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Feeding Hungry Teens

Pizza?  Burgers? Again??

Even my teenage boy gets sick of those from time to time.   It's true.  We're having a bunch of teenage dudes over tonight, and I decided to go outside the comfort zone of cheap, take-out pizza and do a build-your-own taco or nacho bar.

This works out really well, since we have a variety of tastes and dietary restrictions - everyone can customize their own!  Here's what I did - it's so very easy:
  • Shredded, seasoned chicken (a bunch of breasts in the crock pot with some garlic, onion, broth and taco seasoning, then shredded when cooked until tender)
  • Seasoned beef (a.k.a. taco meat!)
  • hard and soft tortilla shells, as well as tortilla chips and lettuce for alternatives (you can also do rice for a rice bowl or "naked" burrito)
  • cheese - shredded cheddar, jack and cotija (you coudl also use a nacho cheese sauce)
  • sour cream
  • shredded lettuce
  • sliced black olives
  • diced Roma tomatoes
  • taco sauce/Tabasco/salsa
  • sliced jalapenos
  • black beans
  • for the more adventurous you could add some picked red onions, sliced radishes, chopped fresh cilantro, etc.  (I didn't have those this time)
For the sides, we have chips & salsa, fruit, veggies, etc.  You can customize the toppings and sides to your liking.  Try it sometime, and put your own spin on it - this also works for a big crowd - I've done lunches for my husband's work team, a big ladies luncheon, etc.  Somewhere on here, I did a post on feeding a crowd, and there are a few other menu options - when I find it, I'll link it here.  In the meantime, enjoy a build-your-own taco bar!

P.S.  We built giant platters of nachos for a late night snack using the leftovers - it worked out perfectly!
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