To feed a lot of people, you could give each of them a walking taco. This is my favorite summer meal for big groups. Walking tacos are the perfect combination of taste and portability, so you can enjoy a taco on the go without making a mess.
To go along with my walking tacos try these festive side dishes and desserts!
This walking taco recipe can easily make servings for 50 or even 100 people. Every Fourth of July, I make a walking taco bar. It’s easy to set up and clean up, which is the best thing about it. You can eat walking tacos right out of the bag and throw them away, so you don’t have to use paper plates. Your guests will love them!
Walking tacos are a fun and easy way to feed a crowd. But when cooking for 100 people how much ground beef do you really need? Here’s a look at how to calculate and prepare the right amount of meat and toppings to make 100 tasty walking tacos.
What are Walking Tacos?
A walking taco is a simplified taco served in a snack-size bag of chips. Typical walking taco ingredients include:
- Ground beef or shredded chicken
- Shredded cheese
- Diced tomatoes
- Sour cream
- Lettuce
- Salsa
- Beans (optional)
The meat and toppings are spooned into the opened chip bag so you can eat the taco ingredients right out of the bag. It’s an easy no-mess meal you can walk around and eat with no plates needed.
Why Make Walking Tacos for a Crowd?
Walking tacos are a great option for feeding at large group for several reasons:
- Portable and easy to eat
- Little prep work required
- No plates or utensils needed
- Endless customization options
- Kid-friendly meal
- Cost effective for large groups
You just fill the bags and let people build their perfect taco in a bag. Minimal effort for maximum enjoyment.
How Much Ground Beef for 100 People?
For 100 walking tacos, plan for roughly:
- 10-12 pounds of ground beef
- 100 individual bags of chips
- Toppings as desired
To estimate allow for 1/3 to 1/2 pound of cooked ground beef per person. Exact amount can vary based on meat and topping preferences.
Lean Ground Beef Options
For walking tacos 80/20 or 85/15 lean-to-fat ratio ground beef provides the best texture and flavor balance. Fattier meats can be too greasy, while leaner meats turn out dry.
Ground chuck or ground sirloin are good options. Go with a coarse grind for more texture.
Calculating Raw vs. Cooked Weight
Remember that ground beef shrinks when cooked. You’ll need about 1 1/3 pounds raw beef for every 1 pound cooked.
So for 10 pounds cooked, get about 13 1/3 pounds of raw ground beef. This extra accommodates the shrinkage.
Cooking the Ground Beef
To cook larger quantities of ground beef:
- Cook in batches to avoid overcrowding
- Use a very large skillet, stockpot, or grill
- Make ahead and reheat in a slow cooker on low
Browning in smaller amounts ensures the meat cooks properly without steaming.
Food Safety Tips
When dealing with large quantities of raw meat:
- Chill meat thoroughly before cooking
- Discard any that looks off or smells bad
- Don’t let it sit out too long before cooking
- Use within 1-2 days of purchasing
- Cook thoroughly to 160°F internal temperature
- Discard any leftovers after serving
Follow safe handling and cooking guidelines to avoid foodborne illness.
Estimating Toppings for 100
Provide toppings buffet-style so guests can customize. For 100 walking tacos, you’ll need:
- Shredded Cheese: 3-4 pounds
- Diced Tomatoes: About 5 pounds
- Lettuce: 2-3 heads chopped
- Sour Cream: 4-5 tubs (16 oz size)
- Salsa: About 5 jars (16 oz size)
Adjust amounts based on preferences. Not everyone will take every topping.
Save Time with Prep Ahead of Time
To maximize efficiency for a crowd:
- Cook ground beef a day or two ahead
- Shred cheese and chop veg in advance
- Layer ingredients in serving dishes ready to go
- Have chips and bags ready to just assemble
This streamlines the process when it’s time to build the walking tacos.
Easy Serving and Cleanup
Walking tacos are mess and fuss-free for serving a crowd:
-Guests can assemble their own
- Eat right out of the bag
- Use pre-portioned servings
- Toss bags when done
Minimal dishes to wash makes feeding many effortless.
Sample Shopping List for 100
Here’s an approximate shopping list for walking tacos for 100:
- Ground Beef: 13 pounds
- Tortilla Chips: 100 individual bags
- Shredded Cheese: 3 pounds
- Diced Tomatoes: 4 pounds
- Lettuce: 3 heads
- Salsa: 5 jars
- Sour Cream: 4 tubs
Shop for fresh ingredients as close to the date needed as possible.
Perfect for Large Groups
Walking tacos are an ideal hands-on meal for campouts, game day, potlucks, family reunions, or anywhere you need to feed many easily.
Preparing around 10-12 pounds of meat and having plenty of toppings and chips on hand will satisfy a crowd of 100. Adjust amounts as you like to make sure everyone gets their taco fix!
Walking Tacos For 50
For about 50 walking tacos (you will need to decide how many servings your crowd will eat. If your guests are hearty eaters allow for two servings each) I triple the recipe and make ahead. You can make the beef mixture a few days ahead of time and store it in the fridge or even freeze it for longer.
Brown 3 pounds of meat with 3 chopped onions and about 9 pressed garlic cloves. You will need three freezer bags. Put one can of tomatoes, one can of refried beans, one pound of meat, and the spices in each bag. Seal the bag and squish it a bit to mix the ingredients. Keep bags in the refrigerator until the morning of your party. Pour the contents of the bags into a large crockpot. My crockpot will hold three bags. Cook on low for several hours before serving.
What You Need To Make This Easy Walking Tacos Recipe
- Ground beef
- Onions
- Canned diced tomatoes
- Refried Beans
- Garlic
- Chili Powder
- Cumin
- Bags of Fritos Corn Chips
Your Favorite Taco Toppings:
- Grated Cheddar Cheese (or your favorite Mexican Blend Cheese)
- Sour Cream
- Jalapenos
- Black Olives
- Shredded Lettuce
- Chopped Tomatoes
- Green Onions
This recipe uses about 16 small individual bags of Fritos corn chips. If you are making this for dinner, simply get a regular bag of corn chips or tortilla chips and use individual bowls. It is a great interactive family dinner! This is a fun quick easy dinner to add to your meal rotation.
I make it easy to feed a lot of people by giving them a “walking taco.” This tasty mix of homemade taco seasoning mix, refried beans, tomatoes, and taco meat poured over a bag of chips is always a hit.
How To Make WALKING TACOS, A Ground Beef Taco Recipe
FAQ
How many pounds of ground beef for walking tacos per person?
How much meat do I need for 100 street tacos?
How many tacos will 10 pounds of ground beef make?
How much taco meat for 125 people?
How much ground beef for 100 tacos?
I would get about 18 pounds of ground beef to make 100 tacos. This will make sure you have enough and you will probably have a little meat leftover. Tip – Make sure you drain the grease from the cooked meat before you add the water and seasoning to your meat. How Much Cheese Do I Need For 100 Tacos? You can never have too much cheese!
How many tacos should a pound of ground beef fill?
It is based on a formula that uses the average serving of protein on the typical taco is an 1/8th of a pound of meat, which is about 2 ounces of beef before it is cooked. So, a pound of ground beef should nicely fill 8 tacos. Of course, once the hamburger meat is cooked, it will weigh less than the raw and it will also shrink in size a bit.
How much ground beef do you need for a Taco Party?
So, a pound of ground beef should nicely fill 8 tacos. Of course, once the hamburger meat is cooked, it will weigh less than the raw and it will also shrink in size a bit. But, as long as you use the calculator, you will have the proper amount of hamburger meat for your taco party.
How many walking tacos do I Need?
This delicious mixture of taco meat flavored with homemade taco seasoning mix, refried beans, and tomatoes poured over a bag of chips is always a crowd pleaser! For about 50 walking tacos (you will need to decide how many servings your crowd will eat. If your guests are hearty eaters allow for two servings each) I triple the recipe and make ahead.