Set up a taco bar for a fun and festive dinner, brunch fiesta or Cinco de Mayo celebration. It’s so easy to provide a variety of tortillas, taco shells and tortillas with your favorite fillings and the best taco toppings!
When it comes to game day entertaining, what could be better than a taco bar? Every guest can create the tacos of their dreams with these incredible options for dips, salsas and toppings.
Get all our favorite recipes for tasty taco toppings right here in one place! We’re having a fiesta and you’re invited!
What’s better than a classic taco dinner? Honestly, not much – at least not for our crew! I love creating a taco bar for friends and family, because everyone can choose their favorite taco toppings and create their own perfect meal.
We talk about Tex-Mex favorites a lot around here, and that’s because these flavors are simply the best! Not much can beat delicious tacos when they’re served with a classic margarita, any night of the week.
A taco bar is a great way to host a large crowd for game day, a Cinco de Mayo fiesta, or any kind of celebration.
Truthfully, you don’t even need a reason to party! A taco bar works for any night of the week, and it’s always a big hit with our kiddos. Grab your favorite tortillas, fillings and toppings, and dinner is served.
Setting up a Taco Bar
From homemade dips, dressings and salsa options, to classic veggies, cheeses and more, there’s a wide variety of options here to please every palate. Choose a couple items from each category for the ultimate fiesta spread!
Start with a variety of your favorite tortillas and shells – corn tortillas, flour, homemade tortillas, soft, crunchy, store-bought and the refrigerated section.
Quick Tip
If they are available in your area, our favorite tortillas are the raw flour refrigerated option from our local grocery store – so easy to cook and serve is worth the extra step.
We also love the La Tiara brand traditional taco shells for the perfect crunch in every taco bite!
Taco Bowls
You can also make your own taco bowl with tortillas – it’s so easy in case anyone wants a taco salad. A taco bowl is a delicious serving option, but also a beautiful way to display taco toppings!
Recipes
Easy Taco Bowl Shells
Easy homemade taco bowl shells for taco salads are made in the oven in just a few minutes. Read More
10 mins
Or, Serve Tacos in a Bag
Or, use bags of chips as the base to create the ultimate walking tacos.
Dinner & Lunch
Walking Tacos Recipe
Get our favorite walking taco recipe to make the best party food! Learn how to create walking tacos for a fun weeknight dinner, or entertaining family and friends. Read More
10 mins
Taco Fillings
Before you get to the taco toppings, you need to consider your proteins for taco fillings! Of course, this homemade taco seasoning blend is perfect for a variety of fillings.
Veggie Fillings
For vegetarian options, consider our veggie or mushroom tacos. Roasted sweet potatoes and fiesta ranch baked cauliflower make great choices.
Taco Toppings
From veggies to salsas and creamy sauces, you’ll find an array of delicious ideas to take your taco bar to the next level!
Sautéed Peppers
Side Dishes
Simple Sautéed Peppers
Sautéed peppers are a quick and easy way to add veggies with color, flavor and texture to an array of dishes. Read More
12 mins
Caramelized Onions
Onions are a classic street taco topping. Red onion, white onion, or pickled onion are great choices, too.
Cooking and Baking Tips, Substitutions & Guides
How to Caramelize Onions
Learn how to caramelize onions in just a few minutes, with very little effort! They are the perfect addition to… Read More
30 mins
Pico de Gallo
Simple chopped tomatoes are great, but take it up a notch with our homemade pico. This is an incredibly simple chunky, vibrant chopped pico de gallo, and it’s ready in just minutes.
Cinco de Mayo
Fresh Pico de Gallo Recipe
Pico de gallo is a classic, traditional Mexican dip (or topping, or sauce, or slather-it-everywhere zesty and fresh flavor explosion). Basically, it’s an incredibly simple chunky, vibrant chopped salsa, and it’s ready in just minutes. Read More
10 mins
More Veggie Taco Toppings
- Shredded Lettuce
- Shredded Cabbage
- Sliced Radishes
- Jalapeños
- Cilantro
Corn Toppings
Corn Salsa
Add Chipotle Corn Salsa to your burrito bowls, nachos and salads for the ultimate Chipotle copycat.
Recipes
Corn Salsa
This Chipotle Corn Salsa Recipe is a fresh and easy dip or topping for tacos, quesadillas, burritos and more! Add this Chipotle Corn Salsa to your burrito bowls for the ultimate Chipotle copycat. Read More
5 mins
Avocados and Guacamole
We’ve got fresh and flavorful guacamole recipes made with just a few classic ingredients in minutes. Get all the tips, tricks and variations to make the BEST guac – and learn how to cut an avocado right here.
Fruit Salsas
These salsa recipes are excellent additions to your tacos, too.
Sauces and Creamy Taco Toppings
Dip, slather, drizzle and dunk – however you want to top your tacos, I will never judge! Use classic hot sauce or upgrade your traditional sour cream topping.
Cream Cheese Bean Dip
Our creamy Tex Mex inspired bean dip is a perfect taco topping and also works as a dip or side dish.
Recipes
Cream Cheese Bean Dip
This is an easy five minute cream cheese bean dip recipe made with just four ingredients! It’s beyond simple to make, and absolutely delicious to serve. Read More
10 mins
Cheese Toppings
Is it even a taco if it doesn’t have cheese? Consider Monterey Jack, colby jack, cotija or queso fresco.
Click through for a comprehensive guide to the best Mexican cheese options!
Cooking and Baking Tips, Substitutions & Guides
Best Cheeses For Tacos
Let’s learn about the best cheeses for tacos – we’re going to take your taco night up a few notches! Upgrade your traditional taco cheese with a fabulous new Mexican cheese or a fun, fresh new blend of the classics. Read More
Velveeta Cheese Dip
Appetizers
Velveeta Cheese Dip
Velveeta Cheese Dip is the perfect appetizer for any event! Velveeta Dip is made with Velveeta cheese, fresh cream, and fresh vegetables including diced tomatoes, poblano and jalapeño peppers, onion, cilantro, and lime. Quick and easy to make and ready to serve in 10 minutes! Read More
10 mins
Queso Blanco
Appetizers
Queso Blanco
Queso Blanco, a recipe for a restaurant-style white queso dip without a lot of effort. This creamy, cheesy Queso Blanco is made on the stovetop (or in a CrockPot) with just four ingredients; white cheese, heavy cream, jalapeño and tomato! Read More
10 mins
Frequently Asked Questions
No matter what type of taco fillings and proteins you provide, plan on 1/4 pound per person.
Depending on the size of your tortillas and shells, plan on 2-3 tacos per person if you’re hosting a taco bar!
For soft tacos, you can wrap your tortillas in foil, and keep them warm in the oven with the temperature set at around 250 degrees. Leave them wrapped in the foil when you’re serving, so they don’t dry out.
For crunchy taco shells, you can leave them in the oven on a baking sheet set to very low temperature (around 150-200 degrees F tops).
Set up a Margarita Bar for the best self serve margaritas! Serve with these amazing Side Dishes for Tacos!
Taco Toppings for a Taco Bar
Ingredients
- Sautéed Bell Peppers
- caramelized onions
- Avocados
- Jalapeños
- Corn Salsa
- Mexicorn
- Street Corn Salad
- Pineapple Salsa
- Watermelon Salsa
- Cranberry Salsa
- Pico de Gallo
- Pico de Gallo with Avocado
- Guacamole
- Salsa Guacamole
- Mango Guacamole
- Creamy Salsa Guacamole
- Cilantro Lime Crema
- Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette
- Cream Cheese Bean Dip
- Chipotle Aioli
- Ranch or Fiesta Ranch
- Chimichurri
- Cheeses for Tacos Try shredded cheddar, crumbled cotija and more!
- Velveeta Cheese Dip
- Queso Blanco
Instructions
- Choose your taco toppings from this printable list, and print recipe cards for your chosen options.
- Prep the day before as much as possible. Store taco toppings in refrigerator for up to 48 hours in advance.
Julie’s Tips
- Depending on the size of your tortillas and shells, plan on 2-3 tacos per person if you’re hosting a taco bar!
- No matter what type of taco fillings and proteins you provide, plan on 1/4 pound per person.
For crunchy taco shells, you can leave them in the oven on a baking sheet set to very low temperature (around 150-200 degrees F tops).
Don’t Forget these Classic Toppings
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
Thank you. Needed a list of toppings when I make beef tacos. This really helped that I could print the list.
Thank you, Claudia! Beef tacos are a favorite here, too!
Itโs really GOOD!!!!!!!
Itโs good.