A Healthier Walking Taco

Every Halloween for years we would invite a few families over for an early supper before heading out for the annual wonder of following children around to collect candy from neighbors and strangers. Usually I made a big pot of soup, chili, or the like. But one year I was looking for something different and found inspiration at the Texas State Fair, of all places. That’s where I was introduced to my first walking taco, a Tex-Mex mashup of chips, taco meat, and salsa. I developed my own spin on the subject, which resulted in a healthier walking taco. It’s become a party favorite, not just for Halloween, but birthday parties, game-day gatherings, and beyond.

A Healthier Walking Taco

A traditional  walking taco involves filling single-serving bags of Doritos with all the ordinary fixings for a taco, along with sour cream and salsa. You eat it straight from the bag. It’s kinda junkie and completely tasty.  My version has plenty of crunch and flavor, just with three healthier swaps.

1. Instead of Doritos, use single-serve bags of salted tortilla chips, mini bags of Harvest Cheddar Sun Chips (which don’t have the artificial colors and flavors of Doritos), or Siete tortilla chips. If you can’t find single-serve bags in the grocery store, look for them online. Alternatively, make your own bags by piling tortilla chips into wax paper bags).
2. Instead of ground beef, use a combination of ground turkey and cooked beans, and cut the amount of taco seasoning mix in half to minimize sodium.
3. Instead of the nacho cheese sauce in some walking tacos, use shredded Sharp cheddar cheese.

Can I Make a Vegetarian Walking Taco?

Yes! This is entirely adaptable for vegetarian diets. Here are two options:

• Double the amount of beans and simmer them with the water and taco seasoning mix until warm and saucy.
• Swap out the turkey and use Beyond burger or Impossible burger instead.

The end result looks and tastes like the Texas State Fair. Most importantly, it’s very fun and super tasty. It always gets a unanimous thumbs up from my most important critics, my kids.

For more healthier Tex Mex favorites, check out:

Sweet Potato Nachos

Oven-Baked Chicken Taquitos

Vegan Queso

Loaded Lentil Nachos

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Best (and healthier) Walking Taco

A savory, crunchy party food favorite inspired by the Texas State Fair. Assemble these for guests, or set it up as a buffet and let them do up their own. If you can't find single-serve bags of tortilla chips in your local market, you can find them online.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Tex Mex

Prep Time 25 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Servings 6

Author Katie Morford

Ingredients

• 3/4 pound ground turkey
• 1 cup cooked pinto beans
• 1/2 packet taco seasoning mix (see note)
• 2/3 cup water
• 6 one-ounce bags tortilla chips, Harvest Cheddar Sun Chips, Siete brand tortilla chips, or wax paper bags with 1 big handful of tortilla chips
• 1 cup grated sharp Cheddar cheese
• 2 1/2 cups chopped Romaine lettuce (crunchiest leaves)
• 1 medium chopped tomato
• Any of the following garishes: taco sauce, Mexican salsa, diced avocado, thinly sliced scallions, pickled jalapeños, sour cream, plain yogurt

Instructions

1. In a medium saute pan, brown the turkey meat over medium heat until cooked through. Add the pinto beans to the pan and sprinkle the 1/2 packet of taco seasoning mix over the top. Add the water and stir. Turn heat to low and simmer until the liquid absorbs into the mix and the flavors develop, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.

2. Use you hands to lightly crush the bags of chips to break them into bite size pieces. Use scissors to the top off of the mini bags of tortilla chips or Sun Chips .

3. To assemble, add a few big spoonfuls of the turkey/bean mixture to each bag. Divide the cheese among the 6 bags, followed by the lettuce and tomatoes. Add any of the garnishes (I'm partial to taco sauce, pickled jalapeños, and light sour cream). Use of a fork to give everything a good stir. Eat straight from the bag.

Recipe Notes

Read the ingredients on the label or buy at a natural foods market since some brands are made with MSG and other additives you may not want to eat.