12 Taco Bar Ideas for a Mouthwatering Taco Party
Taco ‘bout a good time.
Hosting a taco party? You may be wondering what you need. Taco parties are about more than just throwing together some ground beef mixed with a taco seasoning packet (although we won’t pass those kinds of tacos up either!) – it’s time spent with friends and enjoying the many flavors that make up the best tacos and toppings. From quesadilla companions to taco holders and more, here is your ultimate guide to taco bar ideas to host the best taco party ever.
1. Start With a Slow Cooker
Skip browning the meat on your stovetop and opt for using a slow cooker instead. Slow cookers are a great addition to any taco party since they make cooking hands-free and so easy. Slow cookers are very versatile and can cook whatever meat options that you and your guests prefer in your tacos. These handy kitchen appliances can cook ground beef, chicken, pork for carnitas, and steak for endless taco possibilities. The best part? Dump your ingredients and let the meat simmer all day long to free up more time to prepare for your party!
You’ll need a cutting board and select knives to create the perfect dice for your taco ingredients or toppings. Cutting boards provide an ideal workstation for dicing your toppings while chef knives and paring knives go to work. Chef knives are great for dicing onions or slicing steak (if this is your meat of choice), while paring knives provide the smaller surface area great for dicing smaller veggies or citrus fruits.
The key to mouthwatering tacos? Making your own tortillas! Once you’ve made your tortilla dough following a recipe, place the dough ball on the bottom of your press before bringing down the top to flatten the dough into a tortilla. Once the tortilla is pressed, coat a cast iron skillet with some olive oil and cook each side of the tortilla for one minute or until they’re brown. Tortilla presses are perfect for pressing your own flour tortillas for a true DIY taco party, but there’s nothing wrong with store-bought to keep it simple. If you need to warm up your store-bought tortillas or the homemade version you made earlier, wrap them in paper towels and pop them in a warmer before heating them up for several seconds in your microwave. Make sure to warm your tortillas right before serving them for the best taste.
No taco party is complete without rice. Adding rice to your taco bar provides more culinary possibilities – like taco bowls! – or just a yummy companion to your tacos. Rice cookers cook your rice to perfection, and you can add in additional ingredients to make cilantro lime rice or Mexican-style rice to accompany your party spread.
Guacamole is a must at any taco party, and with the help of a mortar and pestle, you can make your own! After slicing your avocado and dicing other ingredients like your red onion, place your avocado slices in the bottom of the bottom of your mortar and use your pestle to smash the slices into chunks before mixing with other ingredients. Watch as this kitchen utensil transforms avocados into a smooth delectable dip your guests won’t be able to resist.
Along with the guac, don’t forget the queso to take your tacos to the next level. Mini slow cookers are perfect for cooking a batch of queso for you and your guests to enjoy, since it provides just the right amount of room to simmer the dip to perfection until it’s time to serve. Since these slow cookers are on the smaller side, they won’t take up too much counter space, which is great since you’ll already have a bigger slow cooker cooking/housing your meat.
Whether you or your guests use it as a taco topping or dip, it’s inevitable that salsa will make an appearance at your taco party. Since salsa calls for a few simple ingredients, why not make your own? Food processors are the best when it comes to making your own salsa since they pulverize and break down the tomato, onion, and garlic into the perfect salsa-like consistency.
For authentic taco bar ideas to include at your party, swap traditional paper plates for a more festive approach with a taco completer set. These sets make you feel as if you’re right outside a food truck with a batch of tacos in hand. A taco completer set has a cut-out for up to three tacos to sit upright and ready to serve. These completer sets also make it super easy to assemble tacos without worrying about the meat and toppings falling out, since the shells sit straight up.
Taco bar ideas include more than just tacos. Add a quesadilla maker to your taco party for a complete spread. This handy machine turns a regular soft taco into a totally different style entree that guests will enjoy just as much. Provide your guests with the opportunity to create their own quesadillas to accompany their tacos with the ease of a quesadilla machine that does all the work.
Toppings are essential taco bar ideas. Diced tomatoes, onions, peppers, cilantro, cheese, and more all contribute to a taco’s overall taste. Use small serving bowls to house your diced toppings in their own bowl for guests to scoop out for their tacos. Space them down your table in a line for guests to follow as they create their personal taco feast.
Is it a real taco party without a margarita? Get in the spirit of your favorite taco joint at home with margaritas in traditional-shaped glasses. These glasses are authentic and boost the vibe of the party by bringing the theme into all areas of the meal. Throw in a playful umbrella for a cute touch.
Once the main meal is over at your taco party, it’s time for dessert! Display your churros or tres leches cake on a beautiful cake stand for edible table decor until it’s time to serve something sweet.. Cake stands provide a sturdy, flat surface that makes it easy to cut a slice of cake or grab a churro in a presentable way.
Now that you’ve seen the best taco bar ideas, it’s time to start planning your taco party!
