Best way to improve "Taco Night"?

Question

I don't really have a set date for taco's but when I do cook taco's its always the same thing. Soft & Hard taco's, cheese, meat, refried beans, etc. Is there anything I can add to make "taco night" a more entertaining night? Are there any special recipes you use or ingredients that could kick things up a notch?

Answer 1

I do taco night with some friends on a fairly regular basis. Great question! Fish, chicken, and pork tacos are not to be beat, but I have to admit we usually stick with ground beef. Here are a few of the more unusual things we often include. All of these are easy, even the ones that don't look like it, and all are easily tweaked to your personal preferences.

Avocado-Lime Sauce (as an easy alternative to guacamole): mix together until smooth the flesh of one ripe avocado, juice of 1/2 lime, 1/4 cup sour cream, and a little salt.

Chipotle cream: Finely mince a small amount of canned chipotle pepper (as much as you like, it's potent, so be cautious) and stir into 1 cup of sour cream, adding a tsp. or so of the sauce from the can. (Chipotles are smoked jalenpenos, most commonly found canned in small cans, packed in a tomato sauce)

Santa Fe Salsa:
1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
zest and juice of 1/2 lime
1 cup whole kernel sweet corn (I usually use frozen)
1 small or 1/2 large sweet red bell pepper (chopped)
1/2 cup minced sweet onion (vidalia, mayan sweet, etc.)
2 cloves crushed garlic
Stir all ingredients together, add salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste, allow at least one hour for flavors to marry

Sweet-Lime Onions:
1 small red onion
1 small jalepeno pepper
1 lime
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt

Trim the ends of the onion, cut in half lengthwise and slice crosswise into thin slices, separating these into strands. Remove the ribs and seeds from the jalepeno and mince. Zest and juice the lime. Finely chop about 1/2 to 1 tsp lime zest. Stir the salt, sugar, and garlic into the lime juice. Toss the onion and pepper with the lime juice in a shallow bowl, cover, and refridgerate overnight.

Answer 2

Try a dessert taco. Fill taco shells with fresh fruit and layer with whipped cream (instead of sour cream) and chocolate shavings instead of cheese. You could do the fruit hot or cold. You could probably find an easy flatbread/tortilla recipe. Add a little cocoa for a chocolate tortilla.

Or taco salad. You can buy taco bowls at the supermarket or make your own using store bought soft tortillas draped over a small oven-safe bowl/dish. Fill with lettuce or salad mix and top with all your regular fixings - beef/chicken, salsa, sour cream, cheese, whatever.

Nachos? Or a dip with tortilla chips? Or use leftover rotisserie chicken? I think I still like the dessert one the best, but that doesn't help with the "meal" part of taco night. You could still do an over all Mexican theme, but have tacos for dessert. =)

Answer 3

Margaritas always make taco night very entertaining in my home.

Seriously though, I add a can of corn (drained of course) to 2 lbs. of meat. I can't esplain why I like this, but it gives it a little something extra.

Also, I have been getting some of the new "yuppie" salsas. You know, black bean and corn (man, I love my corn), sun dried tomato, chile and lime, etc. Just take a minute at your salsa section, and you will see alot of interesting options. Newest discovery: Extra spicy mango and garlic. Crazy!

You can try making your own pico de gallo too. A super simple easy option would be: 1 small diced onion, a couple diced tomatoes, a couple tablespoons diced cilantro, diced jalapenos to taste, a bit of lemon and lime juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Just seal it in a tupperware, and leave it in the fridge overnight. YUM!

Answer 4

I've seen people mention chicken, but I didn't notice if anyone mentioned ground chicken instead of chicken strips. Cook it just like you would the beef. Ground chicken holds the taco flavor wonderfully.
Also, try a "walking taco". Get a 25 cent bag of Doritos, add the cheese, sour cream, meat, lettuce, tomato (anything you would normally add) and eat it right out of the bag. It's fun for kids and tastes great.

Answer 5

Sour cream and olives, and queso (rotel tomatoes and velveeta). You can also use tostada shells. Oh, spanish rice. Flautas (stuff soft tortillas, corn is best, with a little meat, roll and deep fry.) You could do ranchero chicken as well, but it takes a while. You simmer chicken in the same seasonings you use to make the taco meat.

You could also make it Burritos/Sloppy burritos - by getting the large flour tortillas, and making some enchilada gravy to put over burrito.

Answer 6

Fry your own taco shells. Use corn tortillas, heat 1 inch oil, put in 1/2 the tortilla in the oil, holding the other 1/2 out with tongs. When first half is crisp, flip and fry the other side, you should now have a typical taco shell shape. Excellent!!!

Answer 7

This is silly, but we put sour cream in a ziplock and nip off a small corner. That way, you can get your sour cream all over the taco and in a proportionate amount. My kids think this is a scream. I also make sure to have sliced avocados.

Answer 8

It's hard to improve "Taco Night" - Taco Bell has tried improving tacos for years and all they do is screw it up. Keep It Simple. Tacos are great.

Answer 9

i like to make chicken tacos, use soft tacos, get chicken and put salsa sour cream, guacomole ( cant spell) and some cheese. also change it sightly and make taco salads, using corn chips, meat cheese, refried beans, sour cream, and tomatoes

Answer 10

pulled pork tacos.....take a pork tenderlion and slow roast it in a crockpot with a can of green chilis sprinkle little garlic and salt and pepper for about 6 hours on low....also try fajitas...you can get a maranade and do veggies and steak or chicken...also make homemade chips or homesalsa...homemade guac or queso is really good....just velveeta little milk and rotel....guac is avacados....miracle whip to taste lemon juice cumin and salt pepper and garlic.....enjoy!!! oh oh you can also do quesadillas!!!