We may earn a commission when you click on the affiliate links in this post.
Walking Tacos, Tacos in a Bag, Locos Tacos – whatever you call them, our Walking Taco Recipe is the best meal for camping, reunions, and block parties. Plus, walking tacos are cheap and tasty, with the easiest clean-up ever— and no plates required!
5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Oh my gosh, I had completely forgotten about walking tacos! I was looking for something to make for a family party and this was perfect. Everyone got to make their own version, and clean up was a breeze!” — Dana
“We love these!! Everyone in my family likes something different on their tacos and this makes it easy and fun!” — Phoebe
The Best Easy Outdoor Dinner
This Walking Tacos Recipe is everywhere lately! Honestly it’s not as much of a “recipe” as it is an awesome idea that we love. Walking Tacos are just too good to not share! They’re the perfect party food for outdoor get togethers, camping, family reunions, or a quick weeknight backyard supper with the kids. We have made these for years in our family! There are so many ways to enjoy this taco salad in a bag – it is truly one of the most versatile and easy recipes ever.
🩷 Erice
Ingredients You’ll Need
These walking tacos are great for letting everyone pick their own personal topping combinations. Here are some favorite topping options:
- Start with the Base – Individual chip bags: Nacho Cheese Doritos, regular tortilla chips, corn chips, Cool Ranch Doritos, or Cheetos.
- Proteins – Seasoned ground beef, shredded chicken (like rotisserie), ground turkey, or ground chicken.
- Cheese – Shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a Mexican blend.
- Veggies – Chopped lettuce, diced tomatoes, sliced black olives, diced onions (green or yellow), green or red bell peppers, avocado, or minced garlic.
- Beans & Extras – Black beans (can be low sodium), pinto beans, or pico de gallo.
- Creamy & Saucy Toppings – Sour cream, guacamole, fresh salsa, corn salsa, ranch dressing or my personal favorite our Cilantro Verde Sauce.
- Finishing Touches – Lime juice or lime zest.
How to Make our Walking Taco Recipe
- Prep the Chip Bags – Start by opening each individual bag of chips. You can gently crush the chips inside if you like smaller pieces, or leave them whole for extra crunch.
- Scoop in the Meat – Add about ⅓ cup of warm, seasoned ground beef (or your protein of choice) straight into each chip bag.
- Pile on the Toppings – Let everyone customize their own walking taco! Add your favorite toppings like shredded cheese, lettuce, diced tomatoes, beans, sour cream, salsa, or guacamole.
- Grab a Fork and Dig In – Give everything a little mix right in the bag, then enjoy your taco on the go—no plates, no fuss, just delicious!
What Are Walking Tacos?
If you’ve never had a walking taco before, you’re in for a treat! Some people call them “tacos in a bag” or even a “deconstructed taco,” but I just call them fun, easy, and delicious. All you do is grab a personal-size bag of chips—like nacho cheese Doritos, regular tortilla chips, or even Fritos—open it up, and pile in your favorite taco toppings. Grab a fork and dig in—no plate or bowl required!
They remind me a little of taco casserole, but with way less cleanup. You can even switch things up and give them a Southwest spin by using chili instead of ground beef. (If you’ve never tried Fritos with chili and cheese in a bag… trust me, it’s a game changer.)
Perfect for Camping and Feeding a Crowd
We make these almost every time we go camping because they’re so ridiculously easy. I’ll cook the beef ahead of time and stash it in the fridge or freezer. Then when it’s mealtime, I just heat it up, lay out the toppings, and everyone builds their own. Boom—dinner is done, and cleanup is a breeze.
Walking tacos are also a total crowd-pleaser. They’re perfect for family reunions, Scout camps, block parties, sports team dinners—basically any time you’re feeding a bunch of people. They’re budget-friendly, easy to prep in bulk, and there’s almost no mess afterward. We just had them at a big family get-together and, of course, they were a huge hit! For more great outdoor recipes be sure to check out our post for over 50 Picnic Food Ideas.
Taco Tips
- Choose the Right Chips: Opt for single-serving bags of corn chips, Fritos, or Doritos. The small individual bags are perfect for creating individual walking tacos and provide a nice crunch.
- Prepare Toppings in Advance: Pre-chop your favorite taco toppings, such as lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cheese, jalapeños, and sour cream. This way, assembling the walking tacos will be quick and convenient.
- Choose a Flavorful Filling: Brown ground beef or turkey with taco seasoning for a classic filling. You can also use shredded chicken, pulled pork, or even vegetarian options like black beans or roasted vegetables for delicious variations.
- Keep it Warm: If serving a crowd, keep the meat filling warm in a slow cooker or a warming tray. This allows guests to assemble their walking tacos with hot and tasty ingredients.
- Plan for Leftovers: If you have any leftover taco meat or toppings, they can be used for regular tacos or as toppings for other dishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! You can cook and season the meat, chop toppings, and portion out extras in advance. Just reheat the meat and set everything out when you’re ready to serve.
A slow cooker or insulated food container works great for keeping the meat hot on a buffet table, especially for parties or camping.
Individual bags of Doritos (Nacho Cheese or Cool Ranch), Fritos, or tortilla chips are popular choices. Each one adds its own fun twist to the flavor.
To avoid soggy chips, mix from the bottom up and layer wet toppings like salsa or sour cream last. This helps keep the chips crispy longer.
Definitely! Swap the meat for black beans, pinto beans, seasoned lentils, or even grilled veggies for a hearty vegetarian option.
Yes, if you are using taco seasoning in your ground beef just make sure you use a gluten-free seasoning. Then be sure to check the labels for gluten free chips, most corn chips should be fine.
More Taco Recipes
Taco Tuesdays have never had so many options! There are endless recipes to try the next time a taco craving strikes. From breakfast to lunch and dinner, try some of our very favorites.
Our Walking Taco Recipe is always a hit at our get-togethers, and we hope they will be for yours as well! Have you tried Walking Tacos? Let me know your favorite chip and topping combo in the comments below! 🌮
Walking Taco Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 6 individual-sized bags Doritos
- 1 pound taco meat, (prepared taco seasoned ground beef or shredded chicken both work great)
Topping options (all to taste):
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese
- 1 1/2 cups lettuce
- 1 1/2 cups diced tomatoes
- diced onion, (to taste)
- 1 avocado, diced
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 cup sour cream
Instructions
- Open each bag of Doritos. You may crunch up the Doritos for easier eating or keep the chips big.
- Add ⅓ cup of cooked meat to each bag of Doritos.
- Add additional toppings, to taste.
Notes
- Pick the Right Chips – Individual-size bags of Doritos, Fritos, or plain tortilla chips work best. They’re perfectly portioned, easy to eat from, and add that essential crunch to each bite.
- Prep Ahead for Easy Assembly – Chop toppings like lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and jalapeños ahead of time. Shred the cheese and portion out sour cream or guacamole. Having everything ready makes serving fast and stress-free—especially for parties or camping.
- Switch Up the Fillings – Classic taco-seasoned ground beef is always a hit, but don’t be afraid to get creative! Try ground turkey, shredded chicken, pulled pork, or even black beans or roasted veggies for a vegetarian option.
- Keep the Meat Warm – Use a slow cooker or warming tray to keep your taco filling hot while guests serve themselves. It makes a big difference in flavor and keeps things food-safe.
- Make It Easy to Mix – Encourage guests to give their walking taco a gentle shake or stir after adding toppings. This helps mix all the flavors together for a better bite every time.
- Label Everything – If you’re hosting a crowd, label toppings and ingredients—especially if you’re offering meatless or allergy-friendly options. It saves guests from guessing and helps things move along smoothly.
- Plan for Leftovers – Have extra tortillas or salad mix on hand to repurpose any leftover toppings or meat into tacos, burritos, or taco salads the next day.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Love this recipe?
We want to hear from you! Please leave a review.
Oh my gosh, I had completely forgotten about walking tacos! I was looking for something to make for a family party and this was perfect. Everyone got to make their own version, and clean up was a breeze!
We love these!! Everyone in my family likes something different on their tacos and this makes it easy and fun!
I finally convinced the guys at the the local pub to add these to the menu and they can’t keep up with the business they generated. Poor kids know them well and the fancier types get to feel the buzz of the streets. Lol.
I’ve been eating these since 1986 when Cool Ranch Doritos came out, but no matter the flavor of Doritos/ or even Fuegos if ya like spice and also may be my favorite.
*****EXPERT TIP*****
****CUT THE BAG DOWN THE SIDE-DO NOT OPEN IT FROM THE TOP LIKE USUAL*****
IF YOU DON’T ALREADY DO THIS, ALL I CAN SAY IS,
YOU’RE WELCOME
AND ENJOY SOMETHING GREAT BECOME EVEN BETTER. I JUST CHANGED YOUR LIFE! LOL
I love the cutting the bag down the side idea! Genius!
These are so fun and we loved having them on a Friday night so clean-up was a breeze! Woot! Thank you!
We looooove walking tacos! They’re great for a party!
A hit with the whole family! My nine year old thought it was the coolest thing ever to eat right out of the chip bag, and I’m a fan of less dishes to wash. 🙂
This is the best, easiest and most delicious way to eat a taco.
Oh yea! That’s what’s for Dinner tonight ! Thank You
Such a great idea! Love this:)
Are you kidding me? How fun and they look delicious! Thank you!
These are fun and delicious – and easy to clean up! Thank you for visiting our site!
So fun, we’ve got to do this!!