Epic Breakfast Tacos

This breakfast tacos recipe has irresistible Tex Mex flavor! Whip them up as a fast and easy breakfast idea everyone will love.

When it comes to a special breakfast…this one might be our new favorite. Try this epic Breakfast Tacos recipe! These tacos are solidly in Tex Mex, stuffed to the brim with breakfast potatoes, cheesy eggs, cilantro and pickled onions. Alex was inspired by the flavors of breakfast tacos he had in Austin with our native Texan friend, and finally we’ve got a recipe that can recreate some of the magic. It’s the perfect fast and easy breakfast idea to jump start your morning.

The back story of breakfast tacos…a Tex Mex tradition

Breakfast tacos are a signature of Tex Mex cuisine: a fusion between American and Mexican styles. The idea of the breakfast taquito has been around since the 1950’s. But it was Austin, Texas where the phrase “breakfast tacos” was born, served at the staple Austin restaurant Tamale House. The concept caught on and spread all over Austin, and around the country.

The traditional breakfast tacos were simple: a flour tortilla with scrambled eggs, bacon, salsa and cheese. For these breakfast tacos, we’ve created our own spin but kept this straightforward Tex Mex take.

Ingredients for breakfast tacos

Ready to whip up your own version of this breakfast-time delicacy? This recipe is quick and easy to make. Here are the ingredients for these breakfast tacos:

Frozen diced hash brown potatoes: The fried potatoes are reminiscent of another popular taco served at Tamale House, and add fantastic flavor and texture. You can substitute regular frozen hash browns if you can’t find the diced variety. (Of course, you can also make homemade hashbrowns out of real potatoes.)
Scrambled eggs: The other staple in a breakfast taco? Scrambled eggs! Mix them with cheddar cheese to get them nice and gooey.
Hot sauce and salsa: They’re always a necessity!
Cilantro: A little fresh cilantro is crucial for flavor.
Pickled onions: Pickled onions add a zing and a crunch. If you can, make a batch in advance.

You can also add fresh or pickled jalapenos, if you like even more heat! They’re not necessary, but they add great flavor.

More topping ideas

Of course, the sky’s the limit when it comes to breakfast taco toppings! Simple is best with this type of taco, so don’t over do it! But you can use anything else that strikes your fancy, like:

Avocado
Bacon or coconut bacon
Queso fresco or Cotija crumbles
Seasoned black beans
Refried beans (homemade or canned)
Vegan taco meat
Lettuce
Tomatoes

Variation: 5 minute egg tacos!

Want to make an even faster version of these breakfast tacos? Or don’t have potatoes on hand and don’t want to run to the store? Try our 5 Minute Egg Tacos! The egg filling in these tacos is incredible: adding a few simple spices makes it taste more like chorizo than eggs. We highly recommend them: head over to the recipe for more.

Vegan variation

Can you make vegan breakfast tacos? Absolutely! The best way to make this recipe vegan is to substitute our Tofu Scramble for the scrambled eggs. It magically looks and tastes a lot like eggs! Or, you can use our Vegan Taco Meat in place of the eggs. Either one makes for an incredibly tasty vegan breakfast taco.

Tip: warm your tortillas

The other most important thing to note about breakfast tacos: you must warm your tortillas! There’s nothing worse than a cold, tough tortilla. There are a few different methods for doing so. Here’s how to warm tortillas like a pro:

Place them over the flame of a gas burner (preferred!). Place each tortilla directly on a gas burner for a few seconds per side, turning with tongs. This lightly chars the edges and warms the tortillas (so they’ll look like the photos). Then throw them into a tortilla warmer!
Warm them in the oven. If you don’t have a gas burner, you can warm them in the oven. Go to How to Warm Tortillas.

More breakfast recipes

Need more inspiration to start the day? Here are some of our favorite breakfast recipes to power your morning:

Make eggs all the ways: scrambled, sunny side up, over easy, over medium, or over hard
Infuse more veggies with Breakfast Vegetable Scramble or Easy Tofu Scramble
Go for a Breakfast Pizza topped with scrambled eggs
Opt for a Classic Omelette

This breakfast tacos recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, substitute Tofu Scramble for the eggs. Or, go to Black Bean Tacos or Refried Bean Tacos.