Tailgate Taco Bar

Whether you’re heading to your favorite college or professional football game, an after-school activity, a fun weekend picnic, or just a quick lunch by the side of the field, this Tailgate Taco Bar is going to be a huge hit!

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We love tacos around here. In fact, it’s one of the things I know my son will consistently eat! (Did you see his reaction to these delicious meatballs? Some kids…) But whatever the food, it always tastes more delicious when you eat it outside! Let’s take tacos on the road!

Farmers are Tailgaters, Too!

During hay season, I’ll bring lunches (and sometimes dinners) out to my husband and whoever is helping with hay that day. They don’t always have time to take a “real” lunch break, but hay work is hot and tiring work, so it is important that they take at least a short break to refuel and rehydrate. Where better to do that than from the back of a truck, hopefully somewhere in the shade!

Things like sandwiches and pizza are delicious and easy, but they get sort of boring after a whole summer. So I decided to try tacos… and what a hit! These tacos got a big tailgate thumbs up… and farmers know a whole lot about tailgating, so that’s a big deal!

Tips for an Awesome Tailgate Taco Bar

Here are my tips for an awesome Tailgate Taco Bar. (See the Taco Bar Essentials section below for links to everything you might need.)

Keep your taco meat warm. Use a slow cooker, an insulated travel bag, or a cooler (yes, a cooler!) to keep the taco meat hot while you’re on the road. If you have a long way to travel, you might want to invest in an inverter like this one – that way you can plug the slow cooker right into the car and set it to warm while you’re driving. (Slow cookers tend to draw a lot of power. Give yours a test run before you hit the road to make sure the inverter can give it enough juice.)
Keep your toppings cold. Bring a small cooler with plenty of ice. Things like shredded cheese, sour cream, sliced tomatoes, and sliced avocados should be kept cold in your cooler while you’re traveling. Use air-tight containers or Ziploc bags to make sure no water from the melting ice mixes in with your toppings. Get more tips for keeping cold foods cold here.
Bring lots of drinks. Especially if you like your tacos spicy! My guys are always out in the direct sun, in the heat, and sweat a lot. I bring them plenty of iced down Gatorade and water. Pack your family’s favorite drinks in a separate cooler from your taco toppings – then no one has to dig past the shredded lettuce to find a Diet Coke.
Bring plenty of plates, plastic utensils, and plastic serving utensils. Count how many paper plates you think you will need… then bring twice as many. Don’t think you’ll need forks or spoons for tacos? You probably will. And remember to bring a few extra serving spoons for the taco meat and all the toppings.
Brings lots of napkins and paper towels, and even some baby wipes! (Baby wipes are magic…) There will be messes. Be ready to clean them up! Baby wipes can be used to quickly clean hands and faces before you start eating and after everyone is done.
Bring a trash bag. You’ll need a trash bag.
Use a big bag to keep everything together. I love these big totes. They are team-themed, which is a bonus. But they are also huge, can fit just about everything I need (including this slow cooker!) and are still easy to carry, even when they are jam-packed full. And when you’re done, they collapse flat and can be stored just about anywhere!

Where are you taking your taco bar on the road?

Enjoy!

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