Simple and Creative Walking Taco Party Ideas to Try
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Are you tired of the same old boring taco night? Spice things up with our easy walking taco party ideas! These delicious, no-mess meals are easy to prep and delicious to eat. With customizable toppings and easy cleanup, it’s the perfect party food and a great way to entertain your friends and family.
We’re sharing our best ideas to host an amazing walking taco bar party for your next gathering. From ingredients to your favorite toppings to how much meat to make we’re covering it all! Be sure to check out our best taco party ideas for more tips and inspiration.
If you’re looking for a quick-and-easy way to celebrate a graduation, tailgate, or team dinner look no further than the mighty walking taco. And it’s a fun way to feed guests for birthday parties and holidays like Cinco de Mayo.
This interactive meal option is perfect for large gatherings because each person can customize their own bag with their preferred toppings. It also eliminates the need for plates, making cleanup a breeze.
So grab your favorite tortilla chips and let’s get started on planning the ultimate walking taco extravaganza!
Everyone loves a good taco bar or walking taco casserole, especially picky eaters. Why? Because they can pick and choose their favorite toppings to create the perfect meal.
Customizable eats are always a huge hit at parties, and what better no-mess way to feed your guests than with tacos in a bag? They’re easy to prepare and much of the work can be done ahead of time.
And they’re ideal for parties when you don’t have a lot of space to set up, such as a tailgate or picnic in a park. And a no-mess cleanup makes them a natural choice for entertaining.
What Is a “Walking Taco?”
Okay so if you’re scratching your head when I say “walking taco bar” don’t worry, you’re not alone. Essentially, a walking taco is made when you add your favorite taco ingredients into a small bag of chips like Doritos or Fritos.
You pile on the seasoned meat and fixings over the chips. The chips give you that taco shell “crunch” while the bag allows you to easily walk around while eating. Using a fork or spoon, you scoop out the ingredients and nosh.
The concept originated in Sante Fe and is similar to a “Frito Pie” although that dish is usually made with chili and Fritos. Walking tacos can use tortilla chips, Doritos, Fritos, or even potato chip bags and are loaded up with your favorite taco toppings and ingredients.
Ideas for Hosting A Walking Taco Party
It’s similar to hosting a regular taco bar party, except instead of using tortillas you’ll use individual-sized sized bags of chips. Simply provide a variety of fixings, a meat option or two (such as chicken or ground beef), and serve over a bags of chips.
Alternatively, you can provide bowls for folks who might not want to eat from a chip bag. This creates more of a taco salad without the chips. No matter how you eat it this dish is mobile and easy to walk around with.
How To Make Walking Tacos
Creating your own, mouth-watering walking taco is fairly simple. Start by preparing your protein. We use our taco in a bag and crockpot taco meat recipes. Or use shredded chicken mixed with our homemade taco seasoning.
Grab a small bag of chips and crush them slightly for easier eating. Then prepare the chip bags by cutting the bag open across the top or along the side.
Next scoop in some meat followed with your favorite toppings like lettuce, chopped tomatoes, cheese, salsa, onions, sour cream or any other taco fixing you want. You can also use beans in place of meat for a vegetarian version.
Now it’s time to grab a spoon and chow down! When you’re finished simply toss the bag out. It’s not a complicated but that’s the beauty of this party idea. And it’s super customizable for every taste.
If you’re using a bowl, the process is the same, except you’ll put all the ingredients in a bowl. You can even put your walking taco bar ingredients over tortilla chips for an added crunch.
Walking Taco Bar Ingredients
When it comes to hosting a walking taco bar, the sky really is the limit. With so many different ingredients you can use, simply choose your favorites or tailor them towards your guest preferences.
As a rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to have a couple protein options, especially if you’re hosting a larger gathering. Select two types of meat fillings (I usually go with beef and chicken). You can also add a veggie protein for more variety.
This allows guests to pick and choose different combinations and gives options for virtually any set of tastebuds.
Chip Ideas for Tacos in a Bag
- Doritos – Cool Ranch or Nacho Cheese flavors
- Frito corn chips
- Takis or Flaming Hot Cheetos for a spicy version
- Regular potato chips
- Tortilla chips
- Quest chips
Main Protein Options
- Seasoned crockpot chicken tacos
- Crockpot taco meat (beef)
- Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
- Beans – black beans or pinto beans work well
Must-Have Walking Taco Toppings
- Shredded cheese – Cheddar, Monterey Jack or Cotija
- Salsa – green or red
- Guacamole
- Sour cream
- Chives
- Chopped onions
- Sliced olives
- Shredded lettuce – go for crunchy iceberg
- Diced tomatoes
- Fresh cilantro
- Jalapenos – sliced, chopped or even candied slices
- Avocado – chunks or slices (toss with a little lemon juice to prevent browning)
- Pico de Gallo
- Taco Sauce
What to Serve with Walking Tacos
The best options are similar to what you would serve with regular tacos but feel free to get creative.
- Mexican street corn: This grilled corn on the cob is topped with traditional Mexican toppings like cotija cheese, chili powder, and lime juice.
- Fiesta salad: Made with black beans and corn, this hearty salad pairs well with tacos.
- Fruit salad: Balance out all the savory flavors with a fresh and colorful fruit salad.
- Churros: End the night on a sweet note by serving churros for dessert, perfect for dipping in chocolate sauce or caramel.
- Agua frescas: These traditional Mexican drinks are refreshing and perfect for guests of all ages.
- Margaritas: A taco party isn’t complete without margaritas! Serve your adult guests a classic lime flavor or mix it up with different flavors like strawberry or mango.
How Much Taco Meat Per Person?
Hosting a party requires you to have an accurate headcount with food. Make too little and there’s not enough to go around, too much can leave you with a lot of leftover party food.
For tacos: In general, a good rule of thumb to calculate how much taco meat you need per person is 2 to 2.5 ounces of meat per taco. Most people will have two, maybe three tacos, so use a multiplier of 2.5.
For walking tacos: The amount of meat and quantity per person will vary based on the size of your chip bags. You’ll want to figure about 1-2 ounces of meat for each bag. If using the 1-ounce size chip bags allow for 1 ounce of meat and 2-3 bags per guest.
Work your way backward by multiplying the number of guests by the number of walking tacos per guest. This gives you a number of tacos.
Then multiply by the number of ounces per taco and you’ll have a total ounce count. However, keep in mind when you’re cooking beef that one pound of ground beef only yields about 14 ounces of cooked meat (thanks to the fat).
Split this amount up between two different types of meat (such as chicken, pork, or beef) to get your final tally for how much meat you’ll need.
Remember, it’s okay to have a little fluff in there. Leftovers always make for great party favors, or you can use the remaining ingredients and re-heat them for nachos or taco soup during the week.
FAQ
Can I make walking tacos ahead of time for a party?
Most fillings and toppings can be prepared the day before, but it’s best to wait until serving time to assemble the walking tacos. I like to set up a self-serve station with all the toppings so guests can create their own tacos whenever they’re ready.
Can I make walking tacos vegetarian-friendly?
You can substitute the ground meat with plant-based alternatives like seasoned beans, tofu or grilled vegetables.
How do I keep the chips from getting soggy?
The best way to prevent soggy chips is to serve them in individual bags and have your guests add their preferred toppings right before eating. This will keep the chips crispy and delicious.
Are there any dessert options for a walking taco party?
Yes! You can switch things up and create sweet walking tacos by using small bags of Nilla wafers, pretzels or mini waffle cones as the base. Fill them with your favorite pie filling or ice cream and top with sprinkles, chocolate chips, or candies. These sweet tacos will add a fun twist to your party menu!
For your next casual gathering, consider hosting a walking taco bar party. This simple-to-make party food is a huge hit with even the pickiest eaters. Not to mention, it’s usually a mess-free meal that works well when you’re far from your kitchen. Enjoy this delicious party food at any time of year.
