Walking Tacos
Walking tacos are a delicious, low-effort way to do taco night. They’re fun, a little messy, and somehow always hit the spot. The reason they’re called walking tacos is because everything is served straight in an individual bag of chips, so you can literally walk around and eat them with a fork — no plates required. And the best part, no dishes!
I love them for casual nights when I want taco flavors without committing to a full taco spread. The saucy, well-seasoned ground beef gets spooned right into the bag and loaded up with fresh toppings, which somehow makes it even more satisfying. It’s easy, comforting, and the kind of meal that just makes everyone happy.
Why You’ll Love These
- No plates or bowls required
- Easy to serve for family dinners or groups
- Saucy, flavorful ground beef that actually soaks into the chips
- Everyone can customize their own toppings
- Minimal cleanup, maximum comfort
How to Make the Ground Beef
Start by heating olive oil or any other neutral oil like avocado in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and use a wooden spoon or spatula to break it up into small crumbles as it cooks, continuing to break it up as it browns so the pieces stay small and even. If you prefer to add the spices while the ground beef cooks, feel free to do so.
Once the beef is fully cooked, sprinkle in the onion powder, black pepper, salt, coriander, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, oregano, chili powder, and cornstarch. Stir really well so the spices evenly coat the beef and nothing clumps.
Add the tomato sauce and beef broth, stirring to combine. Let everything simmer for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beef is juicy, saucy, and slightly thickened. You want it moist and scoopable without being soupy.
Assembling the Walking Tacos
Carefully open each small bag of chips, keeping the chips whole. Feel free to use any flavor or brand of chips you love. Spoon the warm ground beef directly into the bags, dividing it evenly.
From there, load them up with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, pickled jalapeños, chopped red or green onion, cilantro, sour cream, hot sauce, and avocado or guacamole. I like to cut the top off and trim the sides of the bag slightly so it’s easier to reach in with a fork and way less messy to eat. Also feel free to layer in whatever order you like if that means adding the lettuce under the ground beef.
Tips for the Best Walking Tacos
- Let the beef cool slightly before adding it to the chips so they don’t soften too quickly
- Use sturdy chips that can handle warm toppings
- Don’t overfill the bags, a little goes a long way
- Trimming the bag wider makes them much easier to eat
Variations & Ways to Switch It Up
One of my favorite things about walking tacos is how flexible they are. You can keep them super classic or go all out depending on what you’re craving or what you have on hand.
- Cheesy version: Add shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a Mexican-style blend right on top of the warm beef so it melts slightly before adding the rest of the toppings.
- Extra saucy: Drizzle in queso or a spoonful of nacho cheese sauce along with the beef for an extra-rich bite.
- Spicy upgrade: Use spicy chips, add extra pickled jalapeños, or finish with a hotter hot sauce for more heat.
- Fresh and crunchy: Add corn, shredded cabbage, or thinly sliced radishes for extra texture and freshness.
- Protein swap: This works just as well with ground chicken or ground turkey cooked the same way.
- Tex-Mex style: Add black beans, pico de gallo, and a squeeze of lime to really lean into those bold flavors.
- Creamy finish: Swap sour cream for crema, chipotle sauce, or a simple lime-yogurt sauce for a different vibe.
- Kid-friendly: Skip the spicy toppings and let kids build their own with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and sour cream.
There’s really no wrong way to do it. Set everything out, let everyone build their own bag, and call it a win.
Serving & Making Ahead
The ground beef can be made up to two days ahead and stored in the fridge. Reheat it gently on the stove with a splash of broth to loosen it back up before serving.
Once assembled, walking tacos are best eaten right away while the chips are still crunchy.
Craving More Ground Beef? Try These Recipes Out!
If ground beef is always in rotation at your house too, these are a few favorites you’ll want to save. Easy, comforting, and packed with flavor.
- Crispy Cheesy Ground Beef Tacos: Crispy on the outside, cheesy on the inside, and filled with saucy, seasoned ground beef. One of those recipes that disappears in seconds.
- Shawarma Ground Beef Rice Bowls: Warm, shawarma-spiced ground beef served over rice with creamy sauces and fresh toppings. Such an easy way to make ground beef feel exciting.
- Loaded Roasted Sweet Potatoes: Sweet and savory roasted sweet potatoes loaded with flavorful ground beef and cottage cheese, making them high in protein and super satisfying.
- Taco Salad: All the best taco flavors in salad form, with juicy ground beef, crisp lettuce, and all the classic toppings.
- Lasagna Soup: All the flavors of lasagna made in one pot, with no layering required. Cozy, hearty, and perfect for an easy dinner.
If you make this recipe, make sure to leave a comment below and let me know how it turns out — I love hearing from you! And if you snap a photo, don’t forget to tag me over on Instagram or TikTok so I can see your creations too.
You can also find this recipe and so many more on my Pinterest — perfect for saving to your board for later. And if you’re more of a visual learner, check out my YouTube channel, where I walk you through recipes step-by-step just like this one.
Dinner
Walking Tacos
Ingredients
GROUND BEEF
- 1 pound ground beef (90/10)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 3/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/4 cup tomato sauce
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup beef broth
FOR ASSEMBLY
- 6 small bags of chips, flavor of choice
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced tomatoes
- Pickled jalapeños
- Red onion or green onion, finely chopped
- Cilantro, finely chopped
- Sour cream
- Hot sauce
- Avocado or guacamole
Instructions
THE GROUND BEEF:
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil. Once hot, add the ground beef and use a wooden spoon or spatula to break it up into small crumbles as it cooks.
- Cook the beef until no longer pink and lightly browned, continuing to break it up so the pieces stay small and even.
- Sprinkle in the onion powder, black pepper, salt, coriander, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, oregano, chili powder, and cornstarch. Stir well so the spices evenly coat the beef.
- Add the tomato sauce and beef broth, stirring to combine. Let the mixture simmer for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beef is juicy, saucy, and slightly thickened.
ASSEMBLY:
- Carefully open each small bag of chips, leaving the chips whole.
- Spoon the warm ground beef directly into each bag.
- Top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, pickled jalapeños, chopped red or green onion, cilantro, sour cream, hot sauce, and avocado or guacamole. Feel free to pick whatever toppings you like and enjoy immediately!
Tips & Notes
Q: What chips work best for walking tacos?
A: Single-serve corn chips like nacho cheese or chili cheese are classic, but tortilla chips or flavored chips work great too. Choose something sturdy so it holds up to the warm beef and toppings.
Q: Can I make the ground beef ahead of time?
A: Yes. The beef can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in the fridge. Reheat gently on the stove with a splash of broth to loosen it up.
Q: How do I keep the chips from getting soggy?
A: Let the beef cool slightly before adding it to the bags and don’t overfill. Adding lettuce first can also help create a little barrier.
Q: Can I customize the toppings?
A: Absolutely. Use whatever taco toppings you love, like shredded cheese, corn, or black olives, and adjust the heat with mild or spicy hot sauce.
Q: Any tips to make walking tacos easier to eat?
A: Yes! After opening the chip bag, you can cut the top off and trim the sides slightly so it’s wider and easier to reach in with a fork. It makes eating way more comfortable and less messy.
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WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS RECIPE?
HI, I’M HAJAR
Welcome to Moribyan! This is my blog where I love to share all my favorite recipes and lifestyle tips with you all. If I’m not cooking here, I’m either at Trader Joe’s, the gym, or eating a bagel.
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Extremely great flavor payoff for very minimal work! I can see why this spice mix is one the author returns to – its super tasty and infinitely riffable. You can cut out any of the toppings but I think its the variety of fresh and preserved, rich and zippy, that make the recipe. And if you want to lean more vegetable-forward and up the lettuce, this recipe is very adaptable to a full taco salad.