If you are hosting a Mexican dinner party, this is the taco meat recipe you will need to know how much taco meat per person to serve. Blend in the authentic homemade taco seasoning with quality beef, and your tacos are sure to be a hit with everyone.
Hosting a Mexican Dinner Party is easy and fun for everyone. Start by deciding how many people will be on your guest list. Then create a menu you would like to serve. Be sure to look through my Mexican recipes to get inspired.
- Make homemade sauces such as Taco Bell Copycat Red Sauce or Taco Bell Baja Sauce.
- Try a new salsa recipe such as Green Tomato Salsa or Authentic Mexican Restaureant Style Salsa.
- Need some heat with your tacos? Serve this Spicy Pico de Gallo recipe and some Cowboy Candy ( sweet pickled jalapenos).
It is good to plan how much meat you need when preparing a taco bar for a large crowd. You don’t want to run out before everyone has been served.
The rule of thumb is four ounces of meat fillings per taco shell for the average person. This will calculate to about eight tablespoons or a 1/2 cup per taco.
It is also helpful to consider how much ground beef you will need by thinking through how hearty of an appetite your guest might have. If you are cooking for teenage boys, you might want to up this to 5 oz, per person.
If you serve several other items, such as burritos, quesadillas, rice, and refried beans, your guest will probably only have one taco per person.
On average, you need to plan two tacos per person if you are hosting a taco bar with sides such as rice and beans.
One pound (16 ounces) of 93/7 raw ground beef, cooked, browned, and drained, will equal 14 ounces of cooked ground beef. Each taco will need 4 ounces of meat therefore, one pound of hamburger yields 3.5 tacos.
Figure one pound (16 oz) of hamburger will yield 14 ounces of meat. Each taco needs 4 ounces of meat. So one pound of cooked and drained hamburger will yield 3.5 tacos.
Take the # of guests x 2 tacos per person = number of tacos needed
Then take the total # of tacos needed divided by 3.5 = number of pounds of raw hamburger needed
️ ️# Calculate taco meat tip
The recipe card below can be adjusted for the number of tacos you need to make before you print the recipe. Click the # of tacos from 3.5 to however many you would like. The recipe card will automatically change how much raw meat and seasoning you will need to buy for the number of tacos needed.
Here is a quick reference chart to pin on Pinterest for your next Mexican Themed Party. It will help you figure out how much taco meat to make for a party, family gathering, taco bar, or big party.
🛒 What kind of meat is best for tacos?
There are a variety of meats usually used to make tacos; however, the most popular taco meat is beef hamburger. The best taco meat is 93% lean meat content to 7% fat. Having 7% fat will give your meat flavor without making it greasy.
What type of seasoning should I use on taco meat?
A good taco seasoning will have a combination of authentic Mexican seasonings such as chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, Mexican oregano, and cayenne pepper.
It’s easy to make homemade authentic Mexican meat seasoning without additives and preservatives. Be sure to print this all-purpose Mexican Seasoning recipe.
This seasoning is a great way to create an authentic flavor for all your Mexican dishes, not just meats. It keeps well for months in an air-tight jar, and it is economical to make your own.
🔪 Step by step instructions
Start with good-quality raw ground beef. I like to use organic 93% lean 7 % fat.
- Place the hamburger in a medium-sized pan. Using a Meat Chopper, 5 Curve Blades tool, break the hamburger meat apart into small pieces. Place the pan on a burner set to medium heat. As the hamburger cooks, stir with the meat chopper every few minutes to help break up the hamburger.
2. When the meat is browned with no pink inside, remove the pan from the heat. Prop the pan slightly so the grease will drain to one side. Pull the brown beef to one side of the pan.
With a large spoon, remove the majority of the grease.
3. Next, place a few pieces of paper towel in the pan to absorb any grease left. Throw the paper towel out and repeat if necessary.
4. Sprinkle in 3 tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning mix and 1/3 cup of water. Stir to coat the meat with the seasoning.
5. Simmer the meat and seasoning on low heat for 5 minutes. Stir every few minutes to help eliminate the meat sticking to the pan.
✔️ Cooking taco meat tip
The easiest way to cook a pound of ground beef that is crumbled evenly is to use a meat chopper. The five curved blades help break up the clumps of hamburger easily. This will help your meat cook evenly and give you the perfect texture for taco meat.
🔀 Variations
- If you like spicy taco meat, an easy way to add some heat would be to stir in 2 tablespoons of chopped Pickled Cowboy Candy when you add the taco seasoning.
- Add in one chopped large sweet onion when cooking the beef mixture.
- Add diced sweet peppers in various colors
Ideas for serving taco meat
- Nacho Casserol: Layer in a one dish Nacho Casserole.
- Taco salad: In a large bowl, add lettuce, taco meat, cheese, tomatoes, onions, beans, and any other taco topping you enjoy. Crumble in a few hands full of taco chips. Top with your favorite dressing, such as spicy ranch.
- Soft tortillas: Roll up with meat, beans and Taco Bell copycat red sauce. Serve with Mexican Tomato Soup.
- Tortilla chips: Lay your chips out on a baking sheet, sprinkle with cheese, and cooked taco meat. Bake for 10 minutes at 300 degrees or until the cheese is melted and the hamburger is warm.
- Rice: Mix in with Festive Mexican Rice to create a hearty side dish.
- Hard shell tacos: Stuff hard taco shells with taco meat, black beans, tomatoes, lettuce, a drizzle Spicy Cashew Cream Sauce, or any other favorite toppings.
- Walking taco: Open a small bag of Dorritos. Sprinkle taco meat, cheese, lettuce, and salsa on top of the chips. Grab a fork and eat right out of the bag of chips.
Tips for freezing taco meat 🧊
- First, drain any excess fat from your seasoned taco meat.
- Next, allow the cooked meat to cool for about 20 minutes.
- Label and date freezer bags.
- Fill quart or gallon-sized zip-lock style bags with taco meat.
- Flatten the bags on a baking pan and freeze.
- Remove the pan after 24 hours and neatly stack your toco meat bags on top of each other in the freezer.
- Taco meat will remain fresh for up to 6 months.
Related Recipes
How Much Taco Meat Per Person Recipe For A Party
Note: Be sure to read through the recipe’s post for tips and details about this recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 pound hamburger, 93% lean to 7% fat
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1/3 cup water
Equipment
Instructions
- Start with good-quality raw ground beef. I like to use organic 93% lean 7 % fat.
- Place the hamburger in a medium-sized pan. Using a Meat Chopper, 5 Curve Blades tool, break the hamburger meat apart into small pieces. Place the pan on a burner set to medium heat. As the hamburger cooks, stir with the meat chopper every few minutes to help break up the hamburger.
- When the meat is browned with no pink inside, remove the pan from the heat. Prop the pan slightly so the grease will drain to one side. Pull the brown beef to one side of the pan.
- With a large spoon, remove the majority of the grease.
- Next, place a few pieces of paper towel in the pan to absorb any grease left. Throw the paper towel out and repeat if necessary.
- Sprinkle in 3 tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning mix and 1/3 cup of water. Stire to coat the meat with the seasoning.
- Simmer the meat and seasoning on low heat for 5 minutes. Stir every few minutes to help eliminate the meat sticking to the pan.
Notes
Variations
- If you like spicy taco meat, an easy way to add some heat would be to stir in 2 tablespoons of chopped Pickled Cowboy Candy when you add the taco seasoning.
- Add in one chopped large sweet onion when cooking the beef mixture.
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It depends on the size of the tortilla. The traditional Mexican tacos are much smaller.