Taco Bar

Tacos are one food that never goes out of season. Whether celebrating Cinco de Mayo, hosting a birthday party, or watching the Superbowl, a taco bar is always a great choice for serving a crowd!

You can also save yourself stress the day of your party by preparing just about everything the night before. With tons of tasty toppings, cheese, and condiments, even the pickiest eaters can create a taco they love.

🥘 Ingredients

This list of tasty taco toppings is a loose suggestion. If you don't see your favorite ingredients, go ahead and add them to your taco bar anyway- you really can't mess it up.

I recommend choosing at least 5-7 toppings and condiments, though you can always add more. For more suggestions, take a look at my page, which is dedicated entirely to taco toppings.

Tacos & Meat

• Ground Beef Taco Meat - 4-5 pounds of ground beef taco meat (2 batches of my recipe), or you could make a few batches of my ground beef tacos.
• Taco Shells - 20 taco shells (or 6-inch corn or flour tortillas).

Toppings

• Cheddar Cheese - Freshly shredded cheddar cheese will melt the best.
• Queso Fresco - Queso fresco (crumbled).
• Nacho Cheese Sauce - Nacho cheese sauce (use a crockpot to keep it warm).
• Tomatoes - tomatoes (diced)
• Guacamole - Try my classic guacamole, or choose something new like creamy guacamole or hatch chile guac!
• Avocado - You can't go wrong with freshly sliced avocado! A drizzle of lime juice will help keep it from browning.
• Pico de Gallo - Leave the seeds in the jalapenos if you like things spicy!
• Onions - Red or white sliced onions or pickled onions if you have them!
• Green Onions - Sliced green onions, scallions, or chives.
• Lettuce - Shredded iceberg lettuce adds a nice crunch to tacos.
• Black Beans - You can use canned black beans or even refried black beans!
• Corn - Keep it simple by using canned corn, or make grilled corn for even more flavor!
• Roasted Onions & Peppers - Roasted onions and bell peppers are super quick and easy to prepare!
• Jalapenos - Diced or sliced jalapenos are a must-have for those who like things spicy. You could also use a jar of pickled jalapenos!
• Cilantro - A sprinkle of chopped cilantro goes a long way!
• Cilantro Lime Rice - People can put this fragrant citrus rice on their taco or on the side!
• Mexican Rice - Restaurant-style Mexican rice that can also be served on the tacos or on the side!

Condiments

• Pineapple Salsa - This fresh fruit salsa adds a somewhat sweet and unique flavor to tacos (or try mango salsa).
• Salsa - Use your favorite red salsa or try my delicious roasted salsa roja.
• Sriracha - A bottle of Sriracha will make all the spice lovers happy, though you can use whatever hot sauce you like!
• Sour Cream - Sour cream is a must-have taco topping if you ask me!
• Queso - A rich and creamy queso is perfect for dipping chips or topping tacos!
• Spicy Ranchero Sauce - Rich and creamy spicy ranchero sauce pairs perfectly with tacos!
• Avocado Ranch - Homemade avocado ranch dressing is always a hit.
• Baja Sauce - This copycat Taco Bell Baja sauce is zesty with just a hint of jalapeno and lime.

🔪 How To Make A Taco Bar

The key to making the perfect taco bar is to arrange everything in a way that makes sense to your guests.

Grab a knife and cutting board (if you haven't already prepared the toppings), some ramekins, spoons for serving, and, of course, all your plates, napkins, and silverware as needed.

I find 4-5 pounds of taco meat makes 20 large and even more smaller tacos. You will want about 2 cups of each topping for 20 tacos.

1. Arrange the toppings & condiments. Arrange all the toppings and condiments on a table (or another surface) that is easy for guests to access. Start with plates and utensils at the head of the table, and (if possible) label the various ingredients so guests can easily navigate your taco bar.
2. Prepare the taco meat. Taco shells (or warmed tortillas) should also be at the head of the table. Once you have prepared 4-5 pounds of ground beef taco meat, place it next to 20 taco shells with a spoon for serving.
3. Build your tacos! Let guests make their way down the line, adding their favorite combinations of toppings and condiments!

After dinner for dessert, try any of my favorite Mexican dessert recipes!

💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Notes

• The nutritional information listed here is for 1 plain ground beef taco only and does not include all the toppings.
• Use a crockpot to keep taco meat warm (or you can cover it tightly in foil until ready to serve). 
• You will want to have about 2 cups of each topping for 20 tacos, though you can certainly make less if you are cooking for a smaller crowd!
• To save yourself time on the day of your party, dice, slice, shred, and chop all your veggies and cheese and keep them in the fridge until ready to build your taco bar.

🥡 Storing & Reheating

Leftover condiments or toppings should be covered and refrigerated for up to 3 days. Leftover taco meat should be placed in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to 4 days.

For personal amounts, I recommend reheating your taco meat in the microwave. To reheat large amounts, add it to a large skillet over medium heat until warmed through.

❓ Recipe FAQs

😋 More Mexican Favorites

• Mexican Pralines - These chewy Mexican candies will be a hit at your next party!
• Chicken Fajitas - Juicy strips of chicken, onions, and bell peppers that make a great dinner any day of the week!
• Albondigas Soup - A rich and hearty soup filled with homemade albondigas meatballs!
• Caldo de Pollo Mexicano - Nothing beats a warm and comforting bowl of this savory chicken and vegetable soup!
• Tacos Dorados - Crispy golden tacos loaded with seasoned beef and all the fixings!
• Beef Empanadas - A flaky pastry stuffed with savory meat filling, yum!

📖 Recipe Card

Originally published February 23, 2023