Walking Tacos

Name: Walking Tacos with Seasoned Ground Beef
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 tbsp chili powder; 1 tbsp smoked paprika; 1 tbsp ground cumin; 1 tbsp garlic powder; 1 tbsp dried oregano; 1 tbsp cornstarch; salt, to taste; black pepper, to taste; 1 lb ground beef; 2 tbsp tomato sauce; 1/2 cup beef broth; 4 individual serving bags nacho cheese tortilla chips; 1 cup lettuce, shredded; 1 tomato, diced; 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped; 1/2 cup sour cream; 1/4 cup pickled jalapeños; 1 avocado, sliced; hot sauce, to taste; pickled red onions, for serving

Walking Tacos are a handheld meal where seasoned ground beef and your favorite toppings are layered directly into a bag of nacho cheese tortilla chips, making them an easy, portable option that requires no utensils or plates.

🌍American 🏷️Walking tacos 🏷️Tacos 🏷️Ground beef 🏷️Nacho cheese Tortilla chips

🏷️

🏷️Game-day

-0:00

moribyanonTikTok

Total

25 min

Servings

4

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$35–$58

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok · by moribyan

-0:00

moribyanonTikTok

Ingredients

2 tbsp chili powder
1 tbsp smoked paprika
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp dried oregano
1 tbsp cornstarch
salt, to taste
black pepper, to taste
1 lb ground beef
2 tbsp tomato sauce
1/2 cup beef broth
4 individual serving bags nacho cheese tortilla chips
1 cup lettuce, shredded
1 tomato, diced
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup pickled jalapeñosoptional
1 avocado, slicedoptional
hot sauce, to tasteoptional
pickled red onions, for servingoptional

Instructions

1
Prep your toppings by shredding the lettuce, dicing the tomato, and chopping the cilantro.
2
In a small bowl, combine all the spices for the taco seasoning: chili powder, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, oregano, cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
3
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef, breaking it apart with a spatula until it's fully browned.
4
Drain any excess grease, then add the taco seasoning blend, tomato sauce, and beef broth to the skillet. Stir to combine.
5
Let the mixture simmer for a few minutes until the sauce has thickened.
6
To assemble, carefully cut the individual chip bags open lengthwise with scissors.
7
Layer the seasoned taco meat into each bag over the chips.
8
Add your desired toppings, such as lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, pickled jalapeños, cilantro, avocado, and hot sauce.
9
Serve immediately and enjoy straight from the bag.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Brown the ground beef thoroughly and drain excess fat before adding the spice blend to ensure the seasoning coats the meat evenly without excess grease soaking the chips.
Don't assemble the tacos more than 10-15 minutes before eating—the warm beef will soften the chips quickly, so add it just before consuming.
Toast whole spices like cumin and oregano in a dry skillet before grinding if possible for deeper flavor, or ensure all dried spices are fresh for maximum impact.
Keep all toppings prepped and in separate containers so guests can customize their walking tacos with exactly what they want without mixing flavors.

Substitutions

Ground beef → ground turkey or ground chicken (use same seasoning)
Smoked paprika → regular paprika (flavor will be less smoky)
Nacho cheese chips → cool ranch tortilla chips or plain tortilla chips (adjust expected flavor profile)
Tomato sauce → tomato paste mixed with 2 tbsp water (more concentrated tomato flavor)

Storage & make-ahead

Store cooked seasoned beef in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; reheat gently in a skillet before assembling tacos. Do not assemble walking tacos ahead of time as chips will soften.

Common Questions

What are walking tacos exactly?

Walking Tacos are a meal assembled by adding seasoned ground beef and toppings into an open bag of nacho cheese tortilla chips. You eat them straight from the bag using the chips as both a vessel and an edible shell.

Can I make the beef seasoning ahead of time?

Yes, cook and season the ground beef up to 2 days in advance. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigeridge and reheat gently before assembling the tacos.

What toppings work best for walking tacos?

Choose toppings that won't make the chips soggy: shredded cheese, sour cream, salsa, jalapeños, lettuce, and diced onion are all excellent choices. Add wet toppings like salsa just before eating.

Can I use ground turkey or chicken instead?

Yes, ground turkey or chicken work well as substitutes for ground beef. Use the same seasoning blend and cooking method, adjusting cook time slightly until the meat is fully cooked through.

How do I prevent the chips from getting soggy?

Add the warm seasoned beef to the chip bag just before eating, and save wet ingredients like salsa and sour cream to add at the last moment. Keep toppings separated until assembly.