What are the best tacos toppings? From salsas to veggies to protein-packed fillings, choose all of your favorites for taco night! Make it a complete meal with a stack of tortillas and flavorful sides.
Taco night is one of my favorites.
In fact, we’ve been known to go beyond taco Tuesday and have some variation of tacos all week long!
Pork Carnitas Tacos on Tuesday, rice bowls on Wednesday, Southwestern Salads on Thursday, taco pizza on Friday…
If you love tacos as much as I do, then you’ll want to make sure you have all of the best tacos toppings on hand for the next taco night!
THE BEST TACOS TOPPINGS
I’ve often said that one of the best parts of taco night is going beyond the classic toppings and enjoying all of the different topping options. You also get these perks:
- A chance to clean out the fridge. If you have just a little bit left of something, add it to your taco or rice bowl! Simple ingredients are best here.
- Opportunity to add produce. Every meal needs a veggie (or three). Toppings are a great place to add produce to your dinner.
- Allergy-friendly. Taco bar is one of my favorite options to serve guests who have specific food needs – we can make it work for gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, and other specific dietary preferences.
- Customizable. Everyone gets to choose what to put in tacos! Set out all of the taco fixings and let everyone pick their favorites.
BEST TACO TOPPINGS
Let’s dig into some of my favorite taco toppings…
TACO BAR SAUCES AND SALSAS
Sometimes the sauce can make the meal, and it’s no different for tacos. Try one of these sauces for tacos recipes to take your tacos to the next level.
- Restaurant-Style Salsa (The best fresh salsa around)
- Salsa Verde
- Fresh Mango Salsa (Or make it pineapple salsa!)
- Lime Crema
- Cilantro Lime Dressing
- Nacho Vegan Cheese Sauce
- Homemade Hot Sauce
- Or be make your own blend of Greek yogurt and sriracha!
VEGGIE TACO TOPPINGS
Whether you make a taco salad piled high with veggies or just add some to your tortilla with your taco fillings, you have so many options that everyone can find something on this taco toppings list that they like!
- Fajita Veggies (classic mix of bell peppers, yellow onions, and mushrooms)
- Quick Pickled Jalapenos
- Shredded lettuce
- Sliced black olives
- Finely diced onions (red onions or white onions)
- Thinly sliced radishes
- Quick Pickled Red Onions
- Southwestern Corn
- Diced avocado
- Quartered cherry tomatoes
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Simple Guacamole or Creamy Guacamole
- Pico de gallo
- Shredded cabbage
- Cilantro Lime Coleslaw
TACO BAR IDEAS FOR TACO FILLINGS
If you’re going to add tacos toppings, first you need something to put those toppings on. Try one of these yummy taco bar ideas for filling!
- Ground Beef Taco Meat for the best beef tacos
- Salsa Chicken
- Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
- Korean Beef
- The Best Slow Cooker Carnitas
- Instant Pot Chicken Tinga for a fun twist to regular tacos
- Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas
- Salmon Tacos with Slaw (my favorite fish tacos)
- Spicy Shrimp Tacos with a kick!
You can make taco filling for those taco shells from almost any protein you choose – just season it with Homemade Taco Seasoning for amazing bold taco flavor!
RECIPES TACOS SIDES
Now that you’ve got the tacos, what about the sides? If you’re not sure what to have with tacos, try one of these.
- Spicy Citrus Black Beans
- Prefer pinto beans? Try Crock Pot Refried Beans
- Spanish Rice (aka Mexican rice)
- Cilantro Lime Rice
- Instant Pot Yellow Rice
- Tortilla Chips
- Cilantro Lime Coleslaw
And don’t forget the tortillas! Homemade Corn Tortillas and Flour Tortillas are staples around here, but Almond Flour Tortillas and Cassava Gluten Free Tortillas are great options, too!
TRACKING MACROS ON TACO NIGHT
Tacos are one of my favorite meals to eat, not only because of the flavor, but also because they’re so versatile when I’m tracking my macros. I can make taco night fit with whatever I need!
Need more protein? Add more meat or beans directly to your tacos or on the side.
What about fat? Sour cream, shredded cheese, and avocado will all add healthy fats to your plate. On the flip side, if you need a lower-fat meal, salsas and seasoned vegetables provide plenty of flavor, so you won’t be missing out if you need to skip the higher-fat condiments!
Watching your carbs? Enjoy corn tortillas (or flour tortillas, or rice) in moderation, and fill your plate with protein and plenty of fresh veggies. Pile your favorite taco toppings on a big pile of shredded lettuce for a yummy taco salad.
TACOS TOPPINGS FAQS
What do I do with leftover tacos toppings?
Add them to Tex-Mex Migas for breakfast, make a taco pizza for pizza night, use them for Baked Potato toppings, make a taco salad. You have plenty of options!
Pro-tip: Serve your toppings in bowls that have lids! That way leftovers can be simply covered and stored in the fridge.
What are traditional tacos toppings?
Shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice are common taco toppings, but as you can see from the list above, you can top your recipes tacos with all sorts of things!
Which cheese is best for taco recipes?
Any cheese you have! Shredded cheddar, pepper jack cheese, crumbled cotija cheese, or queso fresco are common choices.
MORE TACO RECIPES AND MEXICAN-INSPIRED DISHES
- Spicy Shrimp Tacos
- Easy Spicy Salmon Tacos
- Corn and Black Bean Tacos
- Enchilada Casserole
- Tamale Pie
- Tortilla Soup
- Sweet Potato and Black Bean Vegetarian Enchiladas
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