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French Tacos

These French Tacos are made with pantry staples like French fries, BBQ sauce, vegan ground beef crumbles, mayo, onions and green onions. Let me tell you these won’t long last long, if you make them. These French Tacos are seriously the best taco you’ve ever tasted. A satisfying combo that the whole family will love.

A piece of the French Taco after dipping in BBQ sauce.

What is in a French Taco

You probably ask what it is all about these French Tacos that you can find at many fast food restaurants. Tacos in general are really versatile, you can fill them basically with anything you like.

Essential ingredient to these particular tacos is the fries, but from there on you can use a cheese sauce, mayo, mustard, ketchup, BBQ or chili sauce.

You can see there aren’t any rules, but the preparation is always the same and that makes them standout from other tacos. Once rolled and filled you can use a grilling pan as I did or make them fancy in a panini press to make lovely roast marks and a great crunch of course.

Ingredients needed for the French Tacos new assembled on a wooden board.

Why these are the best French Tacos

These are just amazing friends: the taste, the texture and flavor, oh boy you are going love them as much as I do!

French Tacos are so easy to make, but so impressive in flavor: typically for French tacos you have to make a roux which is a bechamel sauce and commonly known as white sauce with cheese added to make a cheese sauce. That is great, but requires some time. Instead I use vegan mayo and cheese for great flavor. This will save a really good amount of time and makes everything faster.

French fries are in these, I find this is such an amazing ingredient, filling comforting add great texture. And for the kids, who doesn’t love fries?

Step by step view of taco meat and black beans being prepared in a small frying pan.

Versatile: You can use a grilling, regular pan or panini press whatever you use it will always taste delicious.

I can’t help myself and don’t know about you, but I love a little bit of heat so I add chili powder and smoked paprika.

Crunch and texture fresh from the pan or press looks like it comes from a gourmet restaurant, but so budget friendly and easy to make from scratch.

Showing the ready vegan taco meat and the first steps of making the filling of the French tacos.

What you need for this French tacos recipe

Good news you will need everything simple, pantry staples –  nothing complicated or fancy about these:

  • French fries
  • Tortilla wraps
  • Black beans
  • Vegan ground beef crumbles
  • Olive oil
  • Garlic

 

View of the full filling of the French tacos on a tortilla and two ready French Tacos after baking.

How to make French Tacos

Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Bake your fries according to the manufacturer’s directions. 

Make the taco meat: heat olive oil in a pan and add onions and garlic. Fry for around 2 minutes, then mix in vegan ground beef and cook for around 4 minutes more. Season with smoked paprika, chili powder and a pinch of salt, pepper. Mix in black beans, turn heat off and set aside.

First I warm my tortillas for around 20 seconds in the microwave, because cold they will easily break when you try to roll them. This extra step is great. Alternatively you can use a pan or oven.

A red basket with one closed and one open cup French Taco revealing the filling.

I use 6 large tortillas: start with fries, then vegan mayo, cheese, taco meat, BBQ sauce, and scallions. Tuck in two ends of your tortilla, fold up the bottom. Make sure to use your hands to press the filling inside and finally roll tightly.

Heat a grilling pan (you don’t need any oil) wait until your pan is hot and add your tacos. Cook the French Tacos for 1 minute each side until you have visible grilling marks reached as you can see in my step by step pictures.

You can do the same in a conventional pan, but the appearance will be without any marks – still delicious and crunchy though.

Serve immediately these are so good hot and freezing is not recommend. These are best fresh.

A half French Taco is held in one hand over a small bowl with dipping sauce.

Tips and tricks

Here are my tips for best results for my French Tacos, friends:

My recipe is great for 6 large tortillas, you can use fewer or smaller ones. Please keep in mind no matter what tortillas you will use do not overstuff them with fillings, because this will make them fall apart.

You can eat leftovers like Loaded Fries.

A bite has been taken out of a French Taco.

Other great taco recipes to try:

Collage of two pictures of the French Tacos with recipe title text.

Try these French Tacos and tag me on Instagram or Facebook.

Cheers, Florian.

A half French Taco is held in one hand over a small bowl with dipping sauce.

French Tacos

Yield: 6
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

These French Tacos are made with pantry staples like French fries, BBQ sauce, vegan ground beef crumbles, mayo, onions and green onions. Let me tell you these won't long last long, if you make them. These French Tacos are seriously the best taco you've ever tasted. A satisfying combo that the whole family will love.

Ingredients

  • 6 large tortilla wraps (use gf, if you want to)
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 15 oz can black beans, drained
  • 1 lb french fries, frozen or fresh
  • 10 oz vegan ground beef crumbles
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce
  • 1/2 cup vegan mayo
  • 1 cup vegan cheese, shredded
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1/3 cup onions
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp chili powder
  • 4 green onions, chopped

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Bake your fries according to the manufacturer's directions. 
  2. Make the taco meat: heat olive oil in a pan and add onions and garlic. Fry for around 2 minutes, then mix in vegan ground beef and cook for around 4 minutes more. Season with smoked paprika, chili powder and a pinch of salt, pepper. Mix in black beans, turn heat off and set aside.
  3. First warm the tortillas for around 20 seconds in the microwave, because cold they will easily break when you try to roll them. This extra step is great. Alternatively you can use a pan or oven.
  4. I use 6 large tortillas: start with fries, then vegan mayo, cheese, taco meat, BBQ sauce, and scallions. Tuck in two ends of your tortilla, fold up the bottom. Make sure to use your hands to press the filling inside and finally roll tightly.
  5. Heat a grilling pan (you don't need any oil) wait until your pan is hot and add your tacos. Cook them for 1 minute each side until you have visible grilling marks reached as you can see in my step by step pictures.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1 Taco
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 434Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 1099mgCarbohydrates: 56gFiber: 9gSugar: 2gProtein: 17g

 

Eric Lovelace

Tuesday 21st of September 2021

Okay, you just blew my mind! I have never heard of French tacos, but when we get back from camping next week -- they are ON the menu :)

Florian

Tuesday 21st of September 2021

Hi Eric! These are amazing and so tasty. Let me know what you think.

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