If you are feeding a crowd how about serving them each a walking taco? This is my go-to meal for large groups in the summer. Walking tacos offer the perfect blend of flavor and portability, allowing you to enjoy a mess-free taco experience on the go.
To go along with my walking tacos try these festive side dishes and desserts!
This walking taco recipe can easily make servings for 50 or even 100 people. I make a walking taco bar every Fourth of July! The best part about serving a walking taco is that the prep and clean-up is easy. No need for paper plates, you eat right out of the bag and throw away! Mess-free! You and your guests will love walking tacos!
What You Need To Make This Easy Walking Tacos Recipe
- Ground beef
- Onions
- Canned diced tomatoes
- Refried Beans
- Garlic
- Chili Powder
- Cumin
- Bags of Fritos Corn Chips
Your Favorite Taco Toppings:
- Grated Cheddar Cheese (or your favorite Mexican Blend Cheese)
- Sour Cream
- Jalapenos
- Black Olives
- Shredded Lettuce
- Chopped Tomatoes
- Green Onions
This recipe uses about 16 small individual bags of Fritos corn chips. If you are making this for dinner, simply get a regular bag of corn chips or tortilla chips and use individual bowls. It is a great interactive family dinner! This is a fun quick easy dinner to add to your meal rotation.
Feeding a crowd
Here is how I make feeding a crowd super easy! I feed them a walking taco! This delicious mixture of taco meat flavored with homemade taco seasoning mix, refried beans, and tomatoes poured over a bag of chips is always a crowd pleaser!
Walking Tacos For 50
For about 50 walking tacos (you will need to decide how many servings your crowd will eat. If your guests are hearty eaters allow for two servings each) I triple the recipe and make ahead. The beef mixture can be made a couple of days ahead and refrigerated or even frozen for a longer period.
Brown 3 pounds of meat with 3 chopped onions and about 9 pressed garlic cloves. Open three freezer bags and in each bag place, one can of tomatoes, one can of refried beans, 1 pound of meat, and the spices. Seal the bag and squish it a bit to mix the ingredients. Keep bags in the refrigerator until the morning of your party. Pour the contents of the bags into a large crockpot. My crockpot will hold three bags. Cook on low for several hours before serving.
Walking Tacos for 100
For 100 servings I make 6 freezer bags of the walking taco mixture. Typically this is the amount I make every year for our party. Having this amount on hand makes us prepared for unexpected guests. The best part is that the individual bags can be opened and used as needed. Any extra bags that weren’t needed freeze beautifully.
Individual bags of Fritos Corn Chips can be purchased at SAM’s Wholesale Club in boxes of 50. About three bags of the walking taco mixture is needed for a box of 50 bags of corn chips. Feel free to mix it up and use Nacho Cheese Doritos or Cool Ranch Doritos chip bags. Either way, it does taste like nachos in a bag. YUM.
Walking Taco Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 1 – 28 ounce can diced tomatoes
- 1 – 15 to 16 ounce can refried beans
- 3 cloves garlic (pressed or finely minced)
- 1 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
Toppings
- sour cream
- shredded cheese
- black olives optional
- jalapenos optional
- salsa optional
- finely chopped lettuce
- chopped tomatoes
Instructions
- Brown ground beef, onion and garlic in a skillet. Add in seasonings and cook for a couple minutes until fragrant. Stir in tomatoes and refried beans. Cook slowly until heated through and bubbly. Adjust seasonings for personal taste. Open individual bag of Fritos, place a couple spoons of the meat and bean mixture right inside the bag. Top with your favorite toppings and you have delicious walking tacos.
Notes
Nutrition
Feeding a crowd? This shrimp boil feeds a lot of people without any dishes.
Waking tacos are a great meal during the summer months for outdoor eating. During the winter we love serving up this Cincinnati Chili Recipe to large crowds. Another crowd-pleasing meal is Baked Ham and Cheese Party Sandwiches.
I am so excited that I found this article. I’ve been fretting over what to do for my daughter’s graduation party next month and catering is so expensive but I work full time so not sure if I could pull off doing it myself.
I know this is asking a lot but if you would be willing to drop a picture of how you set this up for a crowd of 100 people? a basic long table and assembly line of sorts I’m envisioning but would love to see how you do it or anyone else reading this. I realize you may not have a picture but figured it couldn’t hurt to ask. Thanks so much for posting this and for including the amt to serve 50 or 100 people! You rock!
How many bags of cheese and lettuce to you recommend getting for 100 people?
I need amounts of toppings: lettuce, tomatoes, shredded cheese, sour cream, salsa to feed 600 people! Do you have amounts for 100 or 50?
Kristina, I serve out of a crockpot. I will quickly heat up the contents of a bag on the stove and add to the crockpot when it gets low.
Hello Nettie, I would just double my recipe for 100 people and you should be good to go.
I’m planning walking tacos for a grad party open house – possibly 200 people. How many pounds of beef would you suggest? I don’t want to run out of food. 🙂
For 100 people, do you serve out of crockpot and refill as needed from refrigerator bags? Or use a chafing dish/sterno?
Thanks so much Ingrid for the five star rating. So happy you loved it.
We taste tested this recipe and one made with traditional taco seasoning. Your recipe won, hands down! Thanks for making it so simple, and delicious!
this is the perfect dinner or lunch for camping,especially with kids, no mess!
Such a fun twist on taco salad! The whole family loved them, but especially the eight year old. She thought it was so cool eating out of a bag. 🙂
This is such a perfect idea for feeding a crowd! So amazing!
I usually just throw it in and stir and it doesn’t take too long to heat. However, if you have people waiting in line to eat you might heat first before putting it in.
I’m going to use your recipe for a crowd. If you find that you need an extra bag from the refrigerator, do you microwave it and then add to your crockpot? Also have you made a vegetarian option?
We love making this! I appreciate such an easy and delicious recipe. We use it all the time.