Walking Tacos Recipe (Taco in a Bag)
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Walking Tacos are a fun twist on traditional tacos and work great for every day or entertaining! Any situation where clean up or sitting down to eat might be difficult is a great time for a walking taco. Because all of the ingredients are added to a bag of tortilla chips, only a fork is required to enjoy. Keep scrolling to learn more about this fun concept, including tips and topping ideas to make your own favorite walking taco recipe!
What is a Walking Taco?
A walking taco, otherwise known as a taco in a bag, is an individual serving of tacos that is portable. It is made by crushing an individual bag of chip such as Fritos or Doritos and then various taco toppings are added to the bag. Stick a fork in it and you’ve got an easy way to eat what is essentially a taco salad. It doesn’t require a plate or a table, making it literally a taco you can easily eat while walking. I’ve seen walking used for local sidewalk sales, camping and even Relay for Life. It is also a fun for kids to make their own! I often have left over taco ingredients and enjoy making them for lunch.
Walking Tacos Ingredients
There are so many different options! Whether you want a Fritos Walking Taco loaded with basic taco ingredients like ground beef, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and taco sauce or you want to switch things up and make a Doritos Walking Taco with shredded chicken, black beans, spanish rice, cheese and guacamole, it is all good! Like this taco soup, you can really tailor the toppings. If you love walking tacos, you must try walking taco casserole. It is very hearty and a family favorite!!
You choose the toppings to suit what you have on hand or love the most! It is entirely customizable. Here are just a few options:
- individual sized bags chips: Fritos, Doritos or other favorite type
- seasoned taco meat: ground beef, chicken, steak or pork
- beans: black beans, refried beans or pinto beans add extra protein
- rice: spanish rice or cilantro lime rice are great options
- shredded cheese: cheddar, monterey jack, pepper jack, Mexican blend or your favorite cheese
- lettuce: shredded iceburg is my favorite because of the crunch but chopped romaine or butter lettuce are other great options
- tomatoes: diced roma, beefsteak or cherry tomatoes add a ton of color and flavor
- sour cream: keeps the ingredients from being dry and adds to flavor
- taco sauce/salsa: kick up the heat with hot, keep it mild, or offer both options
- guacamole: adds a nice flavor creaminess to your walking taco
- sliced black olives: adds color and saltiness which brings out the flavor in other toppings
- sliced jalapeno or canned green chilis: for added spiciness
- sliced or chopped onion: green onions are my favorite but red onion or white onions can be substituted
How to Make a Walking Taco
Make your favorite taco meat, beans or rice. Lightly crush your bag of tortilla chips so that you have bite size pieces. Open the bag of chips and add your ingredients, just as you would to build a traditional taco.
I like to add something creamy like sour cream or guacamole and a condiment like salsa or taco sauce to keep it from being dry and make it more like a taco salad.
Add a fork and enjoy!
Simply throw the bag away when you are finished. How easy is that??
When to Serve Tacos in a Bag
Taco in a bag works great for anytime you have limited options for seating or cooking in general.
- Camping: Bring toppings and pre-made taco meat and let everyone assemble their own. You can also cook the taco meat in a skillet over a fire if desired. Sit around the fire and enjoy a delicious lunch or dinner of tacos in a bag.
- Picnic: Bring the ingredients and set up on the picnic blanket to allow everyone to make a walking taco. Also could prepare them right before leaving and reseal the chip bag with tape. If you won’t be eating for a while, assembling at the picnic may be best to avoid soggy chips.
- Leftovers: Use up those leftovers from taco night! Grab a bag of chips and make your own taco salad with a Doritos Taco in a Bag for lunch or for an easy leftover night.
- Game Day: Tailgating at the stadium or enjoy the game at home? No problem! Tacos in a bag work well for both options and you won’t miss any of the action.
- Fundraiser/Sporting Events: Need a fundraiser for your next event or something to serve spectators at your sporting event? Cook taco meat and keep it warm in a crockpot. Offer various toppings and serve up Walking Tacos for sale. It is always a hit every time I’ve seen it!
- Walking Taco Cookout: Need a new entertaining idea beyond grilled meats? Have a Walking Taco cookout! Super easy to put together. Let guests mingle outdoors while munching on tacos!
Walking Tacos
These walking taco recipe is a fun and portable food idea, perfect for parties or even a weeknight dinner solution! Not sure what to do with those taco leftovers? Try some tacos in a bag! All you need are a small bag of Fritos or Doritoes to create your own taco salad, right in the bag!
Ingredients
- 8 bags (1 oz) Doritos, Fritos or tortilla chips
- 2 pounds seasoned taco meat prepared
- 2 cups shredded lettuce
- 1 cup chopped tomatoes
- 2 cups shredded cheese
- your favorite taco toppings sour cream, black olives, jalapenos, guacamole, taco sauce, salsa, green onions, beans, etc.
Instructions
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Slightly crush your small bag of chips so the chips are in bite size pieces.
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Open bag and layer your favorite taco toppings inside such as taco meat, shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, sour cream, tomatoes, guacamole, black olives, salsa or taco sauce.
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Grab a fork and dig in, eating right from the bag!
Recipe Notes
Alternatively, you can cut the chip bag horizontal for easier access.
Walking Taco Bar
Walking tacos are an easy way to entertain guests! Serve up a taco bar and provide bags of chips like Fritos or Doritos and let guests customize their taco in a bag! It works great because tacos are always a hit with crowds and with various toppings, you can satisfy a wide variety of tastes and potential diet restrictions.
Have you ever made Walking Tacos? When have they come in handy for you?
This post was updated September, 2022.
I have never made Tacos in Bag. Might have to try it sometime!
What a cool idea! Thanks for sharing.
That’s actually a pretty nifty idea! I’ve never used Dorito’s with a taco salad.
Oh, my! This brings back memories! When I was in high school our Parents of Athlete’s group made these and sold them in the concessions stand during our softball games. From experience, these are excellent snacks between games! Thanks for posting this!
This is a great idea!
Yes we’ve had tacos in a bag… they are great for when we are camping and the kids love them 🙂
I’m intrigued but also scared. I wonder what other chips would work with these? 🙂
my family has always used fritos instead of the doritos…love these!
Never had it or heard of it! Sounds like a fun idea, though. As Christina said, might be great for camping.
Yes i’ve had them but i learned about them at a fair in Florida and loved them ever since.
This is originally a recipe from Frito-Lay using a bag of Frito’s.
My son’s boy scout troop sold them at the county fair for years, back in the 70’s. It is a fun recipe with a long history.
I saw the same type thing with Frito’s at a fair last fall…fun recipe
What a neat idea! I’m all about easy, fun dinners. Thanks for sharing!
cool.. i think my kids will like it… we use all the ingredients listed.. just never put it in individual bags. 😀
I remembered reading this awhile ago but I couldn’t remember where but I found it again tonight! This has become one of my fav quick & easy lunches when I’m in the mood for mexican. I get chips out of the vending machine, and then either grilled chicken, a burger (crumbled) or I’ve even done it with turkey from the salad bar in the cafeteria downstairs. I’ve got some Taco Bell sauce packets in my desk, some salsa in the fridge and the rest (lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, onions, etc.) I also get from the salad bar, and they sell sour cream in the little containers. My co-workers think I’m a genius (crazy, but a genius) but now I can give credit where credit is due!
Donna, that is awesome! Yes, really any meat will work well and it becomes just a really awesome salad. But I love how you use what is around and keep some stuff on hand. So simple yet so genius! And I really can’t take credit. I’ve seen them used at games, fundraisers, fairs, etc. But I’m thrilled that I’ve been able to share the love of tacos in a bag!
You’re the one who introduced it to me, so you get total credit 🙂 I’d never seen/heard of doing that before I read your post!
omg yum!
I’ve actually heard of this recipe; it looks good and it’s super portable. Yum!
Yum-my kids would like this-how fun!
haha, great idea, my daughter would love it. I’d use Fritos since that’s what we use anyway when making taco salad.
This is such a clever idea and sounds yummy too!
This is more healthy than the easy one I’ve seen:
Individual bag of fritos, then add chili.