Looking for Healthy Tailgating Food? Try a Taco Bar
Tailgating food doesn’t have to be unhealthy, enter – taco bar. Hosting a taco bar for a tailgate can mean a mix of purchasing pre-prepared ingredients and making a few easy recipes at home. The key to a successful healthy taco bar is to offer a variety of lean proteins and vegetables in a tasty way. The size of street tacos make them excellent for portion control. Consider offering mixed greens for guests who prefer a to make their tacos deconstructed in a salad format.
These easy and delicious options will pack in nutrients for everyone at your next taco bar:
- Black beans
- 2-ingredient slow cooker salsa chicken (recipe below)
- Sheet pan fajita shrimp with pineapple and veggies (recipe below)
- Mixed greens for salad
- Salsas
- Fajita vegetables
- Cole slaw tossed in cilantro lime dressing with a kick (recipe below)
- Cilantro lime dressing with a kick as a sauce (recipe below)
- Diced tomatoes
- Shredded lettuce
- Diced onions
- Pickled jalapeños or banana peppers
- Low-fat shredded cheese
- Avocados
- Guacamole
- Diced pineapple
- Lime slices
For University of Michigan and Michigan State fans, flaunt your team colors with an A-maize-ing Pineapple Salsa with blue corn chips and a State Salsa Verde with white tortilla chips.
State Salsa Verde
Check out this Spartan-friendly recipe and serve with tortilla chips.
Ingredients
- 4 Roma tomatoes, diced (or 2 cups diced yellow tomatoes)
- 1 small red onion, diced
- 1 cup pineapple, diced
- 1 lime, juiced
- ½ cup cilantro, chopped
- 1 jalapeño, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
A-maize-ing Pineapple Salsa
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Serve with blue corn chips for the Wolverine spirit.
Ingredients
- 1 cup pineapple, diced
- 1 onion, thinly sliced
- 4 various color bell peppers, thinly sliced
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled, deveined and tail off
- 3 Tbsp store-bought low-sodium fajita seasoning
Sheet Pan Shrimp and Fajita Vegetables
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Spray a sheet pan with oil. Place vegetables and shrimp on top then sprinkle seasoning over.
Cook for ~8 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 12 oz can of salsa
- 3 chicken breasts
Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
Instructions
1. In a slow cooker, add the chicken and pour the can of salsa over.
2. Cook on low for 4 hours.
3. Shred chicken using a fork or potato masher.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 Tbsp honey
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 lime, juiced
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 cup cilantro, chopped
- 1 jalapeno
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cilantro Lime Dressing with a Kick
Instructions
1. In a non-greased pan over medium-high heat, place jalapeño and garlic cloves until jalapeño is slightly blistered and garlic is browned.
2. Combine all ingredients plus the jalapeño and garlic in a blender.
3. Serve as a dressing, dipping sauce or to top tacos.
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