Taco in a bag!
For the past month or so you may have noticed that Taco Bell has introduced a new item on their menu: a taco with a crunchy shell made out of Doritos. The commercials talk about how “finally” they realized to combine two great things, Doritos and taco meat, into one delicious package. What Taco Bell failed to realize was that North Dakotans have been combining Doritos and taco meat for years before their “original” idea. How you may ask? Well, the answer is simple. Taco in a bag.
For those of you not familiar with the delicious cuisine of taco in a bag, you are not alone. I first came upon taco in a bag about a week or so into my relocation to Fargo when I attended a local festival. As I was ordering my familiar corn dog with a side of fries, I saw out of the corner of my eye what appeared to be patrons eating something out of a Doritos bag with a fork. I was instantly curious. When I reported my findings back to some locals they laughed and said, “Oh, yeah. That’s taco in a bag.”
What exactly is taco in a bag you ask? Well, its pretty simple.
1. Take a personal size bag of Doritos (or Fritos in some cases) and crunch them up a little bit.
2. Open the bag (I suggest cutting it lengthwise rather than opening the top normally) and top with ground beef with taco seasoning.
3. Top with cheese, lettuce, sour cream and any other fixings you would typically adorn a taco with.
4. Enjoy.
Still not sold on taco in a bag? I don’t blame you. In fact, it took me over a year and a half to try it for myself. Give me tatortot hotdish or beer with a pickle any day, but taco in a bag was just plain weird. Finally, about a week ago, I could take it no longer. It was time to see what all the fuss was about. I opened the bag, topped with the fixings, and took a bite. The verdict? Life changing.
So Taco Bell, I know you think you are being super “innovative” but I hate to break it to you, North Dakotans already beat you to it. And what makes this delicacy worlds better than its Taco Bell cousin is the simple fact that taco in a bag is not only delicious but practical too. I mean, try eating a taco on the go without getting messy.
Mother of God…This is life changing. Why haven’t any of my in-laws told me about this!?
Haha thanks for reading!
Why the big deal about this ,the “Taco Shop” has had them for awhile
We have used “Taco in a Bag” at our open house events (graduation, anniversary party, etc.) as well as pot luck buffets at work. It is a great idea for any buffet style entertaining.
You should try a taco in a bag from the Taco Shop stand when you’re watching the F/M Redhawks. The Taco Shop also sells them at their 4 locations if you’re not in the mood for baseball.
Taco in a Bag are GREAT! The name walking taco just sounds stupid…
The first time I heard Walking Taco, I was really confused. It’s not a life changing experience for me, but maybe if they’d called it Taco In A Bag, it would have been better! I “get” the reference to “walking” around with a taco, but I still think TIAB is a better moniker.
We call them ‘Walking tacos” in Iowa. They have been a staple in the concession stand at our school for years! And we use the warm nacho cheese. Yum!!
I grew up in Fargo with tacos in bags…
At one point I moved to Arkansas, and found out they have they have a version with Fritos and chili. They call it Frito Pie.
Now I’m in New York. The thought of any sort of foodstuff served in a chip bag weirds them out.
This sounds like the mobile and taco equivalent of the “Frito Chili Pie” which I learned to love in Oklahoma. I continue to be amazed at how many North Dakota-isms you manage to find that I’ve never seen in my entire North Dakota-centric life!
Frito Chili Pie
===============
1 bag Fritos
Chili (with beans for normal people, without for wimps)
Chili Fixins (cheese, sour cream, etc)
Dump a bunch of Fritos into a soup bowl. Scoop chili on top. Add fixins to taste. Enjoy.
Alternate serving suggestion, based on this article: Instead of dumping Fritos into a bowl, gently crush then slit open the side of a single serving sized bag of Fritos, keeping the Fritos in the bag. Apply chili and fixins as before.
We totally had taco in a bad at my junior prom…
Hmm. . .that’s a new one! I’ll have to try it.
I first had a taco in a bag in the late 90′s at the race track in Alex. They called them “racer tacos”
We use Taco In a Bag as fabulous fundraisers in our community! Everyone loves them!
We have the same thing in South Dakota, but call them “walking tacos.” Also, we usually use the nacho cheese instead of shredded. Both versions are equally good.
My thought, exactly!
Why “walking taco”? Because you can eat the thing while strolling along Mitchell’s Main Street during Corn Palace Week without dropping all the innards on your shirt!
Nacho cheese? Oh my gosh… that sounds amazing!
They’ve pretty much become THE thing for fundraisers, too.
We have used Taco in the bag in Minnesota for years so I think North Dakota copied lol
Good point. Maybe I shouldn’t have just let North Dakota get all the praise for Taco in a Bag.