Walking Tacos
Walking Tacos are tacos made right in the bag. Great for parties and potlucks! If you’ve ever wondered how to make Walking Tacos, this easy Mexican dinner is way easier than you think.
WALKING TACOS
If you’ve ever bought one of those huge variety packs of snack sized chips, what’s always the last kind of chip left in the bag? The Fritos.
Maybe these aren’t new to you, but I first heard about Walking Tacos from my sister Shelly. The whole concept is that these are tacos on the run…or walk.
Take a snack sized bag of Fritos or Doritos and crush them up. Open the bag and fill it with taco meat and all of your favorite taco toppings.
Then you’re free to roam, work the crowd, or watch the game without being tied down to a table.
The best part is that there are no plates and easy cleanup. Use a disposable fork or if you’re feeling fancy, a plastic fork from IKEA.
You know I love anything taco. Taco Grilled Cheese, Taco Pizza Rolls, Taco Pasta. Basically, I can incorporate any type of food into a taco recipe.
OTHER POTLUCK RECIPES
- Ham and Cheese Sliders
- Cafe Rio Pork Salad
- Baked Ziti
- Chicken and Spinach Stuffed Shells
- BLT Pasta Salad
Walking Tacos
These Walking Tacos are tacos made right in the bag. Great for parties and potlucks! If you've ever wondered how to make Walking Tacos, it's way easier than you think.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef or turkey
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1 1 ounce taco seasoning packet or this homemade taco seasoning
- 6-8 snack sized bags of Fritos or Doritos
- Suggested Toppings:
- black beans
- lettuce
- tomato
- shredded cheese
- sour cream
- ranch/salsa mixture (1:1 ratio prepared ranch dressing and your favorite salsa)
Instructions
- Brown beef or turkey and drain the fat. Add the onion to the meat and sautee a couple of minutes until soft. Add the taco seasoning along with 1/2 cup of water and simmer until water is absorbed. If serving immediate pour in a bowl. You can also combine the meat and black beans if you want and keep them warm in a slow cooker.
- Crush your chips with your hands and open your bag. Add whatever toppings you desire and eat with a fork as you walk around! I always drizzle it with my ranch/salsa mixture.
There is actually a name for this, using chili, and it’s not frito pie, it’s called a Petro. First served at the World’s Fair in 1982, had to look up the year cause I was a little kid, but see wiki link below. Great idea!!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petro%27s_Chili_%26_Chips
Thanks for the info!
We used to eat these at carnivals as a kid….they called them gut-busters!! Yummy!
There would be no leftover Fritos in my home… if we could get the in Australia 🙁 It’s one of the things we American expats most miss!
We do have Doritos though!
That works too!
I like walking tacos also, and I have found by experience that if you use a pair of scissors and open the package along a LONG side, filling the bag and eating is MUCH better. Just my 2 cents worth.
Thanks for the tip!
I tried this after hearing about some food truck that was doing it. It’s very yummy & makes less mess-but Be Warned-the food Is Hot-so use a Potholder to hold it while eating it! Enjoy!
So this is really a taco in a bag?!
Taco in a bag? Yep!
Would you care if I used one of your images on my blog and linked it back here. I am listing meals that are great for camping on the Fairfield County Moms Blog.
That’s fine!
I just heard about these from a friend and I didn’t believe it’s a thing. But now I know they’re real. And I know they’re for dinner tonight.
These were SOO Good! I love Fritos so we never have leftover bags but I was happy to buy more to make this recipe! Thank you for sharing a new favorite recipe! 🙂
Love that!!!
Try Catalina dressing on them, its the best!
we also did this with Doritos at a church meeting, they were good also.
Mind. Blown…. Why am I JUST NOW finding this? Will anyone judge me if I do this as a regular weeknight dinner at home? I’m your newest fan! Thanks!
Welcome Ame!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this idea. I’m going to be featuring all of my favorite summer snack ideas, and would love to feature this and have it link back to you, if that’s ok with you!?
Of course! Share away.
My church has sold these for years at our tows annual Old Settler days, and they are truly a hit!!
How much black bean in the recipe?
It’s really up to your preference…
Instead of eating it with Fritos.. you ought to try it with Doritos. That’s what we all use here in Ohio! <3
This is a favorite in our family. But this is how we make them.. My husband is really good at making his chili, so when were on a budget he makes a big pot and the first night we have chili with cornbread, the next night we make elbow noodles and mix that into the chili, and for lunch we have frito chili pies with the left over chili. We use frito corn chips, topped with chili, shredded cheese, and mustard!! It is the best!:-) And you can also use the the left over chili to make chili hot dogs & chili cheese fries. But if we decide to eat it all in one night, then my husband and son eat their chili with noodles, and me and my daughter make our chili frito pies with mustard. Every time my husband makes his famous chili “in our family”;-) I always have to ask “did you get the fritos?” Haha He has had to go back to the store so many times that finially after 15yrs he’s got it down and doesn’t for get any more!lol And thank you Christy for this great idea! It’s something new we haven’t tried but now I’ve got dinner plans tonight!:-) btw this is my first time to your site and I’ve booked marked it and look forward to seeing your new ideas!thanks:-)
Thanks Sonja!
I served Frito Chili Pies when I worked at the A & W Root Beer restaurant in my hometown 54 years ago. They’ve been served in my home also for over half a century, and my Mom and Dad used to eat them too! We topped it with grated cheese and onions. Now I make the chili with my own home-made low sodium DIY seasoning in a large batch and divide it into individual portions to be used with a pound of ground beef. My hubby loves it so much I usually make two pounds because he always wants more, and I use leftover chili in soft corn tortillas or to make enchiladas with. This is a real kid-pleaser recipe!
Had flagged this awhile back and decided it was time to have this on my menu for this week; after making them am wondering why it took me so long. My boys loved them and I loved clean up. Thank you.
Good to hear!
Christy- We LOVE this idea!! It’s totally a family favorite now. Just wanted you to know it was featured on our site today: http://www.thedatingdivas.com/food/101-camping-tips-ideas/ Thanks so much for sharing!!!
Young lady, I’ve had so much fun with your recipes and getting them from you. My Grandmother made things like the walking tacos/frito pie. Leftover cornbread was the bass of the sandwich. Whatever was left over from dinner(lunch) was put on or in the cornbread. I had forgotten that, thank you for reminding me.
I just came across this and I absolutely love the idea! Not sure we can get Fritos in Germany but I will have a look around for something similar!
I have a question made tacos last night, can i still make this? I was thinking about putting corn chips in a baking dish then layering the taco meat, cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, and salsa. Put in oven and heat up for like 15-20 min.. What do you think?
Joann,
I would definitely heat up the meat and cheese. I wouldn’t top it with the tomatoes, lettuce, and salsa until after you pull it out of the oven… Sounds good though.
we have always had these since i remember i’m from Texas an we call them Frito pies we add chili with no bean nacho cheese and add anything u like in your nachos yummy
that’s almost like a “Frito pie” that’s what we call it in New Mexico. It is usually a bed of fritos, refried beans – most people prefer ground beef then the regular taco toppings.
It’s a favorite during the warm months.
This is the kids’ favorite meal at the camp I work at!
I recommend trying this recipe with Nacho Cheese Doritos as well! That is how they were served at our concession stands in Iowa. 🙂
Such a cute idea! It actually reminds me of Frito Pie- I’ve never tried it but one of my ex-boyfriends was from Texas and would always ask me to make it for him, haha!
This is a very clever idea. Sounds easy enough to make. I actually think it’s kind of healthy because just a small snack size bag of Fritos will ensure you don’t overeat. Definitely can’t wait to try these!
My friend does this too…she calls it Taco in a Bag! Awesome meal for camping!