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If you’re looking for a fun and delicious way to feed your guests, look no further than these easy taco party recipes. Whether you’re hosting a game night, birthday party, or casual get-together, tacos are always a crowd-pleaser. Make your next gathering a success with our best taco party ideas.
Tacos are great for entertaining because they offer something for everyone. With options for fillings, toppings, and sauces, each guest can create their own unique flavors with their favorite taco toppings. Plus, making tacos encourages guests to mingle and interact while building their delicious creations.
Consider setting up a taco bar party for birthdays, game days, holidays like Cinco de Mayo and graduation parties. And don’t forget game nights, Taco Tuesday or just hanging out with friends. They’re easy to put together, and a fun way to entertain because everyone loves tacos.
Why Tacos Make the Perfect Party Food
Tacos are a staple in Mexican cuisine but have gained popularity here as a top choice for parties and events. And it’s no surprise! Tacos are easy to make, fun to eat, and allow guests to get creative building their perfect taco.
And with an endless variety of flavors and options they are my go-to choice for entertaining. Today we’ve got flavorful and easy dishes to customize your party menu. With multiple variations you can easily customize your taco bar to suit everyone’s tastes and dietary needs.
Create the Perfect Taco Party Menu
Here are some tips for building a menu sure to impress your guests:
Start with the basics: Provide a variety of protein options such as beef, shredded chicken, pork carnitas or fish. For vegetarian alternatives offer tofu or seasoned black beans. I like to offer 1-3 protein options depending on the number of guests.
Wrap it up: Soft flour tortillas and crunchy corn shells are popular options but smaller street taco-sized tortillas are great for parties. And lettuce wraps are perfect for guests who are concerned about carbs or calories.
Offer a variety of toppings: Include classics like sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, crumbled queso fresco or cotija cheese, lettuce and tomatoes. It’s also fun to include a few unique options like pickled red onions or mango-pineapple salsa.
Don’t forget the sauces: Add an extra touch of flavor to your tacos with traditional fresh salsa or get creative with a pico de gallo or cilantro-lime crema.
Include a few sides: Don’t limit the fun to just tacos! Include side dishes like grilled corn, tortilla chips and guacamole, Mexican rice and refried beans. This will give your guests more options and helps to round out the meal.
Consider dietary restrictions: Be mindful of any dietary restrictions your guests may have and offer alternatives to accommodate them. This can include gluten-free tortillas, dairy-free cheese, or vegetarian protein options.
What to Serve with Tacos at a Party
While tacos are the star of the show, it’s a good idea to have side dishes to complement them. Here are some tasty options to round out your menu:
Mexican Street Corn: A classic street food, this grilled corn on the cob is topped with cheese and spices for a flavorful bite.
Chips and Guacamole: You can’t go wrong with this classic party snack.
Rice and Beans: A simple yet satisfying option that pairs well with tacos. For added flavor, try cooking your rice with chicken or vegetable broth.
Taco Salad: A great option for those looking for a healthier alternative to traditional tacos. Serve it in crispy tortilla bowls for a fun presentation.
What to Make with Tacos
With tacos as the main dish, there are endless options for accompaniments. Here are a few more delicious ideas:
Loaded Nachos: Layer corn or tortilla chips with cheese, beans, and your choice of protein for a shareable appetizer. Don’t forget the toppings!
Taco Dip: A crowd-pleasing appetizer that layers refried beans, seasoned ground beef, cheese, and toppings. Serve it warm with tortilla chips.
Mexican Chopped Salad: A refreshing side dish filled with fresh veggies and topped with a tangy dressing.
Taco-Stuffed Peppers: For a twist on traditional tacos, try stuffing bell peppers with all the classic taco ingredients.
Frequently Asked Questions About Taco Party Recipes
Where can I find ingredients for my Mexican recipes?
You can find most of the necessary ingredients at your local grocery store. If you’re looking for fresh and authentic ingredients, consider visiting a local Mexican market or ordering online from specialty stores.
How do I make tacos for a large group?
The key to making tacos in large quantities is preparation. Choose recipes that can be easily doubled and tripled. Most proteins can be pre-cooked and toppings can be prepped ahead of time to save time the day of the party.
What is the best way to keep my food warm?
Use your slow cooker or invest in warming trays to keep taco fillings, beans, and rice warm throughout the party. And these tortilla warmers are essential for keeping tortillas soft and warm.
How do I make sure my tacos aren’t too messy?
To keep things a little neater, make sure you offer decent-sized plates and plenty of napkins. I like to use disposable taco holders because they hold the tortilla shells upright. And it makes cleanup a breeze.
Wrapping Up
The next time you’re planning a party or get-together, remember that tacos are always a good idea. If you’re stuck on what to serve, remember these easy recipes, tips and taco bar ideas to throw a memorable fiesta!
If you make one of our recipes, please leave a star rating or comment below. And don’t forget to tag us with #areinventedmom – we love to see your creations! For more great content follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Flipboard & Yummly.
Looking to host a fun and tasty get-together? Check out our selection of easy recipes for a memorable taco-themed gathering.
Flavorful Sauces
Roasted Poblano Avocado Sauce
A roasted poblano and avocado sauce makes a great addition to a taco party, it's smoky, creamy and so delicious with Mexican food. You can make this recipe in about a half an hour to bring a mild spiciness to taco night.
Add a spicy kick to your taco party by making this creamy jalapeno salsa. It is easy to make and has restaurant quality vibes. It also adds a pop of color to any Mexican dishes from tacos to fajitas, and everything in between.
Offer a variety of sauces at your taco party so guests can try them all and find a new favorite. This mango pico de gallo is colorful, fresh and so yummy you will want to try it with chips, over tacos and in a variety of other ways too.
Skip the premade envelope of taco seasoning and make a homemade version for your taco night. This recipe is flavorful and easy to recreate at home. You likely have all of the ingredients you need in your pantry. After you make homemade taco seasoning, you will wonder why you've been buying it for all of these years.
You can make this street corn in the air fryer for the perfect side at any taco party. With tender corn, a yummy creamy coating and plenty of cheese, you know elotes will be a big hit with your guests.
A dish of homemade refried bean dip makes a tasty appetizer to share at a party. With sour cream, cream cheese and salsa blended into the beans, it has a creamy, hearty flavor that pairs well with salty tortilla chips. It is also very easy to make, for fuss free food that's ready in minutes.
Pickled hot carrots make a great addition to your appetizer options at a taco party. These are colorful, pack a little punch to spice things up, and are perfect for crunching on with friends. After you make these, they will be a regular in your food preservation rotation.
These homemade tortillas are the perfect start to a taco party. They are fresh, very soft and tasty, and can be used to hold all of your favorite taco fillings. You can make a couple dozen of these in no time, and after just a bite you are going to agree that these are so much better than any prepackaged option.
Let your slow cooker do the work of making the best birria tacos. After cooking low and slow, the flavors of the warm sauce coat the beef chunks perfectly. Tuck them into a corn tortilla with plenty of melty cheese, for a meal that melts in your mouth. Offer bowls of beef consomme for dipping for the full effect.
Taquitos are always a favorite appetizer or snack at my house, so serving them as a starter for a taco party is a great idea. You only need 5 ingredients to make these and they have the best crispy crunch. Offer several dips so guests can find their favorite combination.
Everyone likes walking tacos! Offer small bags of tortilla chips or Fritos, taco meat and plenty of toppings for the perfect starter for any fiesta! Set up a taco bar buffet and let your friends select their favorite fixings for a one of a kind flavor.
Make succulent, spicy shrimp for a fresh take on tacos. Top these easy shrimp tacos with avocado and slaw for a colorful meal with a soft, yet crispy texture.
If you want to go all out at your taco party, and offer endless choices to please hungry guests, this dinner board idea is the way to go. It literally has everything on it – from lettuce to peppers, tomatoes and onions, cheese galore, and assorted shells to pair with a few kinds of meat. It is quite impressive and a fun way to feed a crowd!
Skip the shells and tuck taco fillings into bell peppers for a fresh take on a dinner party classic. You will love this spicy mash up of two favorite meals into one colorful package. With stuffed peppers and tacos together, this is as tasty as it is filling.
This walking taco casserole is perfect for feeding a crowd and is ready in about 30 minutes. With layers of meat, cheese, beans, veggies and chips it's a filling and fun meal that delivers taco flavors in casserole form. Serve it with a toppings bar so guests can make their own creations.
Delicious chicken tacos meet salad in this tasty addition to your dinner party. With leafy greens, thin slices of radishes, crunchy tortilla strips and savory tender chunks of chicken, this dish is as filling as it is delicious. Make a big bowl and let guests serve themselves buffet style.
A simple treat like arroz con leche is a great end to an epic taco party. With a creamy base and tender rice kissed with spices, this recipe is easy to prepare and offers a great blend of creamy sweetness with warm cinnamon.
This beloved classic is sure to be the star of your taco party dessert tray. This recipe is a great dupe of Taco Bell's discontinued caramel apple empanada and it makes enough to share with everyone at your fiesta!
If you are looking for a dessert option that will please everyone at the taco party, and offer a cool relief from the spicy dishes that have been enjoyed, why not set up an ice cream bar? This idea is versatile, simple and will give guests a chance to try unique combinations of ice cream, candy and toppings.
After serving tasty tacos, Mexican appetizers, and an assortment of yummy snacks, this pretty drink will hit the spot and cool off a spicy tongue. These classic cocktails are easy to make at home with just a few ingredients and have the most gorgeous appearance to impress your party guests.
Offer a candy shooter that is the perfect blend of sweet and sour, with a boozy kick. These cocktails have a chamoy rim, mango, a shot of tequila and taste just like a Mexican treat, in liquid form. Your guests are going to love this take on adult candy.
This recipe is like a dessert and cocktail mashup. You are going to love the tropical flavors of this pina colada jello shot. It's made with pineapple jello, coconut cream and a shot of rum and served with whipped cream and a cherry on top. These are fun to make and share with friends, making a meal seem like a party, instantly.
