You know I love taco salad as a picnic option, right?
Well . . . soon after I posted that idea, I needed to feed a crowd, and I needed to keep things simple.
Both of my boys were baptized on Mother’s Day (BEST Mother’s Day gift EVER), and both sides of the family were coming. I wanted to serve lunch in our home, but it was going to be a busy day. I would be leaving the house at 7:15 a.m. and wouldn’t be back again until after the service . . . when sixteen hungry people would be arriving at the same time.
I decided taco salad would be a good option as an easy meal. By browning the meat the night before, I could let it warm in the Crock-Pot while were gone from home, and then I’d only have to put out the chips and salad toppings!
Hot Ingredients:
Taco Meat
I know. That’s not enough meat for sixteen people! I took this picture when I made the same meal for a small group of friends that I wanted to feed immediately after getting home from the pool!
That’s it! I did add beans to feed more people. I cooked, drained and seasoned the meat the night before and then put it in the fridge. Before I left for church the next morning, I simply dumped the already-cooked meat and a few cans of beans into the crockpot and put it on low.
Cold Ingredients:
Chips
Lettuce
Sour Cream
Shredded Cheese
Salsa
Tomatoes
Whatever else you like on taco salad!
When church was over, all I had to do was put out the cold ingredients and lunch was ready!
What are your favorite recipes for feeding a crowd without spending a lot of time in the kitchen?
FYI, this recipe is included in the two week plan that I teach you in Make Dinner Happen, the least fancy, most practical cooking course ever. You can learn more and see what recipes are included here.
what a great idea, going to try that next time I have company. I can also do that with soy cheese, love it.
That is a special treat to have your kids baptized on mother’s day.
I do tacos for crowds a LOT. Another advantage, besides being able to do everything ahead (I put my meat in the crock pot and make cheese dip in the crock pot, rice in the rice cooker but you could do that in the crock pot, too) is that it pleases everybody! Everybody in our family are all on different diets and you can pretty much satisfy everyone’s diet requirements with tacos!
I also like to do soups that can simmer in the crock pot. If I’m having a big crowd, I’ll do several different kinds of soups plus bread and a big salad. Easy!
But now I’m craving tacos!
BBQ pulled pork in the crock pot
What a great crowd-friendly idea! I make a crockpot full of meatballs and set out hoagie rolls and shredded cheese when we’ve got a crowd coming over. It’s not that healthy, but it sure is easy!
That’s a great idea! I bet people love that!
Old post but I’m reading backward and I just wanted to say that we’re doing a taco/nacho bar for our wedding! I didn’t want to pay for catering so this is a super great option. All we have to do is buy everything at Sam’s Club, cook the meat and chop the veggies! Plus nachos are my favorite food so I’m a happy girl 😉 So hopefully it’ll be a success for my 60+ guests 🙂
Love it! We served Mexican food at our wedding and people loved it!