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Taco bars are a great way to feed a group of people, whether for a party, a crowd, or just your own family. When it comes to building a taco bar, there are many toppings and condiments to choose from. We’ve put together this guide on how to build your own taco bar to get you started.
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What do you need to build a taco bar at home?
When you build your own taco bar, there are several things you need, no matter how many people you’re serving. Here are the must haves for a homemade taco bar:
- Taco shells. This is the vessel for constructing the taco. Most people just think of soft or hard taco shells coming in the corn or flour makeup, and it’s nice to offer both for variety. Nowadays, there are even more great variations, such as these nacho cheese shells which are a knockoff of the Doritos Locos tacos. Even soft taco shells have fun varieties, like these soft taco boats. They’re easy to fill and carry which is perfect for a taco party.
- Fillings. You’ll need to assemble some fillings for your tacos. This includes meat, beans, cheese, and various vegetables. See our section on the most popular taco bar fillings below for more ideas.
- Condiments. Just like fillings, there are many choices when it comes to condiments for a taco bar. Salsa, hot sauce, and sour cream are very popular options, but there are a lot of other great ideas too. See our condiments section for more suggestions.
- Sides. While just eating tacos is great, it’s also nice to offer sides. From enhancing flavors to further customization options, sides are important too.
- Drinks. Everyone needs to wash their food down with something. We’ll take a deeper look at what drinks go well with tacos later on.
- Serving station (optional). While you don’t need a serving station to create a nice taco bar, they can certainly aid in presentation and keep things more organized.
- Plates, napkins, cups, and utensils.
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For an extremely quick and easy family taco station, try out our review of the Taco Lazy Susan.
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What are the most popular taco bar fillings?
You’ve decided to put together your homemade taco bar, and now you’re stuck on the fillings and want to know what’s most popular. Here’s a list of the most popular taco bar fillings you can use to please every palate:
Meat
Ground beef is by far the most popular taco bar filling when it comes to meat. Brown it and season with a packet of taco seasoning, and you’re good to go.
If you’re looking for a lower calorie option, chicken is the second most popular meat for a taco bar filling. Fish is a very popular lean taco filling as well, but it’s difficult to keep it crisp and fresh for a taco bar setting, so it’s not our recommendation.
Beans
Refried beans are the most popular style of bean for a taco bar filling. You can find refried beans preseasoned in a can or in microwaveable pouches. Simply heat them up, and place them in a bowl for serving.
They’re a great addition to meat as a filling and offer a vegetarian alternative filling for anyone who doesn’t eat meat. If you were ever a fan of the Double Decker taco at Taco Bell, you can always replicate it. First, spread some refried beans on a soft taco shell. Then place a hard taco shell on it and wrap the sides up and around the hard shell!
Cheese
The most popular taco bar filling for cheese is shredded cheese. Many stores offer a Mexican blend, which has Monterey Jack, Cheddar, Asadero, and Queso cheeses. Alternatively, a taco blend has Cheddar and Asadero, but also includes taco seasonings blended in. Both are great choices for adding to your taco bar.
If you want to offer another choice, queso is a wonderful alternative to cold shredded cheese. However, queso needs to be kept warm to ensure it can be spooned onto a taco. A small crock pot or fondue pot should do the trick.
Vegetables
The most popular vegetable seen on a taco bar is shredded lettuce. Just use regular iceberg lettuce and shred it yourself, or find a pre-shredded bag in your local grocery store. That’s not to say that there aren’t other great options though. Here are some other popular vegetable toppings for a taco bar:
- Diced fresh tomato
- Jalapeno slices (fresh or pickled)
- Onion (diced raw, or sautéed strips)
- Sautéed bell pepper strips
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What condiments go with tacos?
There are a number of different condiments you can offer for tacos when you build your own taco bar. Here are some of the most popular condiments that go with tacos:
- Salsa (including corn salsa)
- Sour cream or crema
- Hot Sauce
- Cilantro
Hot sauce and salsa will add some heat, allowing guests at your taco party to customize to their comfort. Sour cream or crema will add a creamy texture and relieve some of the heat. Cilantro makes a nice garnish, adding a fresh element. If you have any guests that are team “no cilantro” don’t worry, they don’t have to put it on.
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How many tacos does 1 pound of meat make?
If you’re setting up a taco bar for a crowd, you’ll want to know how much meat to buy. Generally speaking, 1 pound of meat makes about 10 tacos. This can vary slightly, depending on how much filling each person wants in their tacos.
Assuming the average person will eat about three fully loaded tacos, here is how much meat you’ll need for a taco bar for a crowd:
- 1 pound of meat – 10 tacos – feeds 3 people
- 3 pounds of meat – 30 tacos – feeds 10 people
- 5 pounds of meat – 50 tacos – feeds 15 people
- 10 pounds of meat – 100 tacos – feeds 30 people
- 15 pounds of meat – 150 tacos – feeds 50 people
If you know Uncle Fred can eat 10 tacos on his own, adjust accordingly!
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Can I cook taco meat the night before?
Yes, you can cook taco meat the night before. When preparing a taco bar for a crowd, this can save you a lot of time. Just brown the meat, add the seasonings, and then store in a container overnight in your refrigerator.
When it comes time to reheat your taco meat, you have a few options. Warm it in a frying pan on the stove in batches, or you can microwave it if you’re in a rush. Alternatively, a crock pot can be used to reheat it as well. Simply place the meat in the slow cooker. If it’s dry, add a small amount of beef or chicken stock to it. Set your crock pot on the ‘low’ or ‘warm’ setting, and it will slowly bring it up to temperature.
I personally like the slow cooker option as long as I have time. It will take a couple hours to bring the cooked taco meat back up to temperature. Once it’s done though, you just put the crockpot on your taco bar, and it keeps your meat warm all night. Let’s face it, no one likes cold taco meat.
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What sides go with a taco bar?
In addition to the tacos themselves, it’s nice to offer a variety of sides for your taco bar. Here are some great sides you can offer at your taco bar party:
- Mexican rice. This seasoned rice makes the perfect side to tacos or can be spooned into the taco for yet another filling option.
- Black beans. Separate from their refried counterparts, this delicious side is often a staple on Mexican plates.
- Lime wedges. Not only a garnish for your beer, lime wedges are a great side for a taco bar. Just squeeze the lime over your taco for a little acid.
- Tortilla Chips. Tortilla chips are so versatile. They can be dipped in salsa or queso for a quick snack all night. Guests can also utilize them to build a nacho plate.
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What drinks go with tacos?
Your taco bar is set, but you know your guests need something to drink with their food. Here are the best drinks to go with tacos at your taco bar party:
Non-Alcoholic:
- Jarritos. This Mexican soft drink comes in a variety of fun flavors sure to quench your thirst.
- Horchata. This creamy rice based drink has notes of cinnamon and vanilla for a sweet treat.
Alcoholic:
- Cerveza style beer. This is a lighter style beer that pairs perfectly with tacos. You can find it at your local beer store. Common brands are Corona, Dos Equis, Modelo, Tecate, or Sol.
- Margaritas. This tequila based drink is the perfect cocktail for your taco bar party. You can mix the tequila with margarita mix ahead of time in a pitcher. Just set it out with some ice, glasses, and salt for the rim.
From kids to adults, you’ll find great options for drinks to go with tacos. By offering lime wedges on the side for the tacos, you’ll also have drink garnishes on hand as well!
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What else goes with tacos for a party?
Now that we have the food and the drinks covered, it’s time to consider what else goes with tacos for a party? Here are some ideas for items you might want to incorporate for your homemade taco bar for a crowd:
- Themed Dishes. Your guests will need plates, napkins, cups, and cutlery. Why not get some taco party themed dishes to add to the fun?
- Tablecloth. From the tailgate to a home party, you’ll need a place to build your taco bar. Turn your existing table into a festive location with a themed tablecloth.
- Decorations. Bring the fiesta wherever the taco bar party is with some decorations. Hanging decorations are easy to suspend from the ceiling, a tent, or other nearby surface for a fun touch.
- Party favors. From fantastic photo ops to silly fun, don’t forget the party favors. Nothing says taco bar party like some wearable party favors.
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Now you can build your own taco bar
As you can see, taco bars offer a lot of variety that’s sure to please everyone. It’s easy to prepare everything in advance and set out the spread just in time for the party. Add in some festive touches, and you’ve got the ultimate taco bar for a crowd!
If you find yourself missing any of the utensils to create these delicious taco masterpieces, then check out our guide on the essential kitchen tools you need. Whether it’s your first kitchen, or you’re an aspiring home chef, we have you covered.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css_animation=”none”]As noted on our Affiliate Disclaimer page, links to products inside this blog could lead to sales commissions (at no additional cost to you) which allow this site to continue operations.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css_animation=”bottom-to-top”]
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