Each year, Americans eat 4.5 billion tacos. That’s a lot of tacos! No doubt, many of those taco eaters are pint-sized. Tacos are a kid favorite.
Part of the appeal is that kids can help put them together and then they get to eat them with their hands.
For the classic version, try making all American beef tacos. Or go leaner with chicken tacos.
Make a big batch of slow cooker pulled pork tacos to feed a crowd. Or, what about filling them with seafood like shrimp tacos?
You can even have tacos after dinner – that’s right, try making dessert tacos.
All American Beef Tacos
Make your own taco seasoning mix with this recipe for all American beef tacos from The Food Network. Alton Brown, the king of all things culinary, recommends a subtly spicy mix of chili powder, cumin, hot smoked paprika, ground coriander and cayenne pepper. Brown ground beef and then add the seasoning mixture.
Chicken Tacos
Slice boneless, skinless chicken breasts into thin strips and crisp in a sauté pan. Stir in two cans of diced green chilies. Sprinkle with seasoning and then pair the cooked chicken with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes and a smattering of cheese in toasted corn tortillas. The final step behind these chicken tacos from The Pioneer Woman is to crisp them in hot oil.
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tacos
Pour two jars of salsa over a pork shoulder in the bottom of a Crock-Pot. Add chili powder, cocoa powder and dried oregano on top, then cook on high for four to five hours. Once these slow cooker pulled pork tacos from Real Simple are done shred and serve with warm, corn tortillas.
Shrimp Tacos
These shrimp tacos from MyKidsEatSquid are fast and easy to make – done in less than 15 minutes including cook and prep time! In hot oil, cook the shrimp until just pink and slightly crisped. Flavor with cumin and garlic powder. Squeeze with lime to finish it off before stashing the shrimp in corn tortilla shells.
Grilled Philly Cheesesteak Tacos
Merge two classic tastes with these grilled Philly cheesesteak tacos from Rachael Ray. Put thin strips of flank steak over a hot grill along with green bell peppers, onions and mushrooms. Off heat, add salt and pepper. Place the mixture into hard taco shells and top with shredded Monterrey Jack cheese.
Dessert Tacos
Tacos aren’t just for dinner! Here’s proof with this dessert taco recipe from Betty Crocker. Fill hard corn tortillas with vanilla ice cream. Add chunks of canned or fresh fruit like strawberries, peaches, pineapple, blueberries and blackberries. Top with a few chopped peanuts and a swirl of whipped cream. Don’t forget to drizzle with chocolate syrup!
My son isn’t very interested in cooking, he’s usually too busy playing to help. I’d love to change that though.
My kids are grown, but when they were younger they liked to help me bake, especially cookies. I love baking cookies, but decorating them isn’t my “thing”, so sprinkles, icing, etc was their “job”. We also liked to make pizzas and would put out bowls of toppings so they could make their own with whatever they wanted on them.
WOW! This came out so delicious! I do the same thing, taking inspiration from a recipe and then changing it up. I had some left over roasted sweet potatoes so I just carmelized onions, browned the turkey in a pan, added some other vegetables, red thai chili paste, and a bit of lemongrass (along with everything you put in the recipe) and it came out amazingly delicious! My fiance was shocked because I put it together rather quickly and it was so yummy .