Need help putting together a taco Tuesday dinner or gathering? Understanding the toppings, side dishes, and beverages best for a “taco theme” will help you serve a delicious meal and create lasting memories.

rosebudatlanta.com gathered the following information about having a taco Tuesday dinner, a versatile taco recipe, the most popular toppings, appropriate side dishes, authentic beverages, and irresistible desserts.

Why is it Taco Tuesday?

In October 1933, the White Star Cafeteria (St. Regis Hotel in El Paso, Texas) held a weeklong campaign to let customers and local residents know they were offering “Mexican tacos” each Tuesday. Over the next several decades, many restaurants had designated Tuesday as the day for deals on tacos. Subsequently, the phrase and the “tradition” caught on all over the US in restaurants and homes, making “Taco Tuesdays” what they are today (any day of the week).

What do You Need for Taco Night?

Planning a taco night (Tuesday, Friday, Sunday, or any day) at home is a perfect opportunity for great family time. From easy-to-fill, easy-to-hold taco shells to savory fillings and fresh toppings, you will find it easy to make your taco night a weekly or monthly tradition. Consider the following taco night recipes and suggestions and be inspired to make it your own:

Hard and Soft Shells – Instead of debating which shells to use on taco night, serve them both and let everyone choose.

• Hard shells can be warmed in the oven
• Soft shells can be warmed in a skillet

Tip: Your shells are already cooked. You want to serve them warm, adding to the taco’s flexibility and enhancing the incredible flavors within.

Savory Protein Fillings – The options are endless and can include cubed, braised, or shredded:

• Chicken
• Steak
• Pork
• Ground Beef (lean)
• Ground Turkey
• Fish (salmon or tilapia)
• Shrimp
• Chorizo (mixes well with chicken and beef)

Try preparing multiple fillings to create a taco bar. For those who prefer vegetarian tacos, make plant-based burgers, crumbled tofu, shiitake walnut taco meat, or beans available.

Tip: Give your ground beef an extra layer of flavor by cooking a medium-sized (cubed) russet potato with the meat.

Typical seasonings include:

• Salt
• Pepper
• Chili Flakes or Powder
• Garlic Powder

Most food outlets carry taco seasoning mixes corresponding to whichever protein you are preparing.

Toppings – Elevate your taco night experience with fresh herbs. Fresh cilantro, oregano, and parsley go well with Tex-Mex cuisine and bring bright color and exceptional flavor to the standard taco night experience. Consider the following popular toppings to serve with your shells and fillings:

• Monterrey Jack, Sharp Cheddar, Queso Fresco, and Cotija Cheeses (shredded or crumbled)
• Sour Cream (chilled and whipped)
• Diced tomatoes (seasoned with oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper)
• Guacamole (use the recipe by the Culinary Institute)
• Pico De Gallo
• Salsa (serve mild, medium, and hot homemade or store-bought options)
• Hot Sauces (homemade or store-bought)
• Chopped onions or scallions
• Sweet Corn (cooked until semi-caramelized)
• Refried Beans
• Cilantro Rice
• Lettuce (chopped iceberg, spinach, chard, or kale)
• Bell peppers (thinly sliced or diced)
• Black Olives (pitted and sliced)
• Green Chiles (diced Hatch Valley variety)
• Jalapeños (diced)

The space in your taco shells is limited, so be sure to slice and dice your toppings small.

Note: When dicing Jalapeños, you will likely get choked up and start sneezing while your eyes tear up (the chemical piperine found in peppers irritates the nerve endings inside the mucous membrane). This is normal and worth the temporary torture (minimize these effects by keeping your prep area well-ventilated).

Tip: Serve a dish of lemon and lime wedges. Freshly squeezed lemon or lime on tacos is refreshing and delightful.

Beverages – While you could serve soda with your tacos, why not create a more authentic Tex-Mex experience with any of the following beverages:

• Classic Margarita (there’s no better drink to go with Mexican-style food than a Margarita)
• Horchata
• Agua de Jamaica (Hibiscus Water)
• Raspberry Hibiscus Iced Tea
• Agua Fresca (Mexican Strawberry Water)
• Agua Fresca de Pepino (Cucumber Limeade)
• Beer (ice-cold lager)
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Dry rosé

Tip: If you do serve booze, include alcohol-free options for those who do not drink or will operate a vehicle after your taco night.

Desserts – By now, you’ve flexed your culinary muscles and impressed all your guests. The only thing left to do is bring out an authentic Mexican dessert to put a final “wow” on your taco night. Consider the following desserts you can make at home or find (already made) in some multicultural bakeries:

• Churros (deep-fried dough coated in cinnamon sugar and dipped in chocolate or caramel)
• Dulce de Leche (sweetened and reduced milk best used as churros dip or ice cream topping)
• Caramel Flan (custard made with sugar, eggs, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and vanilla extract)
• Mexican Buñuelos (a cross between a donut and a churro)
• Rice Pudding (made with milk, sugar, rice, and cinnamon)

By serving a variety of desserts, from caramel flan to churros, you will satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth after an amazing taco night.

Taco Dinner

In this article, you discovered how to make and serve tacos to your friends and loved ones when you decide to have Taco Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday, etc.

Knowing how to make fresh, delicious tacos with all the right toppings and side dishes will make your taco night authentic, fun, and memorable.

Not knowing what to do for a taco dinner may leave you disappointingly serving the wrong toppings and sides for what should have been a delicious, easy meal.

Sources:
aei.org/technology-and-innovation/lebron-taco-tuesdays-and-trademarks/
dinnertonight.tamu.edu/tacos/
nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/fcs/2018/06/23/building-a-healthy-taco-using-local-produce/