Walking Taco

July 20, 2025mayurisjikoni
Blog post

Recipe: Walking Taco

Walking Taco is a fun portable snack or meal option. Flavourful chili and toppings are added to a bag of tortilla chips rather than a taco. Walk around with the bag and enjoy taco. An absolutely easy way to serve a snack for picnics, movie nights, while watching your favourite sports match, etc. All you need is a bag of Fritos, Dorito, Tostitos or Takis. Add toppings of your choice and you have a filling snack or meal.

Sharing Walking Taco With Sunday Funday

This Sunday our host is Camilla and she suggested the following “July 21st is National Junk Food Day. Share a favorite DIY recipe for junk food or a recipe that uses a junk food in its creation (think chip-crusted chicken wings or candy cocktails.” Truthfully, almost skipped the theme as we are trying to avoid junk food and couldn’t think of what to make that we would enjoy. Just 2 days before I was travelling to London, remembered I had jotted down a recipe for Walking Taco. Making the popular junk food at home is slightly  healthier as we can add fresh ingredients, use less salt, and a healthier fat.

 

Why Make Walking Taco?

  • First of all it is a fun recipe.
  • Secondly, if like me you’re going to buy ready made sauce, guacamole, etc then it is an absolutely easy peasy recipe.
  • For us it turned out more like a meal than a snack. So yes it does make a quick and filling meal option.
  • Add toppings, sauces, chile of your choice. I could have used canned bean chile but am not a fan of the flavours. Therefore made the bean chile at home using canned beans.
  • Anyone can make walking taco as it does not require cooking skills.

What Is Junk Food?

What is considered as junk food? Not all foods available at fast food restaurants or street food are considered as junk food. Some tend to be healthy like pav bhaji, bhel, mollete, Etc.

Food is considered Junk for the following reasons:

  • low in nutrients, lacking vitamins, minerals, fiber.
  • high in calories due to the amount of sugar, fat it contains.
  • high in sugar like pastries, donuts, brownies, cakes, etc.
  • high in fat, like deep fried foods. Most junk foods contain unhealthy fats.
  • high in sodium or salt. Like chips.

Some Homemade Junk Food Recipes You May Like

MUSHROOM POUTINE, VEGETARIAN
Mushroom Poutine is a vegetarian version of the classic poutine dish. The mushroom gravy does not contain any beef or chicken stock. Fries are served with mushroom gravy and cheese curd.
Check out this recipe
RAGDA PATTIS
Ragda Pattis is a popular street food from the states of Gujarat and Maharastra. Dried peas curry is poured over potato pattis, topped with some chutneys, sev and chopped onion. Usually served hot, it is a filling, healthy and delicious dish. I usually make it not as a snack but for dinner. This dish is also served in many fast food restaurants.
Check out this recipe
CHOLE BHATURE & CHOLE SPICE MIXTURE
Chole Bhature is a popular dish in the Northern part of India. Apparently, it originates from Delhi. Chole is a spicy chickpea curry and bhatura is a soft puffed up flatbread that goes with the chole.
Check out this recipe
PANEER SAMOSA
Paneer Samosa is a crispy and ultra tasty fried snack. The pastry is filled with soft paneer, peas and spices. Perfect as a starter, appetizer or as a snack. Best enjoyed hot with some chutney.
Check out this recipe
VATIDAR NA BHAJIA/ DAL BHAJIA
Deliciously crunchy, lentil or dal fritters, Vatidar Na Bhajia is a famous Mombasa Street Food. Enjoy piping hot with fresh coconut chutney, as an evening snack.
Check out this recipe
VIAZI KARAI | VIAZI KARANGA
Viazi Karai, Pack Potatoes or Viazi Karanga is a popular street food in Mombasa. Karai here refers to a basin or huge bowl or wok. Viazi in Kiswahili means potato. Boiled potato pieces are dipped in a batter of chickpea and plain flour, deep fried and enjoyed either with coconut chutney or tamarind chutney also known as ukwaju sauce/chutney.
Check out this recipe
MOMBASA MIX | CHANA MIX | ZANZIBAR MIX
Mombasa Mix is popular as street food in Mombasa. Nowadays it is much easier to find it at fat food restaurants. It is basically a brown chickpea potato curry cooked in coconut milk. It is then served with deep fried lentil fritters, coconut chutney and some chevdo. Chevdo is popular snack made of potatoes, lentil and flat rice with spices.
Check out this recipe
KENYAN STYLE MASALA CHIPS
Kenyan Style Masala Chips also known as chips masala, is a popular dish on most restaurant menus in Kenya. Easy to make, spicy and tasty. It is a must to try out these chips when you visit Kenya.
Check out this recipe
MAHAMRI/MANDAZI
Mahamri is basically like a doughnut but it is flavoured with coconut and cardamom powder. Doughnuts are ring shaped, but Mahamri is usually triangular in shape or sometimes round. Generally mahamri is enjoyed as a breakfast item on its own with tea or coffee or with mbaazi (pronounced as mmmbaaazi). Mbaazi is soaked pigeon peas cooked in coconut milk. 
Check out this recipe
ZEGE/ CHIPSI MAYAI
Zege/Chipsi Mayai is an unusual omelette which is not only tasty but its a meal on its own.Chips or French Fries are added to the omelette.
Check out this recipe

 

 

DIY Junk Food Made By Members of Sunday Funday

 

Some Topping Suggestions

  • meat chile
  • sour cream
  • pickled onion
  • pickled jalapeno
  • queso
  • mixed salad leaves
  • corn dip
  • chopped avocado, tomatoes, spring onion
  • stir fried tiny cubes of tofu or paneer
  • cooked sweet corn

 

 

Ingredients Required For Walking Taco

Tortilla Chips

Use any brand of your choice. Frito, Dorito, Yaki, My favourite is Dorito and opted for the cheese flavoured one.  You need the small snack size bags. The number of bags required will depend on the number of guests. Generally, it is one bag per person. I cut a wide slit on one side of the width of the bag. This makes it easier for people to pick up the taco with a fork or hand and enjoy.

Cooked Beans

Generally a meat chile is used but I replaced it with a bean one. I used canned black beans to prepare the chile. Can use either black or red beans. Or if you like go for the ready made chile of your choice. I made the chile using 1 can. Had some chile leftover which was handy in making a Mexican style Shakshuka.

Onion

Peel and finely chop some onion for the chile. I used ¼ cup chopped onion. Can use white, yellow or red. I used red onion.

Garlic

I added some finely chopped garlic to the chile for flavour.

Salsa

I used ready made salsa sauce to add to the bean chile.

Guacamole

Used store bought guacamole to keep in line with the theme, Junk Food. Not that guac is junk food.

Taco Seasoning

Add some to the chile if you have any.

Salt

Add according to your taste. Will need some for the chile. Be careful as the ready made sauce, guacamole and the chips will contain salt.

Fresh Coriander | Cilantro

Optional. I had some in the fridge so added it to the chile and as a topping.

Lettuce

Taco without salad leaves is incomplete, so added some chopped iceberg lettuce.

Cheese

I went for the shredded  Tex Mex cheese we get at my local supermarket. It has a blend of Monterey Jack, cheddar and mozzarella.

Spring Onion

Chop the spring onion both the white and green parts for topping.

 

 

 

 

 

WALKING TACO

mayurisjikoni
Walking Taco is a fun portable snack or meal option. Flavourful chili and toppings are added to a bag of tortilla chips rather than a taco. Walk around with the bag and enjoy taco. An absolutely easy way to serve a snack for picnics, movie nights, while watching your favourite sports match, etc. All you need is a bag of Fritos, Dorito, Tostitos or Takis. Add toppings of your choice and you have a filling snack or meal.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course dinner, Snack
Cuisine American, TexMex
Servings 2

Ingredients
  

  • 2 bags tortilla chips approx 180g each bag
  • 1 can black or red beans
  • 1 cup iceberg lettuce chopped
  • ¼ cup onion finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic peeled and chopped
  • ¼ cup spring onion chopped
  • 2 tbsp fresh coriander| cilantro chopped
  • ¼-⅓ cup cheese shredded
  • ½ cup guacamole
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp taco seasoning
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ cup salsa sauce

Instructions
 

PREPARE THE BEAN CHILE

  • Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a wide pan over medium heat.
  • Add the chopped onion and stir fry till it becomes soft and translucent.
  • Add the chopped garlic. Stir fry for 1-2 minutes.
  • Drain the beans into a colander. Run fresh water over them.
  • Add the beans to the pan.
  • Add the salt and taco seasoning Mix well..
  • Mash the beans lightly.
  • Add the salsa sauce. Mix well.
  • Allow the mixture to heat up well for 5 minutes over low to medium heat. Make sure you stir it in between.

PREPARE WALKING TACO

  • Lightly crush the chip bags between your palms.
  • Cut the corner of the taco chips and slit it open width wise.
  • Add the bean chile Add according to how much you prefer.
  • Add some chopped lettuce leaves.
  • Add some guacamole and cheese.
  • Top with some chopped spring onion and cilantro.
  • Walking Taco is ready. Enjoy.

Notes

  • You may have some leftover bean chile. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge and use it up for more walking taco. I generally use it up to make burrito, huevos rancheros or Tex Mex style shakshuka.
  • Add your favourite topping.
  • If you prefer, use ready made chile.
  • Don't use the really small snack size taco chip bags. It will hold enough of the toppings.
Keyword how to make walking taco, taco in a bag, taco recipe, walking taco

Pin For Later

 

 

 

A Small Request

If you do try this recipe then please either

  • add a comment below,
  • send a picture to my email mayuri.ajay.patel62@gmail.com
  •  tag me as #mayuri_jikoni on Instagram
  • or comment on Pinterest @mayuri62

 

 

 

 

8 Comments

  • Stacy

    July 20, 2025 at 12:32 pm

    What a great idea, Mayuri! We make Frito pie the same way, just homemade chili spooned into a small bag of Fritos but I like your healthier walking taco idea much better!

    1. mayurisjikoni

      July 24, 2025 at 5:53 am

      Thanks Stacy, added the lettuce as I cannot imagine taco with some salad. Turned out to be a perfect quick dish.

  • Wendy Klik

    July 20, 2025 at 4:40 pm

    Love walking tacos. Perfect for picnics and camping.

    1. mayurisjikoni

      July 24, 2025 at 5:52 am

      Thanks Wendy, we loved it too. So easy to make.

  • Shreena

    August 1, 2025 at 4:37 pm

    Genius!

    1. mayurisjikoni

      August 1, 2025 at 8:48 pm

      Thanks… it is such a delicious and quick snack or meal to make.

  • Amy’s Cooking Adventures

    August 10, 2025 at 8:34 pm

    Can;t go wrong with these! Love it!

    1. mayurisjikoni

      August 11, 2025 at 6:09 pm

      Thanks Amy and you’re absolutely right. Last weekend had several fillings and the guests made their own walking taco.

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