Taco Bar Calculator

Your details

Count anyone 13 or older as an adult portion.
adults
Children eat roughly half an adult portion.
kids
Light parties eat about 25% less than average; hearty crowds eat about 30% more.
Each protein has a different cooked yield from raw weight.
Total tacos to prepare
75tacos

Based on 3 tacos per adult-equivalent, plus a 10% buffer

Effective guest count22.5adult-equivalents
Raw meat to buy7.91lbs
Hard taco shells38shells
Soft tortillas38tortillas
Shredded cheese4.69lbs
Salsa9.4cups
Guacamole4.7cups
Sour cream4.7cups
Shredded lettuce2.34lbs
Diced tomatoes / pico2.34lbs
Dry rice (sides)2.81lbs
Canned beans90oz (canned)
Raw meat (lbs)7.91
Cheese (lbs)4.69
Lettuce (lbs)2.34
Tomatoes (lbs)2.34
Dry rice (lbs)2.81

You need 75 tacos and 7.9 lbs of raw ground beef.

  • Plan for 75 tacos total, covering 20 adults and 5 kids at 3 tacos per person with a 10% buffer.
  • Buy 7.91 lbs of raw ground beef - the extra weight accounts for cooking shrinkage so you end up with the right cooked amount.
  • Set out toppings in small, replenishable batches rather than all at once; this keeps the bar looking fresh and reduces waste.

Next stepKeep meat warm in a slow cooker set to low while guests serve themselves.

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