Unparalleled in its ability to mimic the texture of meat, jackfruit is the plant-based "meat" you didn't know existed. From crispy fried faux chicken to comforting bowls of coconut curry, here are the best jackfruit recipes we love.
10 Jackfruit Recipes for Delicious Meatless Meals
Updated on Jul. 03, 2025
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Jackfruit Tacos
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This jackfruit tacos recipe is my vegan spin on traditional pork carnitas tacos. The spicy cumin chipotle sauce is delicious and coats the shredded jackfruit so well that even meat eaters won't notice the difference! —Lila Cornelio, Morton Grove, Illinois
Nutrition Facts:
2 tacos: 325 calories, 10g fat (2g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 1249mg sodium, 51g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 17g fiber), 14g protein.
Jackfruit and sliced mushrooms team up to make a taco filling with a meaty, umami texture made entirely from plants. Shredded cabbage and pepitas add a nice crunch, and the homemade chipotle sauce is worth the extra effort.
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Jackfruit Tacos with Green Apple Salsa
Total Time
35 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These easy jackfruit tacos are flavored with taco seasoning and topped with fresh green apple salsa. Make them vegan by omitting the dairy sour cream sauce or substituting vegan sour cream mixed with plant-based milk. —Henrie Marie, Marlboro, New York
Nutrition Facts:
3 tacos: 748 calories, 39g fat (10g saturated fat), 22mg cholesterol, 3603mg sodium, 88g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 19g fiber), 15g protein.
While the taco spice-seasoned jackfruit filling is excellent (and easy!), the star of these tacos is the green apple salsa. To make it, chop up all things green: avocados, green apples, cucumbers, cilantro, green onions, green bell peppers and one jalapeno. If you’re vegan, make sure to buy a dairy-free sour cream!
Vegetarian Bao Buns with Pulled Jackfruit Filling
Made from a simple yeast-leavened dough, these fluffy steamed bao, also known as baozi, are a vegetarian-friendly take on the popular Taiwanese street food dish. Pavani Nandula of Cook’s Hideout shreds unripe jackfruit and stews it in a savory hoisin-based sauce. Don’t forget to top things off with some grated carrot, shredded cabbage and crushed roasted peanuts before serving. This is one of the most irresistible jackfruit recipes you’ll ever make!
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Sri Lankan Jackfruit Curry (Polos Curry)
Not only is this Sri Lankan jackfruit curry recipe by Dini Kodippili of The Flavor Bender vegan, but it’s gluten-free as well. Braising the jackfruit for a couple of hours in coconut milk and aromatic spices like curry powder and cinnamon results in incredibly tender pieces of jackfruit meat. Serve this creamy curry with a side of cilantro-lime rice or roti for a hearty weeknight meal.
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Jackfruit Pot Roast
Looking for some meatless Monday motivation? Brita Britnell of Food with Feeling recommends using jackfruit as a substitute in traditionally meat-heavy dishes like this simple pot roast. When cooked, unripe jackfruit takes on a meaty texture and acts as a flavor sponge, making it the perfect meat substitute for vegetarians.
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Slow Cooker Jackfruit Stew with Celery Root Mash
Get your slow cooker out for this addition to our roundup of jackfruit recipes. Lindsay Grimes Freedman of The Toasted Pine Nut makes jackfruit the star of the show in this nourishing stew. Mashed celery root, which is high in fiber and a great low-carb replacement for potatoes, rounds off this flavorful and easy-to-assemble weeknight meal.
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Chicken Fried Jackfruit
Tired of tofu? There’s no better jackfruit recipe to showcase the fruit’s incredible ability to mimic both the texture and taste of meat than this chicken fried jackfruit recipe by I Can You Can Vegan. Don’t skip the buttermilk in this recipe—blogger Desiree Daniels says it’s the key to achieving a crispy outer skin and tender inner meat.
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Vegan Reuben Jackfruit Sandwich
The ever-versatile jackfruit serves as the best replacement for corned beef in this vegan Reuben sandwich recipe by Cadry’s Kitchen. The secret to achieving the meat’s distinctive coloring? Two tablespoons of cooked beets are all you need, says blogger Cadry Nelson.
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Easy Vegan BBQ Jackfruit Sandwiches
With barbecue season upon us, these vegan BBQ jackfruit sandwiches by Emilie Hebert of Emilie Eats are sure to wow guests at your next outdoor cookout. Ready in under 40 minutes, this sweet and savory shredded jackfruit recipe is so convincing, it’s sure to confuse even the staunchest carnivores in your life!
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Whole30 BBQ Jackfruit
This Whole30-compliant dish from blogger Sarah Nevins of A Saucy Kitchen uses dates to sweeten the jackfruit recipe’s homemade barbecue sauce. The result? A tangy, savory base in which the jackfruit can stew. Best served in a roasted sweet potato or atop a bowl of greens, this under-30-minute meal will also keep for several days in the fridge, ensuring hearty leftovers for the rest of the week.
Jackfruit Recipe FAQs
Does jackfruit taste like meat?
No, jackfruit does not taste like meat, although its mild taste easily takes on any flavor it cooks with. Plus, jackfruit’s texture mimics the same tender, juicy texture as cooked meat. Between these two characteristics, it’s easy to see why jackfruit makes a great meat substitute.
What is the best way to eat jackfruit?
The best way to eat jackfruit is entirely up to your preference! Since jackfruit mimics the texture of meat and can take on virtually any flavor, you can prepare jackfruit in your favorite recipe as a meat replacement. Try jackfruit in tacos, curries, stews, pot roasts and so much more.
Should I use fresh or canned jackfruit?
Canned jackfruit is best for savory recipes since it is normally made from mild and not very sweet unripened jackfruit. Fresh jackfruit is sweeter, with notes of mango and apples, and is perfect for a snack or a dessert.
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