Festive Customizable Taco Bar (Printable)
Interactive taco bar with seasoned beef and chicken, fresh toppings, and warm tortillas for customizable tacos. Serves 8.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Proteins
01 - 1 pound ground beef
02 - 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
03 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
04 - 1 packet (1 ounce) taco seasoning
05 - 1 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
→ Tortillas
07 - 16 small corn or flour tortillas, gluten-free if needed
→ Toppings
08 - 2 cups shredded lettuce
09 - 2 cups diced tomatoes
10 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
11 - 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
12 - 1 cup sour cream
13 - 1 cup guacamole
14 - 1 cup salsa
15 - 1/2 cup sliced black olives
16 - 1/2 cup diced red onion
17 - 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
18 - 1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
19 - 1 cup corn kernels, fresh, canned, or thawed frozen
20 - 2 limes, cut into wedges
21 - 2 jalapeños, sliced
→ Optional Extras
22 - Hot sauce
23 - Pickled onions
24 - Diced avocado
# How-To Steps:
01 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef with half the taco seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat continuously, until browned and cooked through, approximately 8 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary and keep warm.
02 - Rub chicken breasts with 1 tablespoon olive oil, remaining taco seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Grill or pan-sear over medium heat until cooked through, approximately 6 to 8 minutes per side. Allow to rest for 5 minutes, then slice or shred.
03 - Wrap tortillas in aluminum foil and heat in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes, or alternatively warm in a skillet or microwave until pliable.
04 - Transfer all toppings into individual bowls or arrange on serving platters for convenient self-service access.
05 - Arrange proteins, tortillas, and toppings in buffet-style formation. Allow guests to build custom tacos with desired fillings and garnishes.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It takes all the stress out of pleasing picky eaters since everyone builds exactly what they want their own way.
- You can prep nearly everything ahead of time so you actually get to enjoy your own party instead of being stuck in the kitchen.
02 -
- Keep meat fillings in slow cookers on the warm setting if your gathering stretches over several hours to avoid the disappointment of cold tacos.
- Setting out small plates rather than large dinner plates encourages people to make one perfect taco at a time instead of overloading and wasting ingredients.
03 -
- Warm two small bowls and invert them under your serving platters of tortillas to keep them at the perfect temperature throughout your gathering.
- Lime wedges squeezed over finished tacos wake up all the flavors, so place them at the end of your buffet line as the final flourish.