Slow Cooker Walking Tacos

🌮What is a walking taco? 

A walking taco is everything you love about tacos—in "to-go" form. Instead of stuffing everything into a taco shell, you stuff it into individual-sized bags of your favorite chips. The bag acts as a drip-proof, portable container. All you need is a fork or spoon, and your taco becomes mobile! 

📝Shopping list

To make walking taco meat, you will need these simple ingredients available in any grocery store:

• extra lean ground beef*
• diced tomatoes 
• tomato paste
• taco seasoning - see below instructions if you want to make your own homemade taco seasoning
• garlic powder
• salt
• ground black pepper
• individual serving bags of tortilla or corn chips - Doritos and Fritos are popular options
• Taco toppings - all your favorites!
• plastic forks or spoons

🔪Instructions

This great recipe just involves a few simple steps:

Preparing Your Slow Cooker

Prepare your slow cooker by coating it with a non-stick agent.  Any nonstick cooking spray or oil will work. Olive oil and avocado oil are my go-to coatings. 

 NOTE: some slow cooker inserts come with a nonstick surface.  Use of a non-stick agent is still suggested. However, oil is sometimes recommended rather than spray to protect the longevity of the non-stick surface.  Check your slow cooker's manual if you have any concerns. 

Alternatively, you can choose to use a slow cooker liner.  

Cooking

• 🌮  Place lean ground beef into greased slow cooker and use a rubber spatula or wooden spoon to break it up
• 🌮  Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and all seasonings and give it a good stir
• 🌮  Cover and cook on low heat for 6 - 8 hours or high heat for 3-4 hours, depending on your timing
• 🌮  Stir and turn slow cooker to the warm setting for serving

Serving

• Use your hands to crush each bag of chips a bit before opening.  This will make it easier to eat with a fork.
• Open each bag and fold the edges down
• Serve your crock pot taco meat directly out of your slow cooker, buffet style.  OR, you can add the meat to each bag and let your diners add their favorite taco toppings
• Not a fan of eating out of a bag?  Just add your beef, toppings and crushed chips right onto a plate.  It makes a delicious Frito pie!  
• We love serving this game-day favorite next to Hot Dog Pull Aparts and Soft Pretzel Dip

🔝 Favorite toppings 

Here are some favorites to add into your taco bags.  Of course, this list could be endless - just add your personal favorites!

1. Sour cream
2. Shredded cheese
3. Sliced green onions
4. Black beans
5. Slice black olives
6. Kidney beans
7. Shredded lettuce
8. Chopped cilantro
9. Diced tomatoes
10. Pickled onions
11. Sliced jalapenos
12. Hot sauce

🔁Substitutions

• Raw ground beef can be substituted with raw ground turkey in this walking taco recipe
• Instead of individual bags, make a walking taco casserole by sprinkling crushed chips right on top of the taco meat in your slow cooker.
• Looking to lighten things up? Skip the chips and use your crockpot taco meat to make a taco salad instead. 
• Packaged taco seasoning and homemade can be used interchangeably. 

Storing

• Store leftovers of this perfect party food in an airtight container or zipper-top bag.  They will last 3-4 days in the refrigerator.  
• Frozen leftovers will last 3-4 months in the freezer. 
• For best results, defrost frozen leftovers in the refrigerator prior to gently reheating.   

😉Hints & hacks

1. Slow cooker liners are an optional but helpful hack whenever using a slow cooker. They allow you to cook with little to no cleanup. I like to buy mine in bulk for a cheaper per-piece price.
2. To avoid having super greasy taco meat, use the leanest ground beef you can find.  97% works well. 
3. To avoid scratching, use silicone or wooden utensils when mixing in your slow cooker.
4. Always double-check to ensure your slow cooker is plugged in and turned on!  Nothing is worse than coming home to a cold crockpot! 🤪