Host a Taco Bar Party! (with Menu + Prep Checklist)

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!

A Make-Ahead Taco Bar Party for Easy Entertaining

A taco bar is a great dinner 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 dinner. 

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.

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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 warm.) 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

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 (I’m partial to these for our Smoky BBQ Beef Tacos)
• 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

• Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Brown Rice
• Charred Corn Salad with Black Beans + Poblano
• Tortilla chips + queso dip
• Refried beans
• Mexican street corn
• Mexican rice

Desserts

• Mango Lime Popsicles with Kiwi
• Tres leches cake
• Churro bites

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

Simple Tablescape Ideas for a Taco Bar Party

Here are some of the simple decorative elements I incorporated into our taco bar:

• Macrame table runner — it evokes a little Latin flavor (think of the patterns in papel picado). And, you can use it again and again!
• 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 love using white serving dishes to let the food really stand out, but 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!
• Buffet server — this server uses tea lights (not sternos) to keep things warm.
• Margarita glasses — they’re just fun! Add a little color with these green rimmed glasses. For glasses that can easily serve double-duty as dessert coupes or hold other frozen cocktails, these elegantly shaped glasses do the trick.

Taco Bar Party Menu + Prep Checklist

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!

More Entertaining Ideas…

• A Low Key 4th of July Tablescape + Menu
• Halloween Party on Wheels
• A Mother’s Day Garden Tea
• A Normandy-Inspired Dinner Party

Pin for Later! Host a Taco Bar Party!