When you are feeding a large crowd of family or hosting a big party, there is nothing easier and more popular than a delicious taco bar. Each person gets to fill their ground beef tacos with exactly what they want and everyone walks away happy and stuffed. But then you are faced with the question….how much taco meat per person do you need to buy?
The worst hosting scenario is running out of hamburger meat before your guests are full, but on the other hand, no one wants 50 pounds of leftover taco meat in the freezer either!
No worries my friend! Today, I am setting you up for taco bar success with a simple taco bar calculator so you don’t have to do any math. Let the calculator tell you how much taco meat per person you need! Plus, all the best side dishes, taco fillings, and taco party suggestions so your party is a guaranteed success!
Planning The Perfect Taco Bar Party
1. Determine How Many Tacos per Person
If you are new to feeding a large group of friends, here’s a good way to estimate how many tacos the average person will eat. Once you know that number, you can then use it in the calculator to determine how much taco meat per person you need. The number of tacos for each guest leans towards the more generous side, but when you are the host, you always want to have extra food instead of not having enough. Guests would love to take home a little tacos-to-go leftover tray!
- Plan for the adult guests to eat 2-3 tacos each
- For children ages 2-10, plan for them to eat 1 – 1 ½ tacos each
- Children over the age of 10 should be counted as an adult guest
If you know your guests will eat more than this average amount per person, adjust accordingly. I also suggest that once you’ve determined the initial number of tacos needed for the party, add 5-10 extra to the total. These will act as a safety buffer.
2. Determine How Much Taco Meat Per Person
This calculator will provide the exact amount of raw ground beef you need to purchase. It is based on both the number of guests you will have at your party, as well as the determination from step 1 above on how many tacos per person you will be serving.
Jump to Taco Meat Calculator
The calculator determines how much taco meat per person using specific measurements. 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. But, as long as you use the calculator, you will have the proper amount of hamburger meat for your taco party.
No matter how many pounds of ground beef you have to cook up for your big taco shin-dig, a bit of planning and the proper Ground Beef Calculator will set you up for success every time!
3. Determine the Amount of All the Taco Bar Toppings
Now that you know how much taco meat per person you need, let’s talk toppings. To make it easier, all the toppings amounts are given by weight instead of volume. Simply multiply the amount listed for each topping ingredient by the number of tacos you have determined for your party.
- Hard taco shells or flour tortillas – plan to have 1 shell or tortilla per taco. However, remember some of the hard shells might be broken in the package so buy extra.
- Refried beans – using beans can help the taco meat stretch farther. Plan on 2 ounces per taco.
- Shredded cheese – each taco should take about 1.5 ounces of cheese.
- Shredded lettuce – plan for 1 ounce of shredded lettuce per taco
- Diced tomatoes – purchase 2 ounces of fresh tomatoes for each taco
- Salsa – each taco will use 1.5 ounces of salsa
- Guacamole – plan for 1.5 ounces of guacamole for each taco
- Sour cream – purchase 1.5 ounces of sour cream for each taco
- Black olives – not everyone will use these so plan for 0.5 ounces for each taco
Taco Bar Ingredient Checklist
Since each of your guests will have different preferences for what they love in their own tacos, here is a suggested list of favorite toppings and must-haves. Be sure you have them all before heading to the grocery store:
- Taco shells – provide the three options: hard shell tacos, corn tortillas, and flour for soft tortillas.
- Lean hamburger meat – use the Ground Beef Calculator to determine how much taco meat per person you need.
- Taco seasoning – homemade or store-bought
- Refried beans or black beans
- Grated cheese – cheddar, queso fresco, or pepper jack
- Thinly shredded lettuce
- Pico de gallo or homemade salsa, offering both a mild and medium heat option
- Sour cream or Mexican crema
- Guacamole
- Black olives
- Pickled jalapenos
- Slices of fresh lime to squeeze over top
- Tortilla chips
How to Make Taco Meat Ahead Of Time
So you aren’t frantic right before your big taco party, be sure to prep as much as you can in the days (or weeks) ahead of time. Once you’ve determined how much taco meat per person and the number of tacos needed, you might be surprised how much ground beef you have to cook! Here are some easy steps to take before the big day arrives.
- Make the taco meat in small batches so the hamburger can brown instead of steam. The browning creates great flavor.
- For each pound of ground beef, season it with 2-3 tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning or 3 tablespoons of my favorite store-bought taco seasoning. The seasoning goes on once the hamburger is fully cooked and no longer pink.
- Cook and season all your hamburger meat, place it in freezer containers or bags, and freeze for up to 6 months! To thaw, place the taco meat in the fridge a couple of days before the party, and heat it up in the microwave or crock pot before serving.
Taco Meat Seasoning
Of course, once you know how much taco meat per person, you have to season it! The easiest option for a taco meat recipe is to purchase the store-bought seasoning packets, but I’m going to discourage that option pretty strongly. Most of those pre-mixed seasonings are very heavy with the sodium and leave a grainy texture in your mouth. The only store-bought version I have used and would recommend is Spice Islands Premium Taco Seasoning from Costco.
Homemade taco seasoning is very simple to make and tastes so much better than the junk at the store. Plus, it uses common spices you probably already have on hand like chili powder, onion powder, cumin, and garlic powder. Click here for my favorite, and simple, homemade taco seasoning recipe.
How to Keep Taco Meat Warm for a Party
If your guests are going to be making their own homemade tacos, let’s keep all the ingredients on your taco bar safe so no one ends up getting sick! That means the seasoned hamburger meat needs to stay warm and the cold toppings need to stay cold.
- To keep your prepared taco meat warm, use either a crockpot or a disposable chafing buffet dish. The cooked hamburger should be kept above 140 degrees to prevent bacterial growth.
- Keep your cheese and sour cream cold by placing the containers in a bowl of ice. Be sure to change out the ice as it melts.
- The corn and flour tortillas can stay warm in a disposable chafing buffet dish with a clean damp towel on top to keep them soft for the duration of your party.
Keeping The Taco Bar Ingredients Stocked
When hosting a taco party, not only is it polite to let your guests go through the line first, but it also provides the perfect opportunity to re-stock all the ingredients before you grab your own plate of food and join your guests. Doing this allows the taco bar to be filled how much taco meat per person needed for a second round, including the shells and toppings. No need for you to get up and restock it all again.
Another great option is to hire someone to stock the taco bar ingredients throughout the party. Doing this allows you to focus on your guests instead of the food. Find a college student or responsible high schooler and hire them to keep the food trays always full.
Taco Bar Side Dish Suggestions
Since the tacos are the main feature of the meal, think simple when it comes to side dishes to offer your guests. Of course, the obvious side is tortilla chips but consider a few fresh options as well to balance out the meal.
- Fresh green salad with Tomatillo Avocado Ranch dressing
- Fresh fruit salad
- Corn on the cob
- Lightly sautéed peppers and onions
- Mexican black beans
- Cilantro Lime Rice
- Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
- Southwest cole slaw
- Mexican rice
Uses for Leftover Taco Meat
If you end up with a bit too much meat, don’t worry. Even when you use the calculator to determine how much taco meat per person, sometimes you still end up with leftovers. Having extra is always a better problem than not having enough for your party. Let’s be honest….having extra food is the best part of hosting! Here are some options for your leftovers:
How to Freeze Taco Meat
Portion the extra hamburger meat into smaller servings and freeze them in containers or freezer bags for use later. For safety, be sure the meat is still warm when you package it. The taco meat will last 6 months in your freezer. Be sure you mark the container with both the date and the description of what’s inside. When it comes time to use the leftovers, simply put them in the fridge to thaw a couple of days before you need them. Or, pop it in the microwave on defrost setting.
Store the Hamburger Meat in the Refrigerator
If you will be using it within the next few days, leftover taco meat will last up to one week in your fridge in an airtight container. For food safety reasons, be sure the cooked hamburger is still hot when it is packed up and put in the refrigerator. It is important to cool the food quickly to keep bacteria from growing.
Leftover Taco Meat Recipe Ideas
Turn those couple extra pounds of meat into other dinners so you aren’t stuck eating tacos for the next few days.
- Southwest Omelettes – make a loaded omelet with eggs, onions, peppers, green chilis, Monterey jack cheese, and the leftover taco meat. Add some fresh pico de gallo over the top.
- Green Chili Taco Bake – a very easy layered casserole of corn tortillas, refried beans, leftover taco meat, cheese, and green chili enchilada sauce. It all bakes together until the casserole is hot and bubbly. Serve it with fresh tomatoes, lettuce, and pico de gallo.
- Nacho Casserole – layers of tortilla chips, corn, tomatoes, leftover taco meat, black beans, cheese, and green chili enchilada sauce. If you have kids, this will be a complete hit as soon as they hear the word “nachos!”
- Quick Chili Recipe – make this amazing dinner recipe in less than 15 minutes. Simply substitute the leftover hamburger meat for the regular ground beef in the recipe. Serve it with some hot California Cornbread for the perfect meal.
- Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole – take this classic midwest recipe a little south of the border by using the taco meat you are storing in the freezer in the base. Topped with corn, cheese, and of course, those crispy tater tots.
- Southwest Quesadillas – when time is short, nothing beats a quick quesadilla. This recipe is written using leftover chicken breast meat, but will be just as delicious using the leftovers from your taco bar party.
Taco Bar Party Supply Suggestions
While it will be tempting to pull out the standard paper plates for your gathering, consider using some of the supplies that will make it a bit easier for you and your guests to enjoy their delicious food.
- Disposable Taco Plates are sure handy because they come with three taco compartments that hold the tacos upright both while you are building it, but also as you walk around visiting with your friends.
- Ceramic Tortilla Warmer keeps tortillas warm for over an hour. It is both microwave and oven safe. Simply heat the warmer in either and it will keep flour and corn tortillas toasty for much of the party.
- Chilled Condiment Holder provides five separate compartments with an ice compartment on the bottom to keep everything cool and safe. Comes with a hinged lid and three pairs of serving tongs.
How Much Taco Meat Per Person Calculator
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