Host a Taco Bar Party! (Free Party Planner Printable)
Host a taco bar party the next time you have friends or family over! Guests can build their own delicious tacos and you can sit back with a margarita and enjoy the party. It’s the perfect low-key way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, too!
Why A Taco Bar Is The Perfect Party Solution
- Make-ahead – A taco bar is a great party solution because so much of it can be made and prepped days in advance. With the hard work done, all you need to do is warm dishes and set up on the day of your event.
- Fits tons of occasions – Think game day watch parties, graduation parties, birthday parties, backyard BBQs, movie nights, team parties, family reunions…the list goes on!
- Self-serve – Of course, it’s also great because guests can serve themselves…from drinks to apps to tacos! You get to mix and mingle and not worry about getting dinner on the table in time.
I’ve got you covered with lots of menu ideas and solutions for hosting a festive, yet minimalist, taco bar party.
Table of Contents
- Tacos
- Tortillas, Shells + Wraps
- Toppings + Garnishes
- Side Dishes, Desserts + Drinks
- Decorations
- Serving Pieces (and keeping food warm or cold)
- A Curated Menu + Prep Timeline
Keep scrolling for recipes and tablescape ideas, and don’t forget to download this taco bar party checklist!
The Main Event: Tacos
A crockpot is great for achieving tender, flavorful make-ahead fillings for your tacos, making these Slow Cooker Smoky BBQ Beef Tacos the perfect solution! (It can also double as a chafing dish to keep your taco filling nice and hot.) Also included in this recipe are creamy jalapeno slaw and homemade pico de gallo. I recommend additional garnishes of fresh avocado, cilantro and blue cheese crumbles for a surprising twist!
More taco filling ideas…
- Shredded chicken taco filling
- Ground turkey tacos
- Vegetarian lentil tacos
- Fish tacos
- Black bean tacos
- Carnitas (pulled pork)
- Chorizo tacos
- Pork belly tacos
No matter what taco filling you choose, try my Homemade Low Sodium Taco Seasoning for healthy, yet big flavor!
How Much Meat?
- Plan on 4-6 ounces (1/4 to 1/3 pound) of meat per person, then add 25% to account for hearty eaters and to ensure you don’t run out.
- If you’re following a recipe, use the suggested number of servings as a guide, then increase it by 25%.
- Leftovers can easily be repurposed into other delicious meals.
Tortillas, Shells + Wraps
One of the best things about tacos…no utensils needed! But, you do need a vehicle to load up those taco fillings.
Pick one or provide a variety of taco shells…
- White or whole wheat flour tortillas
- Yellow or white soft corn tortillas
- Crispy corn taco shells
- Leafy lettuce like bibb, romaine or iceberg are great low-carb alternatives
- Zucchini taco shells
- Jicama tortillas
You can warm a big batch of corn or flour tortillas in the microwave, oven or an outdoor grill to make quick work of it. Once heated, wrap them in a towel or use a tortilla warmer to keep them warm on your buffet table.
Toppings + Garnishes
There’s an endless variety of ways to dress up tacos, taking them in decidedly different directions.
Cheeses
- Cheddar, monterey jack and pepper jack are easy to get your hands on.
- Cotija or queso fresco for an authentic experience.
- Feta (a great alternative to cotija if you can’t find that), manchego, or even blue cheese!
Fresh Things
- Shredded lettuce, cabbage or a dressed slaw
- Veggies like diced tomato and sliced radishes
- Onions: white, red or pickled!
- Cilantro
- Avocado
- Jalapeños
Sauces
- Salsas: spicy or mild, red or green (salsa verde), fruit-based, pico de gallo, store-bought or homemade (like this Simple Charred Tomato Salsa)
- Sour cream or lime crema
- Guacamole
Side Dishes, Desserts + Drinks
Mix and match accompaniments for a well-rounded and tasty taco bar!
Taco Bar Sides
Desserts
Drinks
- Frozen Pink Cadillac Margaritas (perfect for making way in advance)
- Paloma cocktail
- Mexican beers like Modelo Especial or Dos Equis
- Tropical juices
- Aqua fresca
Dress Up Your Taco Bar
No fiesta is complete without some festive accents. Here are a few ideas you can incorporate into your buffet table or party area:
- Table coverings — A Macrame table runner reminds me of the patterns in papel picado. Brightly colored solid or striped table cloths area great, too – pull from the fresh, vibrant colors that appear in your recipes!
- Candles — borrow these from around the house. Incorporate different sizes (pillars, tapers, votives) and colors. Colorful candlesticks or votive holders can add to the vibe.
- Flowers — go with a statement arrangement or make mini bouquets to scatter all around your taco bar. You can select a single color theme or palette, or choose an array of bright colors to bring the vibrance of Latin America to your table. Use jars and glasses for an economical way to create your arrangements. I also love the idea of succulents in little terra cotta pots!
Pretty + Practical Serving Pieces
While white serving dishes offer a neutral backdrop to let the food really shine, colorful pieces will instantly add vibrancy to your table, too! Here are a few serving pieces that can serve you well anytime you entertain:
- Tortilla warmer (or pancake warmer 😉) — a nice towel and basket work well, too, but this is handy…for weekend brunches, too!
- Food warmers— we definitely want to keep our hot food hot. The warm setting on your crockpot is great way maintain food temperature. If you do a lot of entertaining, something like an electric buffet server is handy for multiple dishes. There are even space saving warming mats that you can simply roll out and place cookware and crockery on.
- Food chillers – Likewise, keeping salads and taco toppings cool and crisp is equally important. There are handy gadgets like condiment caddies, dip bowls and insulated serving bowls that hold ice in the bottom. But, you can DIY your own by simply nesting smaller serving bowls into a tray or large casserole dish that is filed with ice.
- Drinkware — Add a little color with rimmed margarita glasses. For glasses that can easily serve double-duty as dessert coupes or hold other frozen cocktails, these elegantly shaped glasses do the trick. Colorful tumblers or hobnail glasses are super festive and great for all sorts of occasions!
Taco Bar Party Menu + Prep Timeline
I’ve provided a variety of options from taco fillings to desserts to create your own taco bar spread, but the recipe card below contains all the Sip + Sanity exclusive taco bar recipes as well as a prep checklist for making all the dishes ahead of time! With the hard work done, you get to relax and enjoy the party, too!
Make-Ahead Taco Bar Party Recipes
Ingredients
Instructions
A WEEK IN ADVANCE (OR MORE)
- Make Simple Charred Tomato Salsa and freeze.
- Make Frozen Pink Cadillac Margaritas and freeze.
- Make Mango Lime Popsicles with Kiwi.
TWO DAYS BEFORE
- Thaw Simple Charred Tomato Salsa in the fridge.
- Make Charred Corn Salad with Black Beans + Poblano, store the salad and dressing separately in the fridge.
- (From Slow Cooker Smoky Beef Tacos) shred the cabbage and store in the fridge. Mix the slaw dressing (add the jalapeños to this) and store separately in the fridge.
EARLY ON PARTY DAY
- Make fresh pico de gallo (from Slow Cooker Smoky Beef Tacos) and keep in the fridge until time to serve.
- Set up your taco bar and drinks station with glasses, serving dishes, utensils, napkins and decorations.
BEFORE GUESTS ARRIVE
- Set out drinks (and ice, if needed). Transfer some of the frozen margarita mix to a pitcher or small serving container. Set out lime wedges and a dish of salt for rimming glasses.
- Fill bowls with chips and salsa.
- Toss the Charred Corn Salad with it’s dressing. Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with cheese + cilantro then place on the table.
- Toss the slaw with it’s dressing. Transfer to a serving dish and place on the table.
- Set out dishes with blue cheese crumbles, sliced avocado and the reserved taco meat braising liquid (warm it up first).
- Warm the Cilantro Lime Brown Rice and Smoky Beef Taco meat in the microwave before placing on the taco bar.
- Warm tortillas before setting them out.
Pin for Later! Host a Taco Bar Party!
Great ideas for planning. I love the timeline! I’m looking to host a Cinco de Mayo party and this is most helpful!
Happy party planning! 🙂
Thanks, Jessie! Hope you have a fantastic Cinco de Mayo party!