These tasty gluten free walking tacos will be a big hit any time. Your family and friends will love this fun walking taco bar! If you haven't heard of a walking taco, it is a cup or bag filled with all of the taco fixings. You can carry these tacos around, and they are easy to eat.
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(*This post is sponsored by Pioneer, who is branching out with yummy certified gluten free gravies and seasonings with a bang! All delicious opinions are my own.)
I am so excited to share this walking tacos recipe with you! This is the perfect recipe for "Taco Tuesday," a family dinner, or entertaining because everyone loves tacos! It is so easy to make; everyone can make their own tacos with a fully stocked walking taco bar. You can offer all sorts of toppings for everyone to choose from.
These tacos were so popular I made them again when the kids had a few friends over to swim. It is nice because everyone can make their tacos their favorite way. You can have the traditional toppings like lettuce, cheese, and tomatoes. Mix it up with pickled jalapeños and my homemade chimichurri sauce.
Why This Recipe Is Great:
If you love tacos, this is a deliciously simple way to make tacos fun! I know a lot of people struggle with finding spices that are certified gluten free. Pioneer has created some incredible certified gluten free mixes, and I love their new taco mix!
Pioneer really wanted to do gluten free the right way, and all of their gluten free mixes are certified gluten free by the Gluten Intolerance Group. These tacos are so easy to make, and the flavor is delicious.
My family went crazy over the flavor of the taco meat. Pioneer has put a lot of time into making their gluten free mixes taste just as good as if you made the seasoning from scratch.
Pioneer products have been served at kitchen tables in Presidential dining rooms since 1851. They have branched into gluten free mixes and have lots of plans to increase their gluten free offerings! Wait until you try their gluten free gravy mixes!!
Ingredient Notes:
You can include any ingredients you like in a walking taco bar!
- Ground Meat - Use any ground meat or vegan meat with Pioneer Taco Mix!
- Vegetables - I love to use chopped lettuce, tomatoes, onion, pickled jalapeños, etc.
- Cheese - I prefer sharp cheddar, but you can also use a Mexican blend shredded cheese.
- Salsa - Use your favorite salsa. I include a recipe below for a delicious green chimichurri sauce, too!
Recipe Step-By-Step Directions:
Step 1: Brown the ground beef or other ground meat in a skillet over medium heat. Drain the fat into a paper cup when it is finished.
🔑 Sandi says: Please don't pour the hot grease down your sink, as it can clog the pipe!
Step 2: Pour in the Pioneer taco mix and stir.
Step 3: Add the ¾ cup of water. Stir, cover, and reduce the heat to simmer. Stir frequently and break up large chunks of meat so that the flavor cooks into the meat evenly.
Step 4: Prep the taco bar ingredients in separate bowls so everyone can customize their own walking tacos. Now, make the homemade chimichurri sauce!
Step 1: Add all of the chimichurri ingredients to your food processor.
Step 2: Blend until everything is pureed, about 15 seconds.
Arrange the taco bar and let everyone dig in to create their perfect tacos!
Tips and Recipe FAQ:
A walking taco is a taco in a cup or bag so that you can walk around with it. It is great for entertaining.
You can use anything you like. Lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, salsa, you name it!
You can easily make these tacos vegan by using vegan meat.
These tacos are assembled when they are going to get eaten, so store the taco meat in a separate airtight container in your refrigerator. The meat will keep fresh for up to 3 days.
I have tons of delicious gluten free dinner recipes the whole family will enjoy. You may also want to try these Taco Bowls.
You may also love this Walking Taco Casserole.
More Delicious Gluten Free Meal Ideas:
- Instant Pot Taco Pasta - This has all of that Mexican flavor you love.
- Vegan Mexican Casserole - This can be made vegan, vegetarian, or with meat.
- Blackened Shrimp Fajita Tacos - If you like spicy, this is a great taco recipe.
- Salpicon - Something fun and delicious!
📖 Recipe
Easy Walking Tacos Bar
*As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.
Ingredients
- 1 poun ground beef * see note
- 1 packet Pioneer Gluten Free Taco Seasoning Mix * see note
- ½ cup tomatoes freshly diced
- ½ cup cheddar cheese shredded
- ¼ cup pickled jalapeños
- ½ cup onion diced
- 1 cup lettuce shredded
- ½ cup salsa
- 12 ounces tortilla chips
Chimichurri
- 7 tomatillos dry paper skin removed
- 1 jalapeño * see note
- ¼ cup cilantro fresh
- 1 clove garlic large or 2 small
- 1 lime juiced. Roughly 1 ½ tablespoon of lime juice
- 2 teaspoons avocado or light oil
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a skillet, brown your meat over medium heat.
- Add the taco seasoning mix and ¾ cup water to the browned meat. Turn the heat down to simmer and cover. Cook 5 minutes.
- Get all of the taco bar fixings ready and put them into bowls.
Chimichurri:
- Add all of the chimichurri ingredients to a food processor or Vitamix and blend until it is somewhat smooth with small chunks of the ingredients.
Notes
- Note you can use ground beef, turkey, chicken, bison, pork, or vegan meat in this recipe. If you are keeping this low-fat, use ground turkey or chicken.
- If you are gluten free, be sure to use Pioneer's certified gluten free taco mix! Not all spice mixes are gluten free so you want to make sure to stay safe and use Pioneer.
- You can use any red salsa brand you like.
- Tortilla chips - most are gluten free, but some do have wheat flour so always read the label of the bag!
- These tacos are great to make ahead. The taco meat will keep fresh in an air-tight container in the refrigerator up to 4 days. You can also freeze the cooked taco meat and thaw in the microwave oven.
SPECIAL NOTE
Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn't test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
This post was updated from an older July 2021 post with more recipe details.
Fearless Dining
Simplifying the art of baking and cooking gluten-free recipes.
Carla
I have family that I haven't seen for years coming to visit next month, including my future son-in-law who must have gluten-free foods. I've never had to be concerned but now I'm working to make some great food that everyone can enjoy, especially him!
This will be PERFECT as I was told one of his favorite things is taco's. I know everyone will love this idea! I'll be sure to share your gluten-free resouces! They're wonderful! Thank you!
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you are going to try this. It is really fun, and everyone can customize their walking tacos!
Jenni
This is such a great idea for a party--so much fun the people who can't have gluten won't feel like they are missing out on a thing! Wonderful!
Sandi Gaertner
I am really glad!!
Beth
Oh my gosh! This couldn't be more fun. I absolutely love setting up a taco bar, especially during the heat of the summer! And how great to know there is a gluten-free option for seasoning. And your chimichurri sauce is wowza!
Sandi Gaertner
It is perfect for hungry teens too!
Laura
This is such a fun and fabulous way to serve tacos! My kids are going to love this!
Sandi Gaertner
Thank you Laura, our kids really did...although my picky eater wouldn't even consider a pickled jalapeño on top LOL.