By Becky Hardin
Published May 9, 2023
Taco Recipe Ideas here! Taco Tuesday is everyone’s favorite night. A night filled with family, tacos, and all of the best food. Here are some of the best taco night ideas to inspire your feast!
Taco Tuesday: Best Taco Recipe Ideas
Taco Tuesday is my favorite night of the week! I love gathering family and friends for a casual dinner centered on one of my favorite foods. I can never get enough Mexican food in my life, and tacos are one of the best parts.
You can do so much with tacos. They’re a simple food but there’s room for creativity. You can add any ingredients you want to create your dream taco recipe ! I especially love creating a buffet style taco night, where you just set out the ingredients and let everyone assemble their tacos just the way they like them.
I’ve gathered all the best taco night ideas from me and from other bloggers. These recipes are all about tacos, dips and quesos, the perfect side dishes for tacos, and a few Mexican inspired recipes that aren’t tacos, just in case you want something different. I won’t hold it against you if you make nachos or enchiladas on Taco Tuesday!
Let these recipes, tips, and ideas inspire you, whether taco night is on Tuesday, Friday, or Sunday…because every night of the week is perfect for tacos!
Baked Chicken Tacos
40 Best Taco Night Ideas
Find easy recipes for tacos, side dishes, drinks, dinner ideas, and more for your weekly taco night. Doesn’t matter if it’s Tuesday, Friday, or any other day, these dishes will be perfect!
Best Taco Recipes
You can’t have Taco Tuesday without tacos! Here are our favorite recipes using beef, chicken, turkey, or seafood.
Baked Chicken Tacos Recipe
Grilled Chicken Tacos
Baked Ground Beef Taco Recipe
Crockpot Chicken Tacos
Shrimp Tacos with Pineapple Slaw
Barbacoa Tacos
Crockpot Taco Meat
Easy Buffalo Shrimp Tacos Recipe
Chicken Tinga Tacos
Cod Fish Tacos Recipe (Margarita Fish Tacos)
Birria Tacos Recipe
Crockpot BBQ Chicken Tacos
Quesabirria Tacos
Turkey Tacos
Instant Pot Chicken Tacos
Air Fryer Fish Tacos
More Taco Recipes
- We love these Oven Baked Chicken Tacos (the most popular recipe on our site!)
- Make soft tacos instead with this Crockpot Chicken Tacos Recipe .
- The first time I had Street Tacos , I knew they would be in regular rotation at my house. The mini tortillas are the perfect size for little hands, and my kids love making their own tacos with their favorite toppings. Total taco night win!
- These Spicy Sriracha Shrimp Tacos from Peas and Crayons are perfectly spicy.
- Want more beef ideas? Try these Spicy Shredded Beef Tacos from Girl in the Little Red Kitchen .
- The slaw is the perfect topping for these Fish Tacos with Avocado Sweet Corn Slaw from Iowa Girl Eats .
- Make BBQ Pork Tacos with Broccoli Slaw from Like Mother, Like Daughter .
- These Sriracha Grilled Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos from Saving Room for Dessert are a great idea for taco night.
- These Cauliflower Tacos with Chickpeas from Rachel Cooks are a delicious vegetarian option!
- And here’s another meatless taco option, Roasted Cauliflower & Black Bean Tacos from Gimme Some Oven .
Taco Meat Ideas
Ground beef isn’t the only option for good tacos! Spice up taco night with some other meat and filling options, including juicy pork, shredded chicken, and some vegetarian recipes.
Crockpot Shredded Chicken
Carnitas
Crockpot Barbacoa Beef
Crockpot Salsa Chicken
Chicken Tinga (Stovetop)
Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
Air Fryer Teriyaki Tofu
Crockpot Mexican Shredded Chicken
Crockpot Refried Beans
Crockpot Beef Carnitas
How to Cook Ground Beef (Boiling Ground Beef for Tacos, Spaghetti, etc.)
Instant Pot Carnitas
Cod Fish Tacos
Dips, Salsas, and Quesos
The best salsa, queso, guacamoles, and more to pair with tacos. Top it or dip it!
Guacamole Recipe
White Queso Recipe
Easy Homemade Salsa (Blender Salsa)
Mexican Street Corn Dip
Healthy Queso
Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Dip
Velveeta Queso Recipe (Rotel Dip)
Street Corn Salsa
Layered Bean Dip Recipe (Guacamole Bean Dip)
Fritos Mexican Layered Dip
Homemade Salsa Verde Recipe
Queso Fundido
Taco Tuesday Dinner Ideas
Every Tuesday is Taco Tuesday, but sometimes you might want something besides tacos. These Mexican dishes will make the perfect dinner!
Beef Folded Tortillas Quesadilla Hack (Tik Tok Recipe)
Taco Pie
Steak Fajitas
Mexican Stuffed Peppers
Chicken Fajitas
Mexican Pizza Recipe
Cheesy Creamy Chicken Enchiladas
Beef Sheet Pan Nachos Recipe
Easy Taco Soup Recipe
Mexican Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
Green Chicken Enchiladas
Taco Mac and Cheese
Esquites
Best Side Dishes for Taco Night
These easy side dishes pair perfectly with tacos, enchiladas, burritos, or any Mexican dishes. Serve these on the side, or pile them into a taco shell!
Esquites (Mexican Street Corn in a Cup)
Mexican Corn on the Cob (Mexican Grilled Corn)
Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe
Homemade Refried Beans
Mexican Potato Skins
Confetti Corn Salad
Healthy Mexican Street Corn (Off the Cob)
Avocado Fries (Baked Fried Avocado Fries Recipe)
Best Margaritas for Taco Tuesday
If you’re planning a big Taco Tuesday night for you and some friends, you can’t skip the margaritas! A refreshing margarita really completes taco night, and I’ve got some great recipes for you to try.
Margarita Pitcher Recipe
Frozen Margarita Recipe
Skinny Margarita Recipe
Spicy Cucumber Margarita Recipe {Cucumber Jalapeno Margarita}
Ingredientand Toppings for Tacos
Get as creative as you want with your taco ingredients! But these are the typical taco toppings that are perfect for any taco night.
- Hard Taco Shells
- Soft Corn/Flour Tortillas
- Taco Meat ( Ground Beef /Pork/Chicken/Seafood)
- Beans (black beans, refried beans )
- Shredded Cheese
- Lettuce
- Onion
- Pico de Gallo
- Queso
- Tomatoes
- Taco Sauce
- Green Chiles
- Jalapenos
- Tortilla Chips
- Salsa for tacos
- Corn
- Sour Cream
- Guacamole
- Taco Seasoning
I hope this guide inspires you to make the Best Taco Recipes for the ultimate Taco Tuesday feast ever (or for Cinco de Mayo )! All of these taco night ideas are perfect for dinner, no matter what day you decide to eat tacos. Enjoy!
More Taco Night Ideas
Whether it’s Taco Tuesday, Cinco de Mayo, or any other day of the year, it’s always a good time for tacos! Try these other recipes to help fill in your menu.
65+ Cinco de Mayo Foods, Appetizers, and Recipes
50+ Cheese Dip Recipes for Parties
Classic Margarita + 28 Margarita Recipes
How to Cook Ground Beef (Boiling Ground Beef for Tacos, Spaghetti, etc.)
How to Make Taco Meat
If you just want a simple taco meat recipe for classic ground beef tacos, this recipe is for you! This quick taco meat recipe will show you how to get perfectly seasoned ground beef for Taco Tuesday.
Just fill up a taco shell with the beef, and add cheese, lettuce, diced tomatoes, and sour cream (or any toppings you want).
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 2 pounds ground beef
- ▢ 1 tbsp olive oil
- ▢ 1/2 yellow onion diced
- ▢ 1/2 tsp chili powder
- ▢ 1/2 tsp paprika
- ▢ 1/2 tsp salt
- ▢ 1/2 tsp cumin
- ▢ 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
- ▢ 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
Video
Instructions
- Add olive oil & onions to a skillet over medium-high heat
- When the onions start to become soft & slightly translucent, add the ground beef
- Cook until beef becomes brown, then drain the fat
- Add the rest of the seasonings & spices and mix into the meat
- Add 1/2 cup hot water & stir
- Reduce the heat and let the beef simmer for about 15 minutes
- Serve in taco shells with shredded cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and more.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Seasoned Ground Beef Taco Meat
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 yellow onion diced
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Add olive oil & onions to a skillet over medium-high heat
- When the onions start to become soft & slightly translucent, add the ground beef
- Cook until beef becomes brown, then drain the fat
- Add the rest of the seasonings & spices and mix into the meat
- Add 1/2 cup hot water & stir
- Reduce the heat and let the beef simmer for about 15 minutes
- Serve in taco shells with shredded cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and more.
Video
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
