Tacos are a fun way for your family and friends to get together for a casual meal. The key to a successful taco bar is to offer plenty of different taco bar ingredients—from proteins to veggies, cheeses and sauces. This allows guests to easily personalize their tacos to suit their unique tastes. Read on to discover how to make a taco bar that features something for everyone.
Get the recipe for Peri Peri Shredded Chicken Tacos here.
TACO BAR MENU IDEAS
Every great taco bar should include an assortment of fillings and toppings that are fresh, spicy, cheesy, creamy, sweet, crunchy, meaty and, of course, undeniably delicious. KitchenAid® food processors,choppers and other applianceswill help you make quick work of the prep and the following 20 ideas for taco bar ingredients will get you started on a tasty and inspired taco fiesta.
THE FOUNDATION
Fresh tortillas are essential for a good taco bar. Soft tortillas or hard taco shells are the vehicles that get all those delicious fillings from your plate to your mouth. Corn or flour tortillas are standard for soft tacos but veggies like spinach andbeetroot can make tasty tortillas as well.
1. MASA TORTILLAS
Serve small tortillas for a taco bar so guests can have more than one. This recipe for homemade Masa Tortillas makes 28 small tortillas with the help of a KitchenAid® stand mixer.
THE SALSA
No taco bar is complete without an assortment of savory, spicy and fruity salsas and sauces.
2. FRESH TOMATILLO SALSA
Fresh tomatillos, avocado, lime and jalapeno make tomatillo salsa a bright, zesty addition to any taco bar.
3. FRESH TOMATO SALSA
This classic salsa is beloved for good reason, it’s delicious. Experiment with different peppers or heirloom tomatoes for extra heat and extra flavor.
4. MANGO SALSA
Jalapeno and a little red onion give this tropical, fruity salsa a little punch. Easily process the ingredients for this dish in a KitchenAid® 5 Cup Food Chopper.
NOTE: To achieve a chunkier result with cubed mangoes, use the KitchenAid® 13 Cup Food Processor with Dicing Kit.
5. MANGO PINEAPPLE SALSA
This combination of sweet, savory and spicy ingredients creates a well-balanced salsa. Try pairing it with a pork or tuna taco for a delicious contrast of flavors.
6. CHIMICHURRI SAUCE
Marinate the chicken or skirt steak for your tacos in this sauce for an herbaceous depth of flavor. Or serve it on the taco bar to drizzle over everything.
7. MEXICAN ORANGE SAUCE
This piquant sauce contains dried chiles de arbol and guajillo chilies for a smoky, peppery sauce that’s perfect for drizzling over tacos. Use a KitchenAid® blender to bring the deliciousness together. Leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
THE AVOCADO
Avocados and tacos go hand in hand. Serve them diced with a little fresh-squeezed lime, in a silky crema or chunky guacamole.
8. GUACAMOLE
A squeeze of fresh lime and orange juice brings a bright, citrusy kick to this guacamole. Try adding seasonal fruits—watermelon, mango, strawberries—for a tasty twist on the deliciousness.
9. AVOCADO CILANTRO LIME DRESSING
The creaminess of avocado, the tang of fresh lime juice and the earthiness of cilantro make this perfect for dressing a cole slaw for fish tacos, or poured over chicken tacos.
THE CHEESE
Cheese adds a craveable unctuousness to tacos. In addition to grated cheeses like cheddar, pepper jack and manchego, consider including salty cotija, crumbled queso fresco or goat cheese to pair with a mushroom taco. Adding a plant-based option—like vegan queso—to spoon over roasted sweet potato or jackfruit tacos will help round out your taco bar menu.
10. SPICY QUESO DIP
This creamy, cheesy dip is delicious on its own or spooned over tacos. Leave out the sausage for a veggie-friendly queso option.
11. QUESO FUNDIDO WITH CHORIZO
Stretchy, buttery cheeses and spicy chorizo make this queso fundido mouthwatering. Use it as the starting point for a tasty taco. Spoon into a hard corn taco shell, add shredded lettuce and a little guacamole to make itnext-level delicious.
THE CRUNCH
Finding ways to include crunch and texture in your tacos will make them more craveable. A few sliced jalapenos, a little pickled veg, or some toasted pepitas are some fun ways to keep it crunchy.
12. PICKLED RED ONIONS AND RADISHES
Make these crispy bites of pickled goodness with the help of your KitchenAid® stand mixer and the KitchenAid® Spiralizer Attachment.1 Store them in the fridge for up to 2 weeks and use them to bring spice, tang and crunch to tacos, burgers and more.
1. Sold separately
13. CRUNCHY CHARD SLAW WITH TOASTED PEPITAS
A good coleslaw is always a welcome addition to a taco bar. A creamy cabbage and carrot slaw is a classic accompaniment to shrimp or fish tacos. Mix things up with this slaw featuring the crunch of chard, carrots and pepitas in a light vinaigrette.
THE MEAT
Tacos are such a wonderfully versatile dish and make a great canvas for any protein you can dream up. Although there’s absolutely nothing wrong with taco-seasoned ground beef, there’s a whole world of options beyond it. Carne asada (marinated skirt steak) and barbacoa made from beef, lamb or even goat meat are delicious taco bar protein options. Braised pork shoulder makes crave-worthy carnitas. Shrimp and fish are popular for tacos and it’s nice to have vegetarian or vegan options at a taco bar. Hearty grains, legumes and veggies, like farro, lentils, mushrooms, jackfruit and sweet potatoes can be delicious in tacos. And of course, poultry—chicken, duck, turkey—are popular options for tacos as well.
Here are some composed taco dishes that feature a variety of meats and ingredients you may want to include in your taco bar setup:
14. PERI PERI SHREDDED CHICKEN TACOS
These tacos borrow the flavors and ingredients of a popular South African dish for a super flavorful shredded chicken taco. The tasty sauce can be whipped up in a KitchenAid® K400 Variable Speed Blender with Tamper, while the chicken shreds easily in a KitchenAid® stand mixer fitted with the KitchenAid® Flat Beater.
15. FISH TACOS WITH SLAW & WATERMELON SALSA
Flaky, grilled halibut, cool watermelon salsa and spicy coleslaw are all topped with a decadent poblano pepper cream sauce for a memorable taco experience.
16. ASIAN PORK TACOS
Slow-cooked pork and Asian flavors come together for a little something different on the taco bar. Top them with a crisp slaw in a sesame oil and rice vinegar dressing for a great taco.
17. CARNE ASADA TACOS WITH FLOUR TORTILLAS
Skirt steak marinated in a sweet and spicy sauce, wrapped up in freshly made flour tortillas, with a little sour cream and avocado. Yum. Make the marinade for the meat and the dough for the tortillas all in a KitchenAid® 7 Cup Food Processor.
18. STEAK TACOS WITH CHIMICHURRI
Flat iron steak is marinated, grilled and served in corn tortillas topped with either a traditional or balsamic chimichurri and a little crumbled cotija cheese for a hearty and flavorful taco.
19. SWEET POTATO TACOS WITH LIME CREMA
Sweet potatoes are tossed in a delicious mix of spices, roasted then topped with quick pickled onions and a zesty lime crema—made with almonds—for a major vegan flavor bomb.
20. VEGETARIAN FARRO SOFT TACOS
Meaty farro and black beans are at the center of these veggie-packed tacos which are finished with a tasty avocado crema.
HOW MUCH TACO MEAT PER PERSON DO YOU NEED FOR A TACO BAR?
Plan on about ¼ cup of meat per taco when preparing what you need for a taco bar. Adults and children over 10typicallyeat an average of 2-3 tacos and children ages 2-10 mighteat 1-1 1/2 tacos. Err on the side of a little over, rather than a little under to make sure you can accommodate everyone.
HOW DO YOU SET UP A TACO BAR?
Start with plates (end with utensils) followed by tortillas and/or taco shells. Set the rest of your taco components out—in separate chafing dishes, ramekins or bowls—in the order you would build your taco:
Proteins
Beans
Rice (or other grains)
Veggies
Salsas
Cheeses
Lettuce and slaws
Guacamole, cremas, sour cream
Finishing touches—jalapenos, onions, cilantro, sriracha or your favorite hot sauces.
Keeping your cooked components warm is key to a successful taco bar. Serve proteins, beans and rice in a crock pot or chafing dishes. To heat tortillas, wrap them in foil, heat them in the oven, then keep them wrapped in the foil or in a warm, damp cloth in a shallow covered dish at the head of the serving table.
CAN YOU FREEZE COOKED TACO MEAT?
Making meats and meat alternatives ahead of time can save valuable meal prep timeon taco night. Simply cook your meats per the recipe instructions and let them cool completely before packing them in airtight, freezer-safe containers. Let meats thaw in the fridge and gently reheat them for your taco bar.
Roasted vegetables can be frozen as well. Undercook your vegetables by about five minutes; they will finish cooking when you reheat them. Make sure you cool them completely on paper towels or a separate baking sheet before freezing to avoid accumulating too much moisture and oil which can make veggies soggy.
WHAT ARE SOME GOOD SIDE DISHES FOR TACOS?
With all the veggies, cheeses and proteins, tacos can be a complete meal on their own but a good authentic Mexican or Spanish seasoned rice is always tasty on the side. So are black beans, refried beans or spicy roasted corn salad. Include these dishes on the taco bar and guests can decide whether or not they want to eat them on the side, or as part of their taco.
Frozen margaritas and tacos are a match made in heaven. These Whole Strawberry Margaritas can be whipped up quickly in a KitchenAid® K400 Blender and are a delicious way to quench your thirst on a summer night. Serve Pretzel Churros with a warm chocolate cinnamon dipping sauce for the perfect ending to a fun taco bar dinner.
EXPLORE KITCHENAID® FOOD PROCESSORS & CHOPPERS
Let help you make easy work of food prep so you can spend more time exploring new recipes and creating more exciting and mouth-watering dishes. From the KitchenAid® 3.5 Cup Food Chopper, in a countertop-friendly footprint, to the KitchenAid® 13 Cup Food Processor with Dicing Kitthat tackles large batches when choppings, shredding and kneading, you’ll find a to suit the way you create.
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