DIY Taco Bar for Your Wedding or Reception

Tacos are a popular choice for feeding large groups of people. They are universally liked and easily customizable. Putting together your own taco bar or buffet for you wedding dinner can be easy and more cost effective than hiring a caterer.

Before your wedding arrange to rent chaffing dishes. You will need enough of these special serving dishes for both the hot and cold items in your taco bar. Purchase Sterno canisters for the items that need to be kept warm. Rectangular chaffing dishes usually require two Sterno units. Put a few inches of water in the water pan and light the Sterno at least 20 minutes early to make sure the water is very hot to keep your food at a safe temperature. For the vegetables and salsa you will need to put ice in the water pan instead of water. You won't need the Sterno, of course. Chaffing dishes can be rented at event rental stores or purchased at restaurant supply stores. Renting is the cheapest and easiest option.

Start the beginning of the taco line with plates and have a choice of flour or corn tortillas for your guests to choose from. The next item on the line will be meat. Ground beef and turkey can be cooked in large batches ahead of time and reheated right before your event. Rent extra pans for your chaffing dishes to change out when the meat runs low. Offering black or pinto beans is a good idea to offer more choices and to accommodate vegetarian guests.

Vegetables and shredded cheese will be next in the line. Lettuce, tomatoes, onions and olives can all be chopped a day or two ahead of time. These will be served from the chaffing dishes with ice. Cheese can be purchased already shredded and can be served from a bowl with tongs.

Salsa and guacamole should also be served cold in chaffing dishes. Check to see if you can get half pans and serve them side by side in one dish. Most guests will appreciate mild salsa, but you may want to offer different levels of spiciness. Label them clearly.

Spanish style rice, beans and tortilla chips can be served as traditional side dishes to fill up your guest's plates. You can also choose a green salad instead. Toss iceburg and green leaf lettuce with drained canned corn and black beans and top with a Southwest style ranch dressing.

You could also have a chips and salsa bar with different types of salsas. Set this up on a separate banquet table and include small cups for your guests to fill with the salsa of their choice and either serve chips at the table or in large bowls at the individual guest tables. If you choose to put bowls on the tables have someone in charge of making sure they are always full especially if you are doing an open-house style reception and will have rotating guests at the tables.

Keep your drink options in line with your taco theme by offering sangria, margaritas or any tropical style drink like mango and pineapple smoothies. Make sure to also have ice water available. Spicy foods will have your guests drinking more.

You can make your DIY taco bar as elaborate or as simple as you like. Just make sure to have enough food since buffets tend to encourage guests to fill their plates.