Need an easy dinner idea for a big crowd? You should have a Taco Bar Party! It does not break the bank or take an inordinate amount of time to put together. For New Year’s Eve this year we wanted to have a fun dinner party that would not keep us stuck in the kitchen instead of enjoying the festivities. A Taco Bar Party was the perfect solution. All the prep could be done beforehand so we could hang out with our guests.
Taco Bar Party
The Sides:
I feel like the toppings are just as important as the proteins when you are hosting a taco bar party! I say the more the merrier when you are putting together the menu! We had Black Beans**, Tomatoes, Lettuce, Taco Sauce, Salsas, Guacamole, and Cheese of course.
**It is important to note that this Black Bean Recipe makes for great Huevos Rancheros and so many other tasty dishes!
This can be put together in advance and refrigerated for a day or frozen for a few weeks. Defrost and bake!
I found a great deal on a pork shoulder, cut it up in big chunks and slow cooked it with a great spice mix from Pampered Chef. Ten minutes prep time and then at the end of the day it shredded quite easily. After you shred the pork spread it out on a baking sheet and pour about a half cup of the liquids from the slow cooker over it and put it under the broiler in the oven for 5-10 minutes it will get a bit crispy. I liked these carnitas mixed with black beans and rice on a soft taco shell (this picture does not do it justice).
Simple Beef Tacos
I do not have a recipe to share for this…I just use ground beef and store bought taco seasoning. For parties I cook the meat ahead of time and then keep warm in a crock pot.
