Taco Bar Night + Taco Seasoning Mix

We like to get together with my parents and my brothers’ families for dinners a few times a month. One of our go-to meals is a taco bar!

In fact, as I’m writing this, we just did a taco bar dinner last night.

What I do with my family and friends Taco Bar parties is have everyone volunteer to bring something they like or have on hand. We usually coordinate with a group text, and it’s fun to see what people bring.

We like to have lots of lettuce, because some people like to make taco salads instead of using tortillas. I’ll often make a taco salad first, and then if I’m still hungry, I’ll have a taco too. I start with the salad to make sure I’m getting lots of veggies in me!

The taco bar makes a really simple and fun potluck style party meal. Give it a try!

Host Your Own Taco Bar Night

Here are the basic ingredients:

• Lettuce / Cabbage
• Tortillas (organic corn or flour)
• Organic Meat* (ground turkey, ground beef, or shredded/diced chicken), cooked with a seasoning (like the recipe I share below)  and a few cloves of fresh garlic
• *We like to encourage humanely raised, organic grass-fed meats. Locally raised and finished, if possible.

Sides:

• Beans (pinto, kidney or black)
• Mexican rice (can be made with the homemade seasoning below)
• Chips (we often do alternative chips, like Forager Organic Vegetable Chips or Siete Grain Free Tortilla Chips)
• Salsa and Guacamole (fresh is best!)

Toppings:

• Avocado and/or Guacamole
• Greek Yogurt or Organic Sour Cream
• Sprouts
• Queso (cheese)
• Lime, quartered
• Bell peppers, sliced (raw or grilled)
• Zucchini, sliced (grilled or sautéed)
• Fresh cilantro, chopped
• Salad dressing (check out my recipe to make your own)
• Any other veggies you like, really!

Have everyone bring their item ready to serve. Meat is usually prepared at the host’s house, so that it’s hot, along with warming the tortillas. Cooked beans should be served hot for tacos but can be warmed or cold for taco salad.

Everyone can make their own plate or bowl with the ingredients they choose!

Taco Seasoning Mix

Chef Amber Thiel, who helps at some of our retreats, gave me this seasoning recipe, which she uses for the taco bar at the Beautifully Flawed Retreats (pictured above). The seasoning can be used to make taco meat and Mexican rice.

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp chili powder
• ½ tsp. garlic powder
• ½ tsp. onion powder
• ¼ tsp. red pepper flakes
• ¼ tsp. oregano
• 1 tsp. paprika
• 1 ½ tsp cumin
• ½ tsp. salt
• ½ tsp. black pepper

Simply mix all of these ingredients together and add (after cooking) to 2 lbs. cooked, grass fed beef (ground) or organic chicken (diced into chunks).

Have fun and enjoy that company!