Throwing a taco party is a great way to make your event memorable and tasty for your guests. With a variety of protein options and a lot of different toppings, a taco bar gives your guests a fun, do-it-yourself party experience that is unique to them. However, pulling off a successful taco bar party does require some planning and prep. Don’t worry, though; this full guide from Burrachos on how to set up a taco bar for a party will take care of everything.
Planning to host a taco party for 40 people? Figuring out how much ground beef to buy for tacos can be tricky. You want to make sure you have enough meat so that everyone gets their fill of delicious tacos, but you also don’t want to be stuck with pounds of leftover taco meat.
This article will provide a simple formula and calculator to help you determine exactly how much ground beef you need to buy for tacos when cooking for 40 people.
How Many Tacos Does Each Person Eat?
The first step is estimating how many tacos each person will eat on average. Here are some general guidelines:
- Adult men: 3-4 tacos
- Adult women: 2-3 tacos
- Teens: 3-4 tacos
- Kids (ages 4-12): 1-2 tacos
- Toddlers: 1 taco
To keep things simple, we’ll assume each adult will eat 3 tacos on average, teens will have 35 tacos, and kids will have 15 tacos.
It’s better to overestimate slightly to ensure you have enough food Leftovers are always better than running out!
Calculating Total Number of Tacos Needed
For a party of 40 people
- 20 adults x 3 tacos each = 60 tacos
- 10 teens x 3.5 tacos each = 35 tacos
- 10 kids x 1.5 tacos each = 15 tacos
Total tacos needed = 60 + 35 + 15 = 110 tacos
So for a taco party with 40 guests, you’ll want to prepare approximately 110 tacos.
How Much Taco Meat Fills a Taco?
On average, 1 taco requires around 2 ounces of cooked ground beef. This is equivalent to about 1/8 pound of raw meat per taco.
So if you need 110 tacos total:
110 tacos x 1/8 pound per taco = 13.75 pounds of raw ground beef
The Final Calculation
For a taco party with 40 people where each person eats around 3 tacos on average, you will need approximately 14 pounds of raw ground beef.
It’s always smart to round up and buy a little extra meat just in case. So purchasing 15 pounds of ground beef for your 40 person taco party would be ideal.
Ground Beef Calculator for Tacos
To make this easy, here is a simple calculator to determine how much ground beef you need to buy based on the number of guests and estimated number of tacos per person:
Number of Adults: 20
Tacos per Adult: 3
Number of Teens: 10
Tacos per Teen: 3.5
Number of Kids: 10
Tacos per Kid: 1.5
Total Adults x Tacos: 60
Total Teens x Tacos: 35
Total Kids x Tacos: 15
Total Tacos Needed: 110
Pounds of Raw Ground Beef Needed: 14
You can tweak the numbers for your specific party guest breakdown. The calculator makes it easy to determine exactly how much meat to purchase for tacos when cooking for a crowd.
Tips for a Successful Taco Party
Here are some additional tips to ensure your taco party for 40 goes off without a hitch:
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Prep as much as possible in advance – Chop vegetables, make salsas, cook meat the day before.
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Keep ingredients chilled – Use ice bowls or trays to keep lettuce, cheese, etc cold.
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Offer taco holders – Invest in tray holders or taco plates to make eating easier.
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Heat tortillas – Place tortillas in a tortilla warmer or oven at low temp to keep soft.
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Replenish toppings – Refill ingredient bowls frequently so the spread stays fresh.
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Have leftovers plan – Know what you’ll do with extra taco meat – freeze, make tacos salad, etc.
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Use a serving utensil – Tongs, spatulas, spoons for each ingredient to minimize contamination.
With the right amount of ground beef and some smart planning, you’re sure to have a fantastic taco fiesta when cooking for big crowds! Use this simple calculator to take the guesswork out of how much meat you need.
Planning and Prep
When you’re planning a party, the first thing you should do is send out the invitations early and ask guests about any food allergies or preferences they may have. This will help you plan the menu. You should write down all the things you need and then go shopping a day or two before the event.
The most important thing when planning and prepping is to purchase enough ingredients. For example, each person should have about 3–4 ounces of ground beef taco meat. This means that a pound of ground beef can feed four people. When you go shopping for other proteins, use the same scale. Also, remember that it’s better to have a little extra at the end of the party than to run out of food for your guests!
It’s important to offer a variety of protein options to cater to different tastes. Most people choose grilled chicken, seasoned ground beef, slow-cooked pulled pork, or guacamole for vegans and vegetarians.
No taco is complete without toppings. And when you set up your taco bar, you can use any topping you want! Just make sure you have the basics, like cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and tomatoes. Some other things you could put on your taco table are sliced onions, bell peppers, jalapenos, black olives, cilantro, diced avocado or guacamole, pico de gallo, and anything else you can fit.
Setting Up the Taco Bar
Your taco bar should look as good as it tastes! Arrange your ingredients in a way that looks good and is easy to find. Put your ingredients in bowls, platters, and serving dishes of different colors. Arrange the toppings by color and put up signs with the heat levels of your sauces. For a fun look, cover the table with a colorful tablecloth. Make sure your proteins are kept at a safe temperature with warmers, and label everything so there is no confusion. If you have room, set up a warming tray for your tortillas to keep them from drying out.
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FAQ
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