Taco Bar Recipes and My Secret Cheater Guacamole (2024)

January 19, 2016
76 Comments
Easy Main Dishes, Recipes

It’s football season and for us, that means the ultimate taco bar with lots of toppings like my cheater guacamole. Tacos are such an easy dinner recipe and everyone can build their own the way the like it. In our family, we don’t really agree on the best way to stack a taco my husband likes his cheese on the bottom I like mine on top of the meat filling but that’s what’s great about tacos to each their own!

First I headed to Publix to grab everything I needed Old El Paso Dinner Kits, salsa, sour cream, lettuce, cheese, avocados from Mexico and my filling ingredients. Each dinner kit comes with seasoning and whichever shells you prefer hard, soft or my favorite the crunchy super stuffer!

Have you ever wondered how to pick a ripe avocado?

Most people think you press in on the side but if that mashes in soft you might have one that is overripe. A friend of mine taught me that you press just by the stem. If it gives a little but is still firm that is the perfect avocado.

To make my cheater guacamole you just buy your favorite ready-made guacamole and add one diced fresh avocado and some diced tomato. That’s it and people will be fooled into thinking it’s homemade!

For the perfect Taco Bar, I use Old El Paso taco kits.

The corn shells are crisp and crunchy and the flour tortillas are soft and perfect for wrapping and the taco seasoning is already in there. I warm them in the oven first so they are perfect. I like to have both types of shells out so people can choose their preference.

It’s important to have lots of toppings to choose from so I put out salsa, sour cream, Monterey Jack cheese, diced red onions, tomatoes, shredded lettuce, guacamole and taco sauce for my game day taco bar. I also make a mean pitcher of my favorite down and dirty margaritas.

My husband is the taco king in our house so he always makes our filling. We use ground chicken instead of ground beef in our tacos because it’s healthier and for this recipe we just find we like it better than beef. This taco is just dripping with spicy goodness. We add peppers, onions, chipotle in adobo and beer to this game day taco recipe.

You can adjust the spice on these tacos if you want and have one less spicy for kids and people who don’t like too much spice by cutting back on the chipotle in adobo and jalapenos. You can also try my recipe for slow cooker tostadas to use in your tacos made with salsa, chili powder, and chuck roast.

Print It Now!

Game Day Taco Recipes and Cheater Guacamole

Course: Entree

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings: 10 tacos

Author: Kelley Wilson

Ingredient List

1 Packet Old El Paso Taco Seasoning
1 tsp. oil
1 lb. ground chicken or beef
1/2 cup diced red onion
1/2 cup diced bell pepper
1 jalapeno diced
1 teaspoon garlic
2 tablespoons chipotle in adobo you can add more if you want it hotter
1/2 cup salsa
1/2 cup of beer

Directions

Place oil in the bottom of a skillet.
Add ground chicken or beef and start to brown for 1 minute.
Add in red onion, bell pepper, jalapeno and garlic and continue to stir until your meat is cooked all the way through.
Add in chipotle in adobo and salsa.
Whisk seasoning packet into 1/2 cup of beer and add.
Saute for 3-5 minutes until most of the moisture from the beer has evaporated.

If you want something else to add to your game time fun check out my 7 Layer Mexican Dip as well!

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76 Responses

I want to make beef queso nachos!
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i really want to try the chicken and avocado ten minute taco boats , they look so good
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I would love to try the 3-Ingredient Bean Dip! Yum!
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7 Layer Mexican Dip! it looks gooooooooood <3
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The grilled Steak Fajita bowls look delicious and fun!
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I like the grilled steak fajita boats
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i want to try the Slow-Cooker 3-Ingredient Bean Dip, it looks easy yet impressive to serve guests
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I would like to try the easy taco queso dip!
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Mini 7 Layer Dip looks so tasty. I just might have to break down and make them. Thank you for the link to all the tasty looking recipes. :)
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Taco bars are the best! Think I'm going to have to have a party soon just so I can make one. :)
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I want to try the Mini Seven Layer Dip.
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Those look so good. I would love to make the Sriracha Avocado Ten Minute Tacos!
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My kids would go crazy for the Tao Pizza Rolls.
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I'd like to the the Beer Queso Nachos. Also, the link in the Rafflecopter for the comment entry is linking back to this post, not the Game Day recipes.
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1. Thanks Shane for letting me know!
  Reply
Beer Queso Nachos - YUM
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i want to try the Beer Queso Nachos
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I would like to try the 7 Layer Mexican Dip. It looks delicious.
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I would love to try the chicken fajita nacho dip, looks like a meal in itself!
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I want to try the 7 layer Mexican Dip.
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I would like to make the 7 Layer Mexican Dip. It would be great for the Super Bowl.
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Oh the Chicken Fajita Dip looks amazing! I have to try that one for our company coming over to watch the game~
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i would like to try the 7 Layer Mexican Dip
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I like the 6 layer Mexican dip.
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Mini 7 Layer Dip is what I will be making.
See Also
Grilled Steak Salad With Fish Sauce Vinaigrette Recipe on Food52
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I want to try the easy pizza dip.
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I want to make the 7 Layer Mexican Dip. Thanks for the contest.
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The baked brie with raspberry jam looks amazing and a nice change from typical super bowl food!
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I would like to try the Homemade Cream Cheese frosting.
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the 7 layer dip looks yummy :)
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Chicken Fajita Dip
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the layered dip is something that Ive tried many times and loved but have never tried to make myself.
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I'd love to try the homemade cream cheese frosting
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I love Mexican food!!
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I'd like to try the 6 layer Mexican dip.
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Taco Pizza Rolls sound amazing!I love the Taco bar setup in this post and I think I may need to do something like this . It is such a super easy and cute way to please a crowd.
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chicken fajita dip!
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I like the ultimate taco bar recipe.
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I’d like to trythe Taco Pizza Rolls
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i want to make the Beer Queso Nachos
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1. Me too!
  Reply
the turkey sandwich looks good
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I would love to try the 7layer dip:) thanks for the chance!
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I'd like to try the grilled steak fajita boats.
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Beer queso nachos. A few of my favourite things!
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7 layer mexican dip!
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These look tasty!
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I would like to try "7 Layer Mexican Dip" recipe :-)
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I'd make Chicken Fajita Dip
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I'd love to make the Chicken Fajita Dip!
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i want to try the chicken fajita dip recipe
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I would like to try the 7 layer Mexican dip. I really love mexican food.
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I like to try the seven layer dip
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I wanna try the beer queso nachos!demureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com
Reply
I like to try 15 Cheese Dip Recipes
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Game Day Taco Recipes and Cheater Guacamole
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I want to try Skillet Enchilada Casserole :)
Reply
Slow cooker tostadas is definitely my favorite to try!
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i love tacos, i'd try the taco pizza roll.
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I would want to try the 7 Layer Mexican Dip for the superbowl! sounds perfect!
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looks good.........
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This look so yummy! I'd love to try and make it sometime.
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The grilled steak fajita boats sound awesome!
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I'd love to try the Easy Pizza Dip.
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I'd like to try the 6 layer Mexican dip.
Reply
I want to try the beer queso nachos
Reply
Sriracha Avocado Ten Minute Tacos
Reply
i'd love the Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting
Reply
I'd love to try those grilled steak fajita boats!
Reply
I would make the 6 layer Mexican dip.
Reply
I would make the beer queso nachos
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I would like to try Slow-Cooker Creamy Chicken and Green Chile Tacos.
Reply
The Siracha Avocado tacos look delicious! I'd like to try those.
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i'd like to make the Taco Pizza Rolls
Reply
Love your blog always something good!
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1. Thanks so much for leaving me this comment you made my day!
  Reply

Taco Bar Recipes and My Secret Cheater Guacamole (2024)

FAQs

What makes guacamole taste better? ›

Fresh lime juice and zest – They make the guacamole zesty and bright. Jalapeño – For heat. Feel free to omit it if you're sensitive to spice. A serrano pepper would work here too!

Discover More Details ›

How do you spice up bland guacamole? ›

Adjust the amount of salt or crushed pepper in your guacamole. If you taste the guacamole and it's a touch bland, start by adding some salt and freshly crushed pepper to make it more flavorful.

Keep Reading ›

How far in advance can you make guacamole? ›

The key is simple: you need to press the plastic wrap directly and completely against the surface of the guacamole. When stored this way, guacamole can be made ahead and stored in the fridge up to overnight with nary a brown spot in sight. Preparing for a party just got a whole lot easier.

Keep Reading ›

How do you thicken guacamole? ›

But there's always room for improvement to this dish and you can enhance guacamole's thickness and flavor with the addition of yogurt, specifically yogurt cheese and sour cream. Yogurt cheese is plain yogurt or Greek yogurt that has undergone an extra filtration process.

Why you should leave the lime out of guacamole? ›

With ripe tomatoes so rare in the U.S., I generally leave them out.) I know what you're about to ask. "But what about oxidation?” While lime is touted as a way prevent avocados from browning, it takes a lot of lime for that to work—and it's generally a bad idea to transform a dish's taste for aesthetic reasons.

Learn More Now ›

Why do people put sour cream in guacamole? ›

Sour cream is a simple addition to your favorite guacamole recipe. Just a few tablespoons to a small batch recipe will do it. The sour cream adds a nice tang without being too overbearing and it also creates a creamy, silky mouthfeel. A fabulous contrast to the crunch of tortilla chips.

Discover More Details ›

What is missing from my guacamole? ›

Add enough lime and salt

Most guacamole recipes taste bland simply because they are lacking one or the other. I find, 1 tablespoon lime juice to every lime is the perfect ratio. If your avocados are on the small side you may need a little less. If you taste your guacamole, and it's bland, it is easy to remedy!

Find Out More ›

Should guacamole have tomatoes? ›

Tomatoes are great — but not in guac.

They don't add anything other than filler. When you eat guac, what you want is creamy avocado, fresh lime, savory onion, salt, and maybe a little cilantro, if that's your thing. I'm never putting tomatoes in my guacamole and neither should you.

Can you still eat guacamole if it turns brown? ›

Although brown guacamole isn't the most appealing, it's completely safe to eat (as long as you've stored the guacamole in the refrigerator, and it isn't more than three days old). "While a bit off-putting to look at, brown guacamole is totally safe," confirms Food Network's nutritionist, Dana Angelo White, MS RD ATC.

Can you put too much lemon juice in guacamole? ›

Typically the recipe is 3 to 4 avocados, 1 to 2 tomatoes, 1/2 onion, 1 to 2 hot peppers, 3 to 4 tablespoons chopped cilantro, 1 to 2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice, 1 garlic clove (optional), and salt and pepper to taste. Adding too much lemon or lime juice can cause a very watery guacamole.

Read The Full Story ›

Is it OK to use lemon instead of lime in guacamole? ›

I like the flavor better with lemon juice, but lime works too. If you're out of fresh lemons or limes, try using bottled lime or lemon juice. Although, freshly squeezed juice is definitely the best! Salt: Salt enhances the flavors and brings it all together.

Show Me More ›

Can you put too much lemon in guacamole? ›

The lemon juice is used to give it a sour touch, and prevent it from oxidizing. However, adding too much will bitter the flavor of your guacamole.

Discover More Details ›

How do you make store-bought guacamole taste better? ›

Crushed red pepper, cayenne, paprika, or even garlic powder can up the flavor in a store-bought guacamole and allow you to cater it to your own tastes.

Read On ›

Why is restaurant guacamole so green? ›

It isn't exposed to air

When avocados are exposed to air, they begin to oxidize. That's when and why they start to turn brown. But if you can eliminate any contact with air, guacamole — or even an avocado half — can be stored for longer without changing colors.

Know More ›

Does lime juice help guacamole? ›

All you really need to make guacamole is ripe avocados and salt. After that, a little lime or lemon juice—a splash of acidity—will help balance the richness of the avocado. If you want, add chopped cilantro, chilis, onion, and/or tomato.

Taco Bar Recipes and My Secret Cheater Guacamole (2024)

Have you ever wondered how to pick a ripe avocado?

For the perfect Taco Bar, I use Old El Paso taco kits.

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76 Responses

FAQs

What makes guacamole taste better? ›

Can you put too much lemon juice in guacamole? ›