Meatless Monday + Taco Tuesday Dinner Recipes
Fun, Friendly, and Flavor-Packed Ideas for Every Weeknight
If you’ve ever stared into your fridge at 5 p.m. wondering what on earth you’re going to cook for dinner, you are absolutely not alone. Between work, kids, activities, and the endless “What’s for dinner?” chorus, meal planning can feel like another full-time job. That’s exactly why adding theme nights like Meatless Monday, Mexican Monday, Taco Tuesday, Stir Fry Wednesday, and Pizza Friday is a complete game-changer.
Theme nights turn meal planning from overwhelming to FUN. They give your brain a simple framework to follow, help you rotate in new ideas without reinventing the wheel, and keep your family excited about mealtime. And honestly? Kids are way more enthusiastic about dinner when they know it’s Taco Tuesday, Casserole Night, or Slow Cooker Sundays. It turns a basic weeknight into something to look forward to.
Today we’re diving into two of the easiest and yummiest themes of all:
Meatless Monday — a fantastic way to sneak more plants, color, and variety into your weekly meal plan
Taco Tuesday — because who doesn’t love tacos?
And because you’re busy and deserve simplicity, these ideas are friendly, flexible, and totally customizable.
Let’s get cooking!
Why Meatless Monday Works (and Why It’s So Easy!)
You don’t need to be vegetarian to enjoy a meatless meal once a week. It’s simply a great way to add more veggies, beans, grains, and whole ingredients to your menu — things that go a long way in terms of nutrients, texture, and flavor.
Plus, meatless meals are often:
Budget-friendly
Quick to prepare
Kid-friendly (yes, really!)
Full of flavor
Perfect for meal prep
A lot of families also pick a meatless night simply because it keeps things simple. No defrosting chicken. No complicated marinades. Just vegetables, beans, rice, tortillas, and everyday pantry staples.
Let’s start with some Meatless Monday dinner ideas your whole family will request again and again.
Meatless Monday Dinner Recipes
1. Loaded Black Bean Tacos (Easy + Kid-Friendly)
When people think "meatless," they often imagine a sad plate of lettuce. Nope! These black bean tacos are filling, flavorful, and taste like something from your favorite restaurants.
Ingredients:
2 cans black beans, drained
1–2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp mild chili powder
1 tsp cumin
Salt + pepper
Corn tortillas or taco shells
Favorite taco toppings: shredded cheese, avocado, cilantro, salsa, lettuce, sour cream
Optional: tortilla chips on the side
Instructions:
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add beans, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper.
Mash slightly with the back of a spoon for a more “refried” texture.
Warm tortillas.
Build tacos and load them with toppings!
This meal is an easy way to feed even picky eaters. Add a side of brown rice or a quick grain bowl for extra fiber and fullness.
2. Mushroom Tacos with Cilantro-Lime Sauce
If you love the meaty texture of mushrooms, you’ll fall in love with this mushroom taco recipe. It’s savory, satisfying, and perfect for a cozy night of the week when you don’t want a big meal.
Ingredients:
1 lb mushrooms, sliced
1 tbsp olive oil
½ onion, chopped
1 tsp chili powder
½ tsp paprika
Corn tortillas
Quick cilantro-lime sauce (blend in a food processor):
½ cup sour cream
Cilantro
1 tbsp lime juice
Pinch of salt
Instructions:
Sauté onions and mushrooms in olive oil until browned. Add seasonings. Assemble tacos with a drizzle of the sauce and enjoy.
3. Red Beans + Brown Rice Grain Bowls
A totally underrated meatless Monday option! Red beans paired with fluffy brown rice create the ultimate comfort bowl.
Top with:
Diced tomatoes
Green onions
Avocado
A splash of hot sauce
It packs protein, fiber, and long-lasting energy for the whole family.
4. Veggie Stir Fry with Crispy Tofu
A perfect Asian night option!
Use any veggies you like:
Carrots
Cabbage
Bell peppers
Broccoli
Snap peas
Stir-fry in olive oil, garlic, and soy sauce. Add cubed tofu and serve over rice noodles or brown rice.
It’s colorful, quick, and absolutely delicious.
5. Creamy Black Bean Pasta
A fun twist for pasta night — and a clever way to add plant-based protein.
Blend in a food processor:
1 can black beans
Garlic
Olive oil
Salt
Chili powder
Splash of pasta water
Toss with hot pasta and top with cheese. Kids LOVE this because it tastes like creamy taco pasta.
Why Theme Nights Make Meal Planning Easier
If you’ve struggled with meal planning, dinner themes are your new best friend. You can create a full weekly meal planwith almost no thought.
Here’s a simple example:
DayThemeIdeasMondayMeatless Monday / Mexican MondayBlack bean tacos, mushroom tacos, grain bowlsTuesdayTaco TuesdayTaco casseroles, tostadas, loaded nachosWednesdayHump Day Stir FryNoodles, veggie bowls, fried riceThursdayChicken NightChicken fajitas, sheet-pan chickenFridayPizza FridayHomemade pizza, Trader Joe shortcutsSaturdayCasserole NightBakes, lasagna, corn casseroleSundaySlow Cooker SundaysChili, soups, shredded chicken
Choose a night of the week, match the theme, and boom — you’ve simplified your kitchen life.
Taco Tuesday Dinner Recipes
Now that Meatless Monday is covered, let’s talk about the main event: Taco Tuesday.
Taco Tuesday is magical because there are endless variations. Whether it’s crispy tacos, soft tacos, taco casseroles, taco salads, or tostadas — the “whole thing” is customizable.
Here are some Taco Tuesday recipes that will become regulars in your lineup.
1. Family-Friendly Taco Tuesday Recipe: Loaded Black Bean + Corn Tacos
Perfect when you need new ideas but don’t want anything complicated.
Ingredients:
1 can black beans
1 cup frozen corn
Olive oil
Taco seasoning
Soft corn tortillas or taco shells
Shredded cheese
Lettuce
Avocado
Salsa
Directions:
Sauté beans and corn in olive oil with seasoning. Spoon into tortillas and top with your favorites. Easy, fast, delicious.
2. Taco Casserole (Comfort Food Win!)
A casserole is the ultimate comfort food—warm, cheesy, cozy. And this one combines all the flavors of tacos into one dish.
What you need:
Black beans
Tortilla chips or crushed taco shells
Shredded cheese
Salsa
Corn
A sprinkle of mild chili powder
Bake at:
350 degrees F for about 20–25 minutes, until bubbly.
Serve with sour cream and shredded lettuce. Perfect for casserole night or when you want to feed the whole family with almost no effort.
3. Veggie + Rice Taco Bowls
Quick, colorful, and amazing for meal prep.
Layer:
Brown rice
Black beans
Corn
Shredded lettuce
Tomatoes
Cilantro
Your favorite salsa
Add grilled veggies or roasted sweet potatoes, and you have a hearty, budget-friendly bowl.
4. Crispy Tostadas with Refried Beans
Tostadas = crunchy, satisfying, and easy.
Spread refried beans on crisp tostada shells, top with lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and avocado. Serve with a side of French fries (yep, lots of families do this on Taco Tuesday!) or a small salad.
5. Mushroom + Pepper Taco Mix
Sauté mushrooms, onions, and bell peppers in olive oil with chili powder. Add a squeeze of lime. Done!
This mix is also incredible in:
Quesadillas
Burrito bowls
Nachos
Additional Theme Nights for Your Meal Plan
If you love the idea of different themes for each night of the week, here are more ideas to spark creativity.
Make Your Own Weekly Themes:
Meatball Monday (yes, even meatless versions!)
Meatloaf Monday
Mexican Monday
Hump Day Stir Fry
Casserole Night
Asian Night
Pizza Nights (homemade, store-bought, Trader Joe shortcuts)
Chicken Night
Slow Cooker Sundays
Food themes help you avoid the burnout of thinking of a brand new recipe every single day. Choose a theme and rotate your “favorites” with new ideas sprinkled in.
Your Go-To Taco Toppings List (Save This!)
Build-your-own tacos are the best for families because kids love customizing.
Here are easy toppings for every taco dinner:
Lettuce
Shredded cheese
Avocado or guacamole
Tomato
Red onion
Cilantro
Lime wedges
Sour cream
Jalapeños
Black beans
Corn
Salsa verde
Pico de gallo
Hot sauce
Whether you’re using taco shells, corn tortillas, or making a grain bowl, these toppings keep things fun and flavorful.
More Easy Meatless Monday Ideas
Want even more inspiration? Here are quick ideas you can add to your rotation without a recipe:
Veggie quesadillas
Cauliflower tacos
Baked sweet potatoes loaded with beans and salsa
Black bean soup
Bean + cheese burritos
Stir fry noodles
Veggie fried rice
Grain bowls with roasted veggies
Mexican brown rice bowls
These are amazing options when you want to keep Monday simple after a busy weekend.
How to Use This Post for Your Weekly Meal Plan
Here’s a simple formula:
Monday – Choose one Meatless Monday recipe
Tuesday – Pick a Taco Tuesday dish
Wednesday (Hump Day) – Stir fry of your choice
Thursday – Chicken night
Friday – Pizza Friday
Saturday – Try something new
Sunday – Slow Cooker Sundays
This gives you structure without feeling boxed in — a fun way to mix reliable favorites with new recipes.
Tips to Make Meatless Meals More Satisfying
If your family is used to meat-heavy meals, start with dishes that feel hearty.
Try including:
Black beans
Red beans
Brown rice
Corn
Mushrooms
Potatoes
Avocado
Cheese
Heavy-on-the-flavor seasonings
Tortillas
Tostadas
Mixed veggies
These create that warm, filling “big meal” feeling that keeps everyone satisfied.
Final Thoughts: Meatless Monday + Taco Tuesday Make Life Easier
Whether you’re feeding a big family, a small household, or just yourself, establishing fun, flavorful dinner themes is such a fun way to simplify your week.
With just these two theme nights — Meatless Monday and Taco Tuesday — you suddenly have 8–12 easy recipes you can repeat, remix, and rotate throughout the whole year.
You’ll:
Reduce cooking stress
Add more variety to your meals
Try new ingredients
Enjoy more plant-based meals
Create fun weekly traditions
Keep your kids excited about dinner
Avoid the “What should I cook?” panic
The only thing left to do now? Pick which recipe you’re making first.
Are you starting with loaded black bean tacos, mushroom tacos, or a cozy taco casserole?