Totally Tasty Taco Bar (Great for Groups!) (2024)

Need some Taco Bar ideas? We have everything you need and more to make your own amazing Taco Bar at home. Delicious ingredients and practical tips on how to serve this easy dinner to your family or to a group of people.

5 Stellar Reasons to Make a Taco Bar

Making a Taco Bar for dinner pretty much solves all of life’s problems.

1. It’s easy to make. After making your meat filling (your choice of traditional Taco Meat, Carnitas, Cilantro Lime Chicken, Shredded Beef Taco Meat, and/or Southwest Chicken), all that’s left to do is chop some veggies, warm tortillas, and set out your toppings.
2. It’s a great meal to feed a group of people. Hello, assembly line! Guests can also customize their meal.
3. A Taco Bar is cheap! The ingredients are simple, easy to find, and very affordable.
4. It works as a make-ahead meal. Simply prep the taco meat ahead of time and store it in the fridge until you want to eat it. Perfect for those nights when everyone is eating at different times!
5. It’s freezer-friendly! In this article, we will teach you how to transform a Taco Bar into a freezer meal.

Taco Bar Ideas

There are SO many options that you can serve at a taco bar. When it’s just my family eating it, I keep it really simple and only set out what I know they will eat.

Here’s a list of ingredients you might consider adding if you’re serving a crowd of people.

• Taco meat (recipe below) – Aside from the standard ground beef Taco Meat, you could also provide Crispy Carnitas, Shredded Beef Tacos, Southwest Chicken, and/or Cilantro Lime Chicken, if you want to have options.
• Taco shells (soft and/or hard) – If you have a gluten-free eater, provide corn tortillas or gluten-free tortillas.
• Chopped iceberg or green leaf lettuce
• Diced fresh tomatoes
• Diced red onion or white onion – Or kick it up a notch and make these super simple and delicious pickled red onions.
• Shredded cheddar cheese – Other cheese options include shredded Mexican mix or the traditional street taco cotija cheese.
• Diced avocados OR Guacamole
• Salsa – We highly recommend Mateo’s medium salsa, found in most large grocery stores.
• Cilantro Lime Aioli – Put this in a cheap squeeze bottle from the dollar store and drizzle over the top of your taco for a flavor bomb experience!
• Cilantro, finely diced
• Lime wedges
• Black beans, rinsed and warmed – Or pinto beans work too.
• Sour cream – Or plain Greek yogurt works in it’s place.

You could also include some Cilantro Lime Rice for serving in or on the side of the tacos. And don’t forget to have some tortilla chips on the side for the salsa and/or guacamole.

How to Make Taco Meat

A taco bar is only going to be as good as the taco meat, am-I-right? Skip the pre-packaged taco seasoning kits and make your own taco meat at home using our Homemade Taco Seasoning.

Here’s the basic method for making taco meat with ground beef (or ground turkey or chicken), but check out the recipe below for specifics:

1. In a large skillet, heat some oil over medium heat. Saute diced onion, stirring frequently, until softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in minced garlic cloves and cook for 30 to 60 seconds more.
2. Increase the heat to medium-high. Add ground beef and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until no longer pink, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon as it browns. Drain off excess grease.
3. Sprinkle taco seasoning over the meat and stir until coated. Add in some chicken/beef/vegetable broth and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until the mixture has reduced some, about 5 minutes.

Change it up by using our Shredded Beef Tacos!