bother, but here's what you need to do.

Just add a dollop of vegan mayo to the grated cheese and mix well.

It will really help with the cheese melt and ooze.

🥑 What else can you add?

Here are a few more ideas for additions to these tacos.

• Bell pepper - I would usually add red, yellow or orange pepper, but this time I didn't have any, so I skipped them
• Fresh chilli pepper - chopped very fine to add more heat
• Guacamole - for serving

👩🏻‍🍳 Make them gluten-free

To make these vegan chickpea buffalo tacos gluten-free, just swap the flour tortillas with gluten-free tortilla wraps.

There are lots of brands to choose from, available in health food shops, grocery stores and supermarkets.

👩🏻‍🍳 Be smart, make them ahead

Make the chickpea filling ahead, like many dishes the flavours develop as it sits (in the fridge of course).

Then when you are making the tacos, it will be super quick!

🍲 Storing buffalo chickpea smash

Keep the chickpea taco 'meat' in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

🌮 Crispy or soft tacos?

I prefer soft tacos made from flour tortillas that are baked until crisp at the edges and warmed through.

They can also be warmed through in a dry, hot pan.

But of course, it's a personal choice.

You can buy crispy shells (corn taco shells) at the supermarket, but they aren't a healthy option.

However, if they are your thing, then go for it, who am I to stop you?

🥗 What to serve with chickpea tacos

Here are some serving suggestions for your tacos.

• Green salad - with a dressing, ranch dressing would be good
• Guacamole - or sliced avocado
• Salsa - homemade classic salsa or shop-bought
• Vegan sour cream - or try a creamy sriracha dip or whipped feta
• Sweet potato fries
• Potato wedges
• Tortilla chips - try homemade paprika tortilla chips

🌯 More vegan Tex Mex & Mexican recipes

Looking for more easy Tex Mex or Mexican recipes? Try these:

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👩🏻‍🍳 How to make easy buffalo chickpea tacos

These step-by-step photos will show you how to make easy vegan buffalo chickpea tacos.

Full printable recipe card below.

Step 2

• Now add the chopped tomatoes, herbs and buffalo sauce, then season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
• Mix well until all the ingredients are combined.
• Then add a quarter of the mixture to half of a mini tortilla and spread to the edges, leaving the other half with no filling.

Step 3

• Top with a layer of grated cheese.
• Fold the half with no topping over the filling and press down. Now do this for the other tacos, or pop the rest of the filling in the fridge to make more another day.
• Pop one (or more) filled tacos on a lined baking sheet and bake in the oven or air fryer until heated through and crisp at the edges.
• Serve with salad.
• Enjoy!

📖 Recipe