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Taco Toppings Board

By Meg Quinn

5 from 9 votes

Apr 22, 2024 Updated Dec 03, 2025

New Year's Eve Cinco de Mayo Build Your Own Boards

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Taco Bar Toppings
Carbs
How to Build a Taco Bar
Taco Toppings Board Step-by-Step Instructions
Make it a Taco Bowl
The Best Taco Meat Fillings
How Much Taco Meat Per Person
Other Taco Toppings
Fusion Taco Toppings
Taco Night Drinks
Show Me Your Taco Bars
Taco Bar Party Recipe
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A taco bar is a fun and easy food idea for your next gathering, whether or not it’s taco Tuesday! No idea is a bad idea when it comes to taco bar toppings and party ideas. All you have to do is set out a stack of tortillas (warmed or not–totally up to you!) and bowls of all your toppings, and voila! You have yourself a fiesta.

For added fun, whip up some Simple Margs or serve with your favorite Mexican lager!

For more fiesta-worthy ideas, check out my Mexican-Inspired Grazing Board, Fish Taco Board, and my Top Your Own Quesadilla Board. Plus, you can find all my family-style boards here.

Taco Bar Toppings

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Carbs

4-inch Flour or corn tortillas (I prefer corn!)
Taco shells

Fillings

Ground beef
Black beans

Toppings

Shredded Mexican cheese blend
Cotija Cheese
Shredded Lettuce
Pickled red onion (See this recipe for instructions)
Jalapeño slices
Chopped tomatoes
Sliced black olives
Diced white onion

Sauces & Dips

Salsa (I like salsa verde)
Guacamole
Sour cream

Garnish

Lime wedges
Cilantro
Cotija Cheese (for the beans)

How to Build a Taco Bar

First, add all toppings, fillings, and sauces and dips to separate small or medium serving bowls and sprinkle beans with cotija cheese.
Next, add the beef to a cast iron skillet or serving bowl and place on the board.
Add bowls with cilantro, lettuce, tomatoes, beans, Mexican cheese, and sour cream to the board around the beef, forming a half circle.
Add bowls with jalapeños, remaining cotija, onions, guacamole, olives, and salsa to the board in a line around the other bowls.
Finally, add taco shells and lime wedges around the edge of the board. Serve tortillas on the side.

Pro tip: If you’re serving this bar as an app, offer street taco-size tortillas for smaller portions!

Taco Toppings Board Step-by-Step Instructions

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees and gather ingredients.
Grab a wooden board and place a hot pad for where the taco meat will go.

Place sour cream, cheeses, olives, pickled onions, salsa verde and taco shells.
Add in jalapeños, tomatoes, lettuce and chopped onions.

Add in black beans, guacamole and cilantro.
Finish with ground beef and lime wedges. I always place the hot ingredients (i.e. beef) last.

Make it a Taco Bowl

Some of your guests might prefer a bowl option! I love to make Mexican rice to serve on the side so guests can make a rice-based taco bowl. You could also serve lettuce, like iceberg, so guests can make a taco salad!

Just be sure to have plenty of bowls and forks if you go this route.

The Best Taco Meat Fillings

You don’t need to have a packet of taco seasoning on hand to make excellent taco meat! The main ingredients are salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, and, if you like a kick, cayenne. I also love adding Trader Joe’s Everything But the Elote seasoning! (Check out this recipe for taco seasoning!)

The beauty of taco bars is you can put out as many of your favorite taco meats as you like! Try:

Ground beef or turkey
Shredded chicken
Barbacoa beef
Carne asada,
Carnitas
Shrimp
Fried or grilled fish (like in my Fish Taco Board)

How Much Taco Meat Per Person

The usual rule of thumb is about ¼ cup taco meat per taco so you have room for all those other fillings and toppings! Generally speaking, it’s good to budget about 3 tacos per person, which means almost 1 cup of meat for each guest. That being said, definitely plan to have extra–some folks have a heavy hand (I certainly can’t blame them!).

Fun fact: even though caterers know people eat on average about 3 tacos, they actually budget for 2 tacos per person for a taco bar because they know people tend to add more filling than ¼ cup.

Other Taco Toppings

Queso Fresco
Sliced avocados
Charred corn
Sliced radishes
Sautéed poblano slices
Diced mango
Diced pineapple
Fried onions
Pickled jalapeños
Cilantro Lime dressing
Fried tortilla strips

Fusion Taco Toppings

I especially love tacos that are a combo of multiple cuisines! Like Chinese-inspired General Tso’s chicken tacos, Korean BBQ-inspired tacos, Jamaican Jerk-inspired tacos, Indian-inspired Chicken Tikka tacos–the list goes on!

Here are some recipes I love:

Bulgogi Tacos
Thai Chicken Tacos
General Tso’s Taco Bake
Spicy Chicken Tikka Tacos
Jerk Chicken Tacos
Mediterranean Salmon Tacos

Taco Night Drinks

What’s a taco party without some festive beverages! I love a Corona with lime or a Margarita, but here are some other options:

Alcoholic

Paloma
Ranch Water
Beergarita
Michelada
Flavored margaritas

Non-alcoholic

Agua Fresca
Tepache
Jarritos
Margarita Mocktail

Show Me Your Taco Bars

I hope this post inspires you to host a family-style meal. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the beautiful spreads you create from my tips. If you make something inspired by this post, please tag me at @ainttooproudtomeg so I can see and share!

And, If you liked this recipe, please rate and review.

Save SaveSaved Pin Print 5 from 9 votes

Taco Bar Party

Wondering what goes on tacos? The world is your oyster when it comes to taco ingredients, but I love all the classic taco toppings. Save this recipe!Enter your email and we’ll send it to you, plus new recipes from us every week!Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Email Save Save

Ingredients

Carbs

4-inch flour or corn tortillas
Taco shells

Fillings

Ground beef, cooked
Black beans

Toppings

Shredded Mexican cheese
Shredded lettuce
Pickled red onion
Jalapeño slices
Chopped tomatoes
Sliced black olives
Shredded Mexican cheese
Cotija Cheese
Diced white onion

Sauces & Dips

Salsa
Guacamole
Sour cream

Garnish

Lime wedges
Cilantro
Cotija cheese (on the beans)

Instructions

First, add all toppings, fillings, and sauces and dips to separate small or medium serving bowls and sprinkle beans with cotija cheese.
Next, add the beef to a cast iron skillet or serving bowl and place on the board.
Add bowls with cilantro, lettuce, tomatoes, beans, Mexican cheese, and sour cream to the board around the beef, forming a half circle.
Add bowls with jalapenos, remaining cotija, onions, guacamole, olives, and salsa to the board in a line around the other bowls.
Finally, add taco shells and lime wedges around the edge of the board. Serve tortillas on the side.

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