Tacos are a highly versatile menu item—you could eat them every night for a week and never repeat the same combination of fillings. That makes them a great choice for a buffet, especially if you have picky eaters in the household. Here are a few tips on how to take your taco night to the next level. 

Start With Shells

Every great taco begins with the base ingredient: the shell. However, even within this framework, you have several options. 

The crunchy corn shells that can be found on supermarket shelves are a good choice if you’re in a hurry. You can also buy commercially prepared soft taco shells, which are usually made from flour. These pair best with ground beef, chicken, or turkey (see Filling Them Up, below), but feel free to experiment. 

Authentic Mexican street tacos are made using corn tortillas. These are also easy to find in supermarkets, and they’re usually gluten-free (make sure to check the packaging if this is a concern). The store-bought ones can be on the thinner side, so you might want to buy more than you think you’ll need in case you wind up requiring a double layer of tortillas for each taco. 

If you have the time, try making homemade corn or flour tortillas yourself. They’re surprisingly easy to prepare, and the results are delicious. Flour tortillas can be made on fairly short notice, but we’ve found that corn tortillas turn out better if the dough is allowed to rest for at least an hour before cooking. 

If you prefer a crunchy shell, you can fry the tortillas in hot oil once they’ve been browned up on both sides. Use tongs and a ladle or potato masher to hold them in place until they form a U-shape, and remove them from the oil when they’ve begun to darken slightly—about 30-45 seconds. This method works particularly well with corn tortillas. 

Remember that you’ll need masa harina—a finely ground corn flour—in order to make corn tortillas. Regular cornmeal is too coarse. 

Filling Them Up

The classic combination of ground beef in a crunchy shell is fun every once in a while, but we prefer to shake things up by offering a variety of fillings. When it comes to tacos, the sky is the limit. 

Texas chili, which is made from stew beef and contains no beans, makes an excellent filling for any type of taco shell. You can also use grilled flank steak sliced thinly across the grain—or any cut of steak that you prefer. 

For a flavorful white-meat option, mix leftover diced or shredded chicken with cumin, coriander, chili powder, cayenne pepper, and kosher salt. Add a splash of water or beer and cook over low-to-medium heat for about 10 minutes, or until the spices have had a chance to adhere. 

Carnitas, or pork that’s been slowly cooked in its own lard, makes a rich and flavorful taco filling. It’s best when paired with tomatillo salsa (also known as salsa verde) and chopped onions and cilantro. 

Scrambled chorizo is another great choice, especially if you enjoy a spicy filling. Try topping these with crispy diced potatoes, minced scallions, and crema. Make sure to buy fresh Mexican chorizo, and not the cured Spanish variety. 

Any firm-fleshed fish can be used as a taco filling, with halibut being a particularly popular choice. If you come from a family of seafood lovers, you might want to add shrimp to the buffet table as well. Seafood pairs well with delicate ingredients like avocado and fruit-based salsas. 

For a vegetarian option, whip up a batch of homemade refried beans. It’s easier than you might think, and you can make the mixture as coarse or as smooth as you’d like. Remember to use canola oil instead of lard if you’re going for a truly vegetarian dish. 

Alternatively, you can chop up some hearty Portobello mushrooms and saute them with diced shallots. The filling will have an earthy flavor and a meat-like texture that should complement whatever toppings you put on the table. 

Topping Things Off

The toppings you choose should depend largely on the shell and the base filling. For example, a ground beef taco in a crunchy shell is best paired with lettuce, shredded cheese, tomatoes, and a drizzle of tomato-based taco sauce. If you’re making a halibut taco in a flour tortilla, a spoonful of pineapple salsa and a sprinkling of cilantro is usually all that’s needed. 

Here’s a list of common taco fillings, including a few ideas for salsas and other flourishes. Feel free to mix and match them any way you’d like. 

• Shredded iceberg or romaine lettuce
  
• Baby arugula
  
• Shredded red or green cabbage
  
• Diced tomatoes
  
• Diced green or red bell pepper
  
• Sliced fresh or pickled jalapenos
  
• Pickled onions
  
• Chopped onions
  
• Minced scallions
  
• Diced fried potato
  
• Shredded cheddar, Monterey jack, or pepper jack cheese
  
• Crumbled queso fresco or feta cheese
  
• Chopped cilantro
  
• Diced avocado or guacamole
  
• Crema or sour cream
  
• Taco sauce
  
• Tomato-based salsa
  
• Tomatillo salsa (salsa verde)
  
• Pineapple or any fruit-based salsa
  
• Lime wedges (a dash of lime juice provides a welcome flavor boost)
  

Setting the Table

Once you know what you’ll be serving, it’s time to think about how you’re going to present your ingredients. Fortunately, there’s plenty of merchandise that’s geared toward fiestas—and taco nights in particular. 

This adorable taco bar from the Nostalgia Store can be used to house your taco filling and up to six toppings. There are also four taco holders that are suitable for either hard or soft shells. Each holder can accommodate up to two tacos at once and will keep the shells upright on your plate as you dine. 

If you already have a lazy Susan or a toppings platter, stand-alone taco holders are also available. This set from the Aquach Store can hold up to three tacos at a time, and they’re oven- and dishwasher-safe. You can even use it to make fried taco shells without resorting to the ladle method we described above. 

For a taco bar that’s geared particularly toward the kiddos, invest in a few novelty taco holders like this one from the Funwares Store. Little ones are sure to dig right in if their tacos are served on the back of a 6-inch-tall Tyrannosaurus Rex. 

Your decorating duties shouldn’t end with the setting of the table, either. Keep the vibe rolling with taco bar-themed decorations, like this banner set from Kitticcino. The set includes tent-shaped labels for the toppings, so guests won’t have to constantly ask you what’s in this container or that. 

Finally, round out the atmosphere with some festive tunes. Putumayo Presents has some wonderful selections from Latin countries, including Mexico. If streaming is your only option, try a station like “Fiesta Latina” from iHeartRadio. 

The Bottom Line

Once you have all the supplies and know-how to create the ultimate taco bar, you’ll want to make these nights a regular household occurrence. That’s a good thing, because they’re sure to be a hit with the entire family. Bon appetit!