5 from 2 votes

Walking Tacos

ByStacie Vaughan On June 22, 2023September 19, 2024 Updated September 19, 2024

Walking Tacos are the ultimate fun and delicious snack/appetizer for family gatherings or parties. Load up individual bags of chips with your favorite taco toppings, and enjoy the best easy-to-make tacos in a bag experience!

You just found a recipe for the perfect party food or portable dinner at football games! There is always a good excuse to enjoy this fun dinner. Make it as a way to change up Taco Tuesday or a quick meal to eat on game day. It’s a creative take on Frito pie.

And if your family is full of picky eaters, this is perfect for them, too! They can customize their own walking tacos with their favorite toppings. It’s a straightforward recipe with room for customization that pleases the entire family. Make it as spicy or mild as you like it. Oh, and the best part? Easy clean-up! No dishes to wash!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

A filling and portable dinner
Great idea for a picnic or outdoor parties
Mess-free way to make your own tacos
Fun and different idea for taco night
Easy meal for the family
Tastes like a deconstructed taco

Ingredients

The full printable recipe card with measurements and instructions is found at the bottom of the post.

Ground Beef: Use lean ground beef; it will have less grease and taste better on top of the Fritos.
Taco Seasoning: Save time and use a bag of seasoning, or make homemade taco seasoning.
Snack-Size Frito Bags: They are traditionally made with Fritos, but you can serve them over your favorite chips.
Toppings: Add toppings you like to eat on your tacos or taco salad.

Ingredients laid out on a white counter.

How to Make Walking Tacos

Follow along to learn how to make Walking Tacos – always a hit whenever I make them!

Step One: Cook the lean ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the meat is cooked. Drain the grease and return the beef to the pan.
Step Two: Add the water and taco seasoning to the pan. Cook until all the water has thickened into a sauce.

Collage of the ground beef and spices cooked in a pan.

Step Three: Lightly crush the chips in the chip bag and cut off the tops of the bags.
Step Four: Scoop the taco meat into the frito bag.
Step Five: Top the taco meat with your favorite toppings.

What to Serve with the Recipe

This easy walking taco recipe is a fun twist on tacos and the perfect thing to make on a busy weeknight. Here are some of my favorite sides that taste delicious with portable tacos.

Variations and Substitutions

Make a walking taco casserole. Add a bag of corn chips to a casserole dish, top with ground beef mixture, cheddar cheese, and bake until cheese melts.
Make it spicy. Top with as much hot sauce as you can handle.
Use the slow cooker. Add ground beef and taco seasoning to the crock pot and cook for 2-3 hours.
Use a different kind of chips. It’s a great party food because everyone can choose their favorite chip bag!

Storage Instructions

Store the cooked taco meat in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to three days. Do not store walking taco bags filled with meat. The chips will become soggy.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

Drain the meat before adding the taco seasoning. This prevents you from making greasy tacos.
Prep the toppings the day before to save yourself time.
Don’t forget to crush the chips lightly. This makes it easier to eat.

What Are Walking Tacos?

Imagine your favorite taco ingredients in a portable bag you can eat on the go. That’s the idea behind walking tacos! They are an easy way to eat tacos without a plate or bowl. You add taco meat to a bag of Fritos. Then, all you need is a plastic fork and your favorite toppings. It’s a good idea for birthday parties too because everyone can choose their toppings and chips.

Can I Make This With Other Types of Chips?

You don’t have to use Fritos. Try this with tortilla chips, Cool Ranch Doritos, or Nacho Cheese Doritos. You can make this easy walking tacos recipe with your favorite types of crunchy chips.

Can I Make It Without Having To Buy The Snack-Size Bag Of Chips?

You can make your walking taco without a snack-size bag of chips. Add some chips to a small ziplock bag and add your favorite taco fillings.

Will The Heat Of The Taco Meat Melt The Chips Bag?

No, the heat of the taco meat doesn’t melt the chips bag. If you’re making this for the first time, using hot taco meat is okay.

How Do You Eat It Without Making A Mess?

Even though a snack-size bag is convenient for walking tacos, it is easy to overfill them. Be careful and only add a few traditional taco toppings. Leave enough room to mix and scoop out bites.

An overhead view of a bag of the recipe with a spoon in it.

How Can I keep The Chips From Getting Soggy?

The chips won’t get soggy if you eat them quickly. As taco meat sits on top of the chips, the chips will soak up the juices. So eat them quickly.

Can I Make Ahead?

Yes, you can make them ahead. Store the taco meat separately from the other ingredients and wait to open the chip bags before serving them. Keep the meat mixture in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Topping Ideas

There are a ton of different toppings you could add. Try any of these:

Shredded taco cheese
Diced onions
Pico de Gallo
Diced tomatoes
Chopped iceberg lettuce
Chopped cilantro
Green chiles
Cooked black beans
Sliced green onions
Pickled jalapenos
Salsa
Taco sauce
Lime wedges
Sour cream

The recipe on a platter with a spoon in the bag.

FAQ

Can you freeze taco meat?

Yes, you can freeze taco meat. Store it in a freezer-safe bag and keep it in the freezer for up to six months.

Can you make walking tacos with chicken or turkey?

Yes, this will taste just as delicious with ground turkey or chicken.

Taco Inspired Recipes

Want more easy recipes that taste like tacos? Here are some of my favorites:

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