Taco night just got a serious upgrade! Learn how to make a colorful, delicious taco board that will be the centerpiece of your next family dinner or party.
If you’re in the mood for a fun, interactive meal, the taco board is your answer! Whether it’s a casual get-together, a family dinner, or a celebration with friends, this DIY taco board is more than just a meal-it’s an engaging, mouthwatering experience that brings everyone together.
Imagine a big board packed with sizzling pulled pork, tender shredded chicken, fresh toppings, crunchy taco shells, and soft tortillas—ready for everyone to build their dream taco. It’s not just dinner; it’s an experience! To make it even easier, you can use my recipes for Slow Cooker Pulled Pork BBQ and Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos to create the perfect taco board centerpiece.
Here’s exactly how to make a taco board that’s easy, fun, and unforgettable.
Ingredients for the Perfect Taco Board
To make a taco board that’s bursting with flavor and color, gather the following essentials:
- Shredded BBQ Pulled Pork
- Shredded Chicken
- Taco Shells and Tortillas (offer a variety soft flour, corn tortillas, and crunchy shells)
- Shredded Lettuce
- Diced Tomatoes
- Salsa (classic tomato salsa or try my 5 Minute Salsa, mango salsa, roasted tomatillo salsa)
- Chopped Red Onion or Pickled Onions
- Fresh Cilantro
- Guacamole (try my own homemade fresh guacamole recipe)
- Queso
- Shredded Cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Mexican blend)
- Crumbled Queso Fresco
- Lime Wedges
- BBQ Sauce
Optional but excellent add-ons:
- Grilled vegetables
- Black beans
- Sour cream
- Chopped green onions
- Assorted hot sauces (mild to spicy)
How to Make a Taco Board Step-by-Step
Follow these easy steps to build your ultimate taco night board:
1. Make the Pulled Pork BBQ and Shredded Chicken
Prepare your proteins ahead of time! Use my easy recipes for Slow Cooker Pulled Pork BBQ and Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos. Both are tender, flavorful, and perfect for a DIY taco board!
2. Use a Large, Flat Surface
Start with a large wooden board, charcuterie board, big serving tray, or clean baking sheet. The bigger, the better—you want plenty of room to spread everything out beautifully.
3. Set Up Your Proteins First
Scoop the pulled pork and shredded chicken into separate small bowls. For balance, place them at opposite ends of your taco board.
Tip: Keep your proteins warm using mini crockpots, warming trays, or small chafing dishes.
4. Add Taco Shells and Tortillas
Stack warm flour tortillas, corn tortillas, and crunchy taco shells on one side of the board. Slightly warming the tortillas keeps them soft and pliable for easy filling.
5. Arrange the Toppings
Distribute shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, salsa varieties, onions, guacamole, queso, shredded Cheese, and crumbled queso fresco around the board. Use small bowls or create neat, colorful piles.
6. Finish with Garnishes
Scatter lime wedges and fresh cilantro strategically across the taco board for color, flavor, and an extra festive touch.
7. Include Extra Sides
Remember to include extras like tortilla chips, black beans, or a fresh corn salad nearby to round out the meal and provide a variety of flavors and textures.
Pro Tips for Building the Best Taco Board
Want to make your DIY taco board even more amazing? Here are a few expert tips:
- Offer Protein Variety: Add seasoned ground beef, grilled shrimp, or vegetarian options like black beans and roasted vegetables for more choices.
- Keep It Warm: Use warming trays or crockpots to keep proteins at the perfect temperature all night.
- Mix Taco Shell Options: Offer soft tortillas and crunchy taco shells for variety.
- Go Big on Toppings: Bright reds, greens, yellows, and oranges from fresh toppings make your board pop visually.
- Balance Textures: Mix crunchy elements (shells, lettuce) with creamy ones (guacamole, queso, sour cream) for a more exciting taco experience.
- Organize Smartly: Group similar items like salsas and toppings together so guests can easily build their tacos.
- Provide Utensils: Small tongs and spoons make it easy for guests to serve themselves without a mess.
- Decorate the Table: Use colorful napkins, fun plates, and themed decorations to make your taco night special.
Why You’ll Love a Taco Board for Family Dinners and Parties
- Interactive Fun: Everyone gets to customize their taco just how they like it.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: Great for birthday parties, casual weekends, Cinco de Mayo celebrations, or even weeknight family dinners.
- Easy to Prep Ahead: You can prepare most toppings and proteins ahead of time, making party day stress-free.
- Works for All Diets: With multiple protein and topping options, it’s easy to accommodate everyone’s preferences, including gluten-free or vegetarian guests.
Ready to Build Your Ultimate Taco Night Board?
Now that you know how to make a taco board, you can turn taco night into a delicious and festive event! Whether it’s a cozy family dinner or a lively party, a colorful, loaded taco board will impress your guests.
With your favorite toppings ready and the tortillas warmed, let the taco creation begin!
MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES TO TRY!
-
Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos
-
Easy Buffalo Chicken Tacos
-
Easy Taco Casserole Recipe
-
Easy Taco Soup Recipe
-
BBQ Meatballs Recipe
If you like this taco board idea – be sure to give it a review below! If you decide to try it, tag me on Instagram @hipmamasplace. I would love to see your creations!
Also don’t forget to follow Hip Mama’s Place on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter!
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How to Make the Ultimate Taco Board
Description
Make the ultimate taco board for a fun, easy taco night! Build a colorful DIY taco bar with pulled pork, chicken, and toppings—perfect for parties and family dinners!
Ingredients
Pulled Pork
Shredded Chicken
Taco Shells and Tortillas
Shredded lettuce
Diced tomatoes
Salsa
Chopped red onion or pickled onions
Fresh cilantro
Guacamole
Queso
Shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Mexican blend)
Crumbled Queso Fresco
Lime wedges
BBQ Sauce
Instructions
1. Use a large wooden board or big serving tray.
2. Start by placing proteins in bowls in the at opposite end.
3. Arrange tortillas and taco shells on one side.
4. Scatter toppings in small bowls or piles all around.
5. Add lime wedges, fresh herbs, and colorful garnishes for a festive look.
A former school teacher, Jocelyn Brown created Hip Mama’s Place in 2007. Her motto for this blog is: get inspired, create and share! Jocelyn loves sharing about food and recipes, crafts, DIY projects and her random travels with her family. She also loves all things social media, but her latest obsession is Instagram.
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We have friends visiting next weekend and I am thinking of serving some tacos as snack so, this is just perfect! I think will have a blast as well making their own. By the way, we don’t usually have guacamole for tacos but would love to give it a try. Thank you for sharing this.
What an amazing idea to create taco board. My friends love mexican food, will make this over a party that I am throwing next weekend..
me and my family I just love tacos, but I’ve never done it like this before! I love the simple instructions to do a taco board! I need to make one soon
That looks so good. I love the Protein Variety you suggest, they all sound so great. Who doesn’t love a good taco plate
That taco board looked amazing, definitely not your average taco night! I loved how you included a mix of proteins and toppings for everyone.
This taco board idea is such a fun and interactive way to serve dinner! I can’t wait to try it for my next party.
I haven’t had tacos in such a long time. I can’t wait to try this taco board! Thanks for sharing this!
This looks absolutely amazing! I love the idea of everyone building their own tacos—makes dinner feel like a little party!
This looks so delicious! My kids would really enjoy this taco board; I need to do this over the summer by the pool when the kids have their friends over for a swim party. Great idea!
I am glad I found this article! My son will be celebrating his birthday next week and we will be having a few of his friends over to celebrate. A taco board would be perfect for the boys! I will keep the recipe and make one again for Mother’s day.
A taco board is a great idea! I would love to put this together for my teens or a get together. Looks so delicious! Love all the details you thought of.
Author
Makes for a great conversation in get togethers. Thank you for stopping by, Marysa. 🙂
What a feast for the eyes! I love a good taco spread. This is so visually stunning, and I just know everyone at the table is going to enjoy every bite.
Author
Aww.. thank you, Natalie. Sometimes, the presentation is everything. But I promise you, the homemade meats in this taco board are must haves too! 🙂
What a great way to serve tacos at a party. The toppings that I would use are beans, rice, cheese, salsa, and avocado.
Author
Yup! Those are great suggestions for toppings. Thanks for stopping by, Tara. 🙂
That’s a cool idea. Everyone has their own way they like to make their tacos, and this lets everyone make the perfect ones for themselves.
Author
Right??? Totally and that’s the idea! 😀
I need to do this for sure. We love tacos here and this board looks scrumptious!
Author
Thank you, Amber. I hope I inspired you to plan your next taco night with the fam 😉
This is the coolest idea! I love the idea of going a taco board night, it’s the perfect way for everyone to make their own ‘custom’ tacos at the dinner table.
Author
Thanks, Michelle. My hubby and teens get so excited when I tell them “Next Tuesday is a taco night Tuesday!” 😀
I love the idea of a taco board! This is so clever, and definitely something I’ll be doing at my next get-together!
Author
Thank you, Emily. Please come back and comment here after you’ve tried it. Super appreciate it. 🙂
Yum! I never thought about making a taco board! This is genius for taco night and my house. Thank you for the fun idea and easy to follow and delicious instructions!
Author
Thank you for your sweet comments, Debbie. I hope you will try it some time soon. 🙂