Walking tacos allow guests to enjoy their favorite Mexican flavors without the mess. Make this recipe for your next potluck or outdoor event!
If you’ve got a crowd to feed on a budget, then this is the recipe for you!
All of the toppings can be prepared ahead of time, and the meat can be kept warm in the crockpot until your guests arrive and you’re ready to eat.
In fact, you can cook the ground beef in the slow cooker to begin with! Just swap the spices listed in that post for your favorite store bought or homemade taco seasoning.
For more big-batch options with south-of-the-border flavor, take a look at my cheesy taco or steak fajita pasta salad recipes.
What Are Walking Tacos?
Also known as “taco in a bag,” it’s simply seasoned meat and all of your favorite toppings inside an individual-sized bag of chips. Once everything is mixed together, it tastes just like the real thing!Walking tacos are especially helpful for potlucks and outdoor events since people can easily walk around with their food. Plus, all that’s needed to eat this is a fork so cleanup is a breeze.
Kitchen Tools Needed For This Walking Taco Recipe
- A large skillet with a lid or a slow cooker for the seasoned beef
- Quality Knives - If you only make one kitchen investment, it should be good quality knives. They cut down on prep time and are important for safety as well.
How To Set Up A Walking Taco Bar
First, set up a table with all of your toppings in bowls with spoons. A long counter or kitchen island would work as well.
Place a basket or container with your small bags of chips at one end of the table, along with plastic forks.
Have a slow cooker with the ground beef next to the chips, and add a small plate to rest the serving spoon on.
Then, guests can start at one end and add whatever they would like right into their taco in a bag!
Topping Suggestions
Sky’s the limit, so feel free to include anything else that may be missing from this list.
- The Classics: Shredded cheese, sour cream, shredded lettuce, salsa, cilantro
- Extra Veggies: Diced tomatoes, jalapenos, avocado, green onion, red onion, black olives
- Heartier Options: Black beans, refried beans, Mexican or cilantro rice
- Sauces and Spreads: Guacamole, hot sauce, pico de gallo, chili, cheese sauce
FAQ - Common Recipe Questions
Which chips are best for walking tacos?
Fritos are the most popular choice, since they taste closest to a classic corn tortilla shell. However, Doritos will give you a few different flavor options depending on what’s available.
Can I use a different type of meat?
Sure! Shredded chicken, ground turkey, or pulled pork are all excellent alternatives.
How many servings will this walking taco recipe make?
Plan for about ¼ cup per person, which means 2 pounds of meat will yield 16 portions.
However, you won’t get as many out of it if someone decides to load theirs up with extra meat. If your headcount is right around 16 people, you may want to cook extra just to be safe.
Enjoy!
With love from our simple kitchen to yours.
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Video: Taco In A Bag
To see us make this from start to finish, watch the video at the top of this page.
Yield: 14-16
Walking Tacos
Walking tacos allow guests to enjoy their favorite Mexican flavors without the mess. Make this recipe for your next potluck or outdoor event!
Prep time: 20 MinCook time: 25 MinTotal time: 45 Min
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup taco seasoning (homemade or from the store, 2 regular sized packets)
- 1 cup water
- 16 (1 ounce) bags chips (Doritos and Fritos recommended)
Toppings
- Shredded cheese
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced tomatoes
- Sour cream
- Green onions
Instructions
- Prepare all vegetables and toppings and set aside or refrigerate anything that needs to be chilled.
- In a large, non-stick skillet, brown ground beef over medium high heat until slightly pink. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat and drain grease.
- Return to heat and stir in ¼ cup taco seasoning and water. Bring to a boil, then lower to simmer for 3-5 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat and cover or transfer to a slow cooker on the warm setting.
- Serve with small bags of chips and your favorite toppings. To create a walking taco, crush your bag of chips, then open and top with meat, shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, guacamole, or any of your other favorite toppings. Serve with plastic forks and enjoy!
DONNA'S NOTES
- How do you make a walking taco bar? I recommend setting up a table with all of your taco toppings in bowls with spoons. Then place a basket or container with your small bags of chips at one end of the table, along with plastic forks. Next to the chips, place a slow cooker with your taco meat and a serving spoon. It’s a good idea to have a plate for your serving spoon.
- Topping suggestions for a taco bar:
- Cilantro, lime, green onions, guacamole, salsa, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, jalapenos, avocado, black beans, refried beans, rice, shredded lettuce, sour cream, sliced red onions, sliced black olives, pico de gallo, cheese sauce, chili, hot sauce
- These are perfect for parties and crowds because the chip bags make the meal portable.
- What is a walking taco? This is kind of like a meal to-go. You grab your bag of chips and crush them up, add taco meat and toppings, and serve with a plastic fork.
- If you would like to make these ahead, I recommend cutting up all of your vegetables and other toppings and place them in serving bowls, cover and refrigerate. You can also make your taco meat ahead of time, just refrigerate and place in an airtight container, then reheat just before your event.
- Alternatives to ground beef: shredded chicken, ground turkey, or pulled pork
- I recommend using Doritos or Frito chips for this recipe.
- With each taco using about 1/4 cup, 2 pounds makes about 16 tacos. If you have someone that loads up their taco with extra meat, you will have less tacos.
Originally published March 2021
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I love this idea. The only suggestion I'd make is to use a 1/4 cup scoop instead of a spoon. It might slow down those who might want to use lots of meat. Great recipe for summer gatherings in your yard or a picnic at the lake, beach, river.
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Isn’t that more like a salad?
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