Are you looking for a fun and delicious way to spice up your next party or gathering? Look no further than Taco Bites! These bite-sized treats are packed with all the flavors of a classic taco, but in a compact and convenient form that's perfect for sharing.

These mini taco bites are a fun, festive, and truly adorable finger food that will be gobbled up instantly at any party, or special occasion. What's best is not only do adults love them, but they're a real favorite with the little ones! The fun-size, deliciousness of these taco bites just can't be beaten and they taste like tacos too!
Making this recipe doubles nicely as a great activity to involve the little helpers in! My kids had an absolute blast assembling these treats with Mom in the kitchen. My little four-year-old gushed on and on about how she made "tacos" with Mom.
So if you have kids you want to involve in a fun activity, that's more of a reason to try out this delicious taco bites recipe! It's a precious opportunity to create those hands-on memories of cooking together and also gives them a chance to have fun practicing their creative skills.
These appetizers take some time to make because of all the little details but are absolutely worth every second of spending time with kiddos doing something practical in the kitchen.
I always like to make a little extra taco meat when I make these taco bites also. It reheats really well and goes great in other yummy recipes like nacho salad, tacos, and crunch wraps.
Want to learn how to make Taco Bites at home? Then keep on reading!
Table of Contents
- What are Taco Bites?
- What Makes This Taco Bites Recipe Special?
- What You Need to Make Taco Bites at Home
- How to Make Taco Bites (Step-by-Step)
- Tips for Making the Best Taco Bites Ever
- How to Make Homemade Taco Cups
- Recipe Variation Ideas for Taco Bites
- How to Store Leftover Taco Bites
- Similar Recipes You'll Love
- Recipe Card
- Quick + Easy Taco Bites Appetizer Recipe (Ideal Party Food!)
- Comments
What are Taco Bites?
Taco bites are one-bite mini tacos that are easy to make and fun to eat! These appetizers are made with taco meat, cheese, and a crunchy tortilla shell. They can be served as is or you can top them with your favorite salsa or guacamole.
What's best is that taco bites are the perfect appetizer for game day parties, family gatherings, summer barbecues, or any other special event. They're versatile and can be customized with different fillings and toppings for unlimited flavor combinations!
Plus, these mini bites are also great for an after-school snack. They're just filling enough to satisfy hungry kids but not too filling to ruin their appetite for dinner later.
This recipe isn't just for kids though! It's an easy recipe to pack and take to work for a snack in between meals also. Trust me, you're going to fall in love with them.
What Makes This Taco Bites Recipe Special?
This taco bites recipe is special because it combines classic flavors like taco meat, cheese and crunchy shells in the perfect bite-sized form. It's a great way to enjoy tacos without having to commit to a full-sized taco. Here are some other reasons why you'll absolutely love my taco cups recipe:
Easy to eat: Half the fun is making the taco bites, and the other half is eating them! They're a great bite-size finger food for all kinds of get-togethers.
Kid-friendly: My kids and I always have a blast making these taco bites! They love to help out and get creative in the kitchen and I relish the time I get to spend with them.
Delicious: This recipe might be bite-sized, but they're bursting with flavor. You get the complete taco flavor in every bite.
What You Need to Make Taco Bites at Home
All you need are some incredibly simple ingredients to make these delicious, crowd-pleasers at home. Let's look at each of them in more detail:
- Tostitos Scoops chips: First we'll need a bag of Tostitos Scoops tortilla chips for these taco bites. They make great little taco cups to fill with our homemade taco filling.
- Taco meat: Cook ground beef in a skillet with your favorite taco seasoning. You can also make a half batch of the meat in this crunch wraps recipe.
- Sour cream: Next we need some sour cream to dollop on each bite. It has a rich, creamy flavor with a slight tang that's perfect for tacos.
- Iceberg lettuce: We'll also be shredding some iceberg lettuce for this recipe. It gives a delightful crunch to each bite and an earthy taste.
- Cheddar cheese: Grab your favorite bag of cheddar cheese too. The sharp, tangy flavor perfectly compliments the seasoned meat.
- Cherry tomatoes: Last but not least, we'll top each bite off with a slice of cherry tomato. The juiciness and slightly acidic flavor really bring these bites together.
How to Make Taco Bites (Step-by-Step)
Making these taco bites is super easy and fun! Here's how to make them step by step:
How to Make Taco Bites Filling
Use the crunch wraps recipe post to make the meat.
With the meat prepared, shred cabbage and cheese, then slice the tomatoes in half.
Put the sour cream into a sandwich bag, cut the corner off, and set it aside for later.
How to Assemble Taco Bites
Place Scoop chips onto a large platter. Add ½ tsp. of taco meat into each scoop.
Pipe sour cream over the meat using the sandwich bag you prepared earlier, then place some shredded lettuce over each one.
Finally, top it with a little bit of shredded cheese and half a cherry tomato.
Your delicious taco bites are ready to be served!
Tips for Making the Best Taco Bites Ever
Properly prepare the meat: Make sure to cook your taco meat evenly and thoroughly. You don't want any pink left anywhere in the ground beef.
Use freshly grated cheese: For the best flavor, buy a block of cheese and shred it yourself. Pre-shredded cheese can have too much salt or be too dry.
Use fresh ingredients: Fresh veggies and other ingredients makes all the difference in this recipe. Make sure the tomatoes and lettuce are especially fresh for the best results.
How to Make Homemade Taco Cups
If you don't have or can't find Scoops tortilla chips, you can cut flour tortillas into quarters and use those instead. Wonton wrappers work great as well.
Place them into the openings of a mini muffin tin and bake them in the oven at 350F/180C until they turn golden brown and use them in the recipe.
Allow them to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before removing them onto a wire rack to cool completely before adding the taco filling to them as per the recipe
Recipe Variation Ideas for Taco Bites
These taco bites are absolutely perfect as is. But here are some fun and easy ideas you can try to customize the flavor according to your preferences:
- Add some heat: Try adding some jalapenos, hot peppers, a drop of hot sauce, and some chopped cilantro to each bite for a little spice. You can also add a squeeze of lime juice to the ground beef.
- Add more taco toppings: Play around with the bite toppings to customize the taste. Onions, guacamole, a slice of avocado, or a little garlic are all good choices.
- Change the filling: Seasoned ground beef will give you the classic taco taste, but it's not the only filling option. You can also try chicken, ground turkey, or refried beans.
How to Store Leftover Taco Bites
If you have any taco bites left over, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat them, preheat your oven to 350°F and bake the taco bites on a baking sheet for 10 minutes.
I don't recommend freezing taco bites since it'll change the texture and consistency of the different components of these treats. Since they're super easy to make, I recommend making them fresh or storing them in the fridge as mentioned above.
Similar Recipes You'll Love
See all appetizers.
Recipe Card
Quick + Easy Taco Bites Appetizer Recipe (Ideal Party Food!)
Ingredients
How to Make Taco Bites Filling
- 1 – lbs. – taco meat (I used half meat recipe as for Crunch Wraps)
- ½ cup – sour cream
- 2 cups – shredded iceberg lettuce
- ½ cup – shredded cheddar cheese
- 25 – mini cherry tomatoes
Instructions
How to Make Taco Bites Filling
- Use the crunch wraps recipe post to make the meat.
- With the meat prepared, shred cabbage and cheese, then slice the tomatoes in half.
- Put the sour cream into a sandwich bag, cut the corner off, and set it aside for later.
How to Assemble Taco Bites
- Place Scoop chips onto a large platter. Add ½ tsp. of taco meat into each scoop.
- Pipe sour cream over the meat using the sandwich bag you prepared earlier, then place some shredded lettuce over each one.
- Finally, top it with a little bit of shredded cheese and half a cherry tomato.
- Your delicious taco bites are ready to be served!
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This recipe was originally posted on May 3, 2018 (original picture below), and updated for a better user experience. The post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.
Cheryl says
I want to make these taco bites for a kitchen tea party. I don't know if I can get the tostitos scoop
Valya of Valya's Taste of Home says
Most grocery stores should carry them in the chips aisle.
Elvira says
Will definitely e trying these. Thank you for such relishes recipes.
Valya of Valya's Taste of Home says
You are very certainly welcome, enjoy!
Tanya says
Hi, can I assemble with the cold meat?
Valya of Valya's Taste of Home says
Absolutely! Enjoy!
Everly says
Do you assemble them with the meat warm?
www.valyastasteofhome.com says
Yes, barely warm. Otherwise it softens the shell way too fast.
Vera says
Looking amaizing. Thank you for idea. One question can you make them ahead of time or does the chip / shell get soft ?
www.valyastasteofhome.com says
The chips get soft. But you can get all the ingredients ready and assemble them before serving. 🙂
Tanya says
Wow, they are mouthwatering little cuties! The presentation is beautiful, will definitely try making those! Thanks for sharing and blessings!
www.valyastasteofhome.com says
Thank you for kind words Tanya! Enjoy! Blessings to you as well! 🙂