Tex Mex Buffet for a Crowd

A favorite party food theme at my house is the Tex Mex Buffet. It’s a pretty simple buffet depending on your selections. I like to offer a few appetizers, a couple of composed salads, and a few hot main course items. You can purchase the taco shells, tortillas, tortilla chips, and hot sauces at your local grocery store. I like to make all the rest if I have time. With all that food, you just might not need dessert — yet I did include a nice minty fruit salad!

Serve these appetizers with plenty of Tortilla Chips for dipping:

Tomato Salsa — make a batch a day ahead of the party
My Favorite Guacamole — make the guacamole just before the party starts
Hot and Spicy Black Bean Dip — make the bean dip in a big Crock Pot so it stays hot throughout the party
Chile Con Queso with Smoky Chipotles — warm the chile con queso dip in a large Crock Pot as well.

Offer a few salads for the lighter eaters:

Festive Chicken Taco Salad — Layer ingredients in a large glass bowl with dressing on top
Tropical Mango and Avocado Salad — colorful and festive and tastes great as a salsa, too
Cowboy Smokehouse Salad with Pulled Smoked Pork — one of my favorite composed salads

Here’s a selection of hot main courses to offer on the hot side of the buffet.

Spinach and Mushroom Quesadilla — cut into wedges and serve warm or cold
Tex-Mex Tortilla Pizza — make several and cut into bite sized pieces
The Food Lover’s Award Winning Black Bean Chili — for the Crock Pot
Chicken and Spinach Enchiladas with Green Chile Sauce — make several batches
Spicy Black Bean Burgers — make bite-sized burgers and serve on slider rolls

And for dessert: a fresh Minty Fruit Salad

*******

You could also serve a Taco Bar set up on another table — it’s a party in itself!

TACO BAR:

Refried Beans
Chipotle Chicken
Ground Beef with Taco Seasoning
Shredded Monterey Jack and Cheddar Cheeses
Sour Cream or Mexican Crema
Chipotle Cream Dressing (from the Cowboy Smokehouse Salad — make additional as it’s great on tacos!)
Shredded Lettuce
Finely Diced Onions
Diced Tomatoes
Sliced Black Olives
Sliced Scallions
Sliced or diced Avocado
Chopped Cilantro
Tomato Salsa
Several Selections of Taco Sauce
Crispy Taco Shells
Flour and Corn Tortillas

Here’s my “map” for the Tex Mex Buffet table and the Taco Bar table:

Offer beer, sangria and margaritas, wear some sombreros, and have a great time!

For your Tex Mex Buffet Party, get a nacho chip warmer at Amazon.com!

www.afoodloversdelight.com (Copyright Adroit Ideals 2013)