Are you hosting a Taco Tuesday, Cinco de Mayo, or Mexican-themed party and you’re trying to figure out how much taco meat per person? We agree that making sure there’s enough food to serve at your party is of critical importance. Keep reading to find out how to calculate taco meat per serving, what other taco toppings you can use, how to keep taco meat warm, how to use leftovers, and more!
We’re big fans of Mexican food and tacos are one of our top favorites! We don’t need an excuse such as a Cinco de Mayo party to enjoy tacos.
However, if I’m hosting a large get-together and tacos are on the menu, I feel like calculating the number of servings is the best way to make sure my guests won’t be starving.
It’s also the easiest way to prevent ending up with too many leftovers.
How Much Meat Per Person?
The average serving of cooked meat per person is 4 ounces. A typical taco can hold around 2 ounces of meat with toppings.
Assuming you’re serving other sides (or even mains), you’ll need 2 standard-size tacos per person.
What is taco standard size, you might ask? The standard-size tacos are made using 8-inch corn tortillas.
All the calculations above are for cooked meat. Meat loses about 25% of its weight during cooking, you’ll need 5.33 ounces of raw meat to get 4 ounces of cooked meat.
To simplify the math, let’s convert ounces to pounds. 5.33 ounces equals 0.333125 pounds which is pretty close to 1/3 pound. Now, let’s calculate again.
1 serving of cooked taco meat (4 ounces) = 1/2 cup = 2 tacos
4 ounces cooked taco meat = 5.33 ounces raw meat = 1/3 pounds raw meat
As you can see, the 1/3 pound of raw meat converts to 1/4 pound (4 ounces) of cooked taco meat which is the amount you’ll need per person.
When making the tacos, you’ll need to add half per taco, which is roughly 1/4 cup.
Note: You’ll want to increase the serving size to 3 tacos per person if this is the only food you’re serving, you might have extra guests or a larger young crowd.
| # Servings | #Tacos | Raw Meat | Cooked Taco Meat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 1/3 lb. (5.33 ounces) | 4 ounces (1/2 cup) |
| 2 | 4 | 2/3 lb. | 8 ounces (1 cup) |
| 5 | 10 | 1 2/3 lb. | 20 ounces (2 1/2 cups) |
| 10 | 20 | 3 1/3 lb. | 40 ounces (5 cups) |
| 25 | 50 | 8 1/3 lb. | 100 ounces (12 1/2 cups) |
| 50 | 100 | 16 2/3 lb. | 200 ounces (25 cups) |
| 100 | 200 | 33 1/3 lb. | 400 ounces (50 cups) |
How Much Do I Need For 2 People?
Now that we have the base formula, it’s easy to calculate the amount of taco meat needed for several people.
For 2 people, you’ll need 2/3 pounds of raw meat or 1/2 pound of cooked taco meat. You’ll be serving two tacos per person, and each will be holding 1/4 cup of cooked meat along with other toppings.
How Much Do I Need For 10 People?
For each person, you’ll need 1/4 pound of cooked taco meat or 1/3 pound of raw meat. Multiplying by 10 you get:
10 servings of taco meat (20 tacos) = 2 1/2 pounds cooked meat = 3 1/3 pounds of raw meat
How Much Cheese Per Person For Tacos?
When serving tacos or making a taco bar, plan for 1 ounce of cheese per taco. For an average serving of 2 tacos, you’ll need 2 ounces of cheese per person.
Tip: You don’t even need to do the math yourself. Use this handy taco bar calculator and it will tell you the needed quantities for taco meat and other popular ingredients such as cheese, beans, lettuce, onions, and salsa.
How To Keep Taco Meat Warm
The easiest way to keep taco meat warm for your taco bar is using a slow cooker, or instant pot on the warming setting.
You can also use a warming tray, wrap it in aluminum foil and place it in the indirect heat zone of your grill with a closed lid, or keep it warm on the stovetop in a saucepan with a lid on low heat.
According to the USDA, the “danger zone” for cooked foods is between 40°F and 140°F. You shouldn’t leave food out at room temperature for more than 2 hours so be sure to refrigerate it well before that.
Popular Taco Toppings
One of the best things about tacos is you can customize them in so many ways. That’s why taco bar parties are so fun!
With or without a bar, these toppings are some of the most appreciated and your tacos can turn out very different depending on the combinations you use.
Meat
While vegetarian tacos can be incredibly delicious, most recipes include meat.
For a taco bar, it’s a good idea to spread the total quantity of meat into different types and offer your guests some variety.
Here are some popular options:
- Ground beef with taco seasoning
- Diced or sliced beef steak
- Shredded or diced chicken breast
- Rotisserie pork – The famous taco “al Pastor” is made with sliced marinated pork you can find in many Latino grocery stores.
- Chorizo – This style of taco typically uses ground pork meat with Chorizo seasoning.
- Shredded or diced fish – Salmon and trout are two of the tastiest options.
- Jackfruit – A tropical fruit becoming more and more popular thanks to the meat-like properties it gets when cooked. Grilled jackfruit is often used as a vegan alternative to steak and pulled pork, and also works as a ground meat substitute for tacos.
Cheese
What cheese you use will have a significant effect on your taco’s flavor. If you’re hosting a taco bar, having 2-3 options on the table is a good idea.
- Queso Fresco – A fresh cheese that will add creaminess and a milky flavor to your tacos.
- Cotija – A similar cheese but this one is aged and often sold pre-grated, like Parmesan.
- Chihuahua – A yellow, firm cheese with a strong flavor similar to cheddar.
- Monterey Jack
- Cheddar
- Colby Jack
- Gouda
- Provolone
There are no set rules when it comes to the best type of cheese for tacos. You’re always welcome to try other types and if you do, we’d love to hear about it in the comments!
Rice
Rice makes tacos more filling and also adds a lovely soft texture. These are among the best types to use for tacos:
- Brown rice
- White long-grain rice
- Mexican rice
- Cilantro-lime rice
Beans
Beans are a common taco topping and you should have at least 1-2 types at a taco bar.
- Black beans
- Pinto beans
- Red kidney beans
- Refried beans
Vegetables
Veggies will add texture and a depth of flavor to your tacos, on top of excellent nutrition. Try some of these toppings for a lightened up taco with extra vitamins and minerals!
- Tomatoes
- Avocados
- Corn
- Onions
- Jalapeños
- Radishes
- Red cabbage
- Black olives
Fruit
These fruit pair with various taco fillings and they’re great for keeping this Mexican dish fun and interesting. Alternatively, use a fruit salad topping made with several types.
- Mango
- Pineapple
- Papaya
- Watermelon
- Pomegranate
- Kiwi
- Grapefruit
- Apples
Sauces
Sauces make foods more palatable and the same applies to tacos. These are highly appreciated options that will add the final touch to your amazing tacos!
- Sour cream
- Salsa – There’s an impressive number of variations and you can try a different one every time you make tacos.
- Guacamole
- Taco sauce – A storebought salsa-style sauce you can find from various brands.
- Cheese sauce
- Tabasco
- Tzatziki
- Chipotle mayo
How To Freeze Taco Meat
When you have way too many taco meat leftovers it’s worth freezing some.
Divide them into 1-2 serving portions and place them in freezer-safe containers or freezer bags. Frozen taco meat stays good for up to 6 months in the freezer so don’t forget to label the bags/containers.
When you want to use leftover taco meat, either let it thaw in the fridge for 24 hours or in the microwave on the defrost setting.
What To Do With Leftovers
It’s okay if you have some extra taco meat since it’s a good ingredient to have for many easy meals.
You’re not just preventing waste, you’re also making use of food you already made, ultimately resulting in less time spent in the kitchen. Here are some great ways to use leftover taco meat:
- Taco soup
- Taco bowls
- Taco casserole
- Taco salad
- Stuffed potatoes
- Taco pizza
- Taco lasagna
- Walking tacos
- Taco lettuce wraps
F.A.Q.
6 tacos. The typical taco can hold 2 ounces of cooked meat along with other toppings. This equals 1/6 pound of raw meat. As a result, you’ll need 1 pound of raw meat to make enough cooked meat for 6 tacos.
You’ll need roughly 33.3 pounds of raw meat to feed 100 people, based on a serving of 2 tacos per person.
A typical serving consists of 2 tacos (each containing 2 ounces of meat), assuming you are serving other side dishes.
Beer and margaritas are two popular drinks commonly served with tacos. Other options you can try include Mezcal, Sauvignon Blanc, and Mexican Martini.
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