Hosting a taco bar is a fun and delicious way to entertain guests. Learn how to set up the best taco bar with these easy and tasty recipes for every element, from the taco shells to all of the toppings.
plan the easiest taco bar
When it comes to planning a party, we are all about making it easy on the host, without lacking an flavor or wow-factor. A taco bar is the go-to crowd-pleaser that we serve up whenever we have people coming over.
The golden rule is making sure you as the host don’t get stuck in the kitchen, missing out on all the fun while you have to cook. So, we opt for a hands-on experience for our guests whenever we can!
A taco bar is always a favorite. Who doesn’t love a taco, after all?
The best part of a taco bar party is that you can make everything ahead of time, leaving you free to enjoy your time with guests and enjoying the food yourself! It’s a fiesta that everyone will love and you’ll be ask to host again and again.
Let’s dive into the whole process, from start to finish.
the main event… the meat!
The meat is the main event! You can make whatever type of meat you like, from shredded chicken to pulled pork to ground beef. You can even opt to make a meatless option like tempeh, mushrooms, or lentils to be the hearty base of the taco.
We like to make way too much meat since you can freeze leftovers easily (more details on that in a minute). Usually that means a big package of chicken from Costco, but you could even make a couple types of meat ahead of time to provide variety.
Here’s some of our favorite taco meat recipes to make:
- Shredded beef
- Chipotle chicken
- Chicken tinga
- Tequila lime pulled pork
- Al pastor pork
- BBQ shredded short ribs (a fun departure from the classic taco meat recipes!)
- Roasted squash and black beans (vegetarian)
- Grilled steak, grilled chicken, grilled shrimp, or grilled fish
- Jackfruit is another vegetarian option!
Want to keep it classic? Whip up some shredded chicken with our chicken taco seasoning.
how much taco meat should I make per person?
Plan on about 2 tacos per person. Since 1 pound of meat usually makes about 6 to 8 tacos, you’ll need 1 pound of meat for 4 people, 2 pounds of meat for 8 people, etc.
can you freeze cooked taco meat?
Yes, you can freeze any leftover cooked taco meat! If you are serving a smaller group, double the meat and reserve half of it to freeze for a later date. You can pull it out for another taco bar party, or meal prep for lunches for the week!
Be sure to cool the meat to room temperature prior to freeze. Freeze in an airtight bag for up to 2 months. We recommend using a vacuum sealer to tightly seal the meat and keep it fresher for longer. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat as desired before putting together your tacos.
taco bar toppings
There are lots of things you can have on your taco bar! Below is a list of everything we can think of including in your spread:
- Shells and tortillas – Don’t stick to just one type of tortilla! There’s corn, soft, hard, tortilla, etc. Add a variety to choose from!
- Cheeses – have a couple different types. We really like shredded Mexican cheese and crumbled cojita cheese.
- Salsa – chunky salsa, salsa verde, grilled pineapple salsa, avocado salsa, mango salsa, whatever kind of salsa you like! Have a couple different kinds for variety.
- Guacamole
- Sour cream
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced onion – white onion, yellow onion, or red onion!
- Chopped tomatoes
- Queso
- Sliced jalapeños
- Pickled red onions
- Pickled jalapeños
- Sliced avocado
- Sliced radishes
- Diced mango
- Diced pineapple
- Fried onions
- Tortilla strips
- Lime wedges
- Chopped cilantro
- Variety of hot sauces
taco bar must-haves
When it comes to equipment for a taco bar party, there are a few things that will make your life a lot easier. The first is bowls and serving utensils. You’ll need this for all the various toppings so guests can easily top their tacos with their favorite ingredients.
To serve the meat, a slow cooker or Instant Pot set to the Warm setting will keep proteins warm throughout the party. You could also use a chaffing dish for the meat, as well as side dishes like rice and beans.
taco bar setup
When you are laying out all of the food for the taco bar party, think about the order that people will go in. Here’s our suggested order:
- Plates, napkins, and utensils
- Tortillas and hard taco shells
- Meat
- Beans and rice
- Any additional sides you plan to serve
- Taco toppings – group the together to make it easy for guests to choose! Have the cheeses grouped together, the vegetables, the fruit, the dips, and then the garnish.
Don’t forget to have a separate area for a drink station to provide non-alcoholic and alcoholic options for your guests.
taco bar extras
Don’t forget the side dishes! You can serve up mexican rice, cilantro-lime rice, black beans, pinto beans, grilled corn salad, chips, dips, refried beans, fried Mexican potatoes, salads, charred corn, and even quesadillas on the side to make the meal more well rounded.
When it comes to cocktails, we are always a fan of a margarita when pairing them with tacos. Here are some of our favorite margarita recipes that are easy to make in a big batch for a party:
If you love a classic margarita, try the perfect margarita (with a surprise ingredient!), a Texas margarita, or a lemon agave margarita (for when you run out of limes).
For a unique twist, try an easy limeade margarita or a chili lime margarita!
If you like a fruity margarita, you can enjoy a blueberry margarita, passion fruit margarita, spicy mango margarita, raspberry margarita, cranberry margarita, or clementine mezcal margarita.
Finally, if you find this taco bar party planning guide helpful, please be sure to share this post or leave a comment! Feel free to drop questions below too, if you have them. I do take the time to respond to every single comment!
Oh and be sure to tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest if you make any of the recipes mentioned in this post! I love being able to see these recipes come to life in your homes – it’s my favorite thing to look through those photos. It really means the world to me!
how to set up a taco bar
equipment
- Spoon
ingredients
- 4- inch flour or corn tortillas
- Taco shells
- 1 lb Your favorite taco meat chicken, pork, and/or beef
- Shredded cheeses
- Queso fresco or cojita cheese
- Shredded lettuce
- Pickled red onion
- Diced onion
- Jalapeño slices
- Sliced avocado
- Sliced radishes
- Diced mango
- Diced pineapple
- Fried onions
- Tortilla strips
- Salsas
- Guacamole
- Sour cream
- Hot sauces
- Queso
- Lime wedges
- Cilantro
instructions
- Prepare all of the toppings, fillings, sauces, and garnishes. Add to separate small or medium serving bowls with serving spoons.
- Add the meat to a crockpot or Instant Pot set to Warm to keep warm throughout the party.
- Set out an easy flow for guests to follow, starting with plates, utensils, and napkins. Follow this with the tortillas and shells, then the meat. Add the side dishes next so guests can fill up the sides of their plate!
- Group the toppings together by category – cheeses, vegetables, fruits, etc. Follow this with bowls of sauces and dips, then the garnish.
- Enjoy!
