Jul 14 2026

Walking Taco Recipe

Time40m
Serves4

Doritos®, Choice of Carne Asada, Carnitas or Chicken; Garnished with Queso, Pico de Gallo and Jalapeño

Was this page helpful?

Help improve this recipe for others.

Send this recipe to your inbox.

We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.

Ingredients

Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Proteins (choose one)

Method

Prepare the protein

  1. 1

    Carne Asada

    If using carne asada: Pat 1 lb steak dry, season both sides with 2 tbs adobo/steak seasoning and a pinch of salt and pepper. Heat 1 tbs vegetable oil in a heavy skillet or grill over high heat until just smoking. Sear steak 3–4 minutes per side for medium-rare (time varies by thickness). Remove to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes, then thinly slice across the grain into bite-sized pieces.

  2. 2

    Carnitas

    If using carnitas: Warm 1 lb shredded slow-cooked pork in a skillet over medium heat with 1 tbs of the cilantro-lime marinade (or pan juices) until slightly crisp at edges, about 5–7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

  3. 3

    Shredded Chicken

    If using shredded chicken: Warm 1 lb cooked shredded chicken in a skillet with 2–3 tbs cilantro-lime marinade (or a splash of chicken broth) until hot, about 3–5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Make the pico de gallo

  1. 4

    Combine 1 cup diced Roma tomatoes, 1 tbs finely diced onion, 2 tbs chopped cilantro, 1 tbs fresh lime juice, 0.5 tsp salt, and 0.5 tsp minced jalapeño in a bowl. Stir, taste, and adjust seasoning. Let rest 10 minutes for flavors to meld.

Prepare queso and cheese

  1. 5

    Warm 3 tbs queso in a small saucepan over low heat or in a microwave-safe bowl in 15–20 second bursts, stirring until smooth and pourable. Keep warm. Have 1 cup shredded cheese ready to sprinkle over chips.

Assemble the walking tacos

  1. 6

    Open individual portions or small bags of Doritos (about 8 oz total for 4 servings). If using large bags, portion roughly 2 oz (a small handful) per serving in single-serve paper or foil containers or keep in the bag for a true walking-taco experience.

  2. 7

    To each bag/container, add a generous 4 oz (by weight) portion of the chosen hot protein (carne asada, carnitas, or chicken).

  3. 8

    Drizzle about 3/4 tbs queso over the protein on each portion, then sprinkle roughly 1/4 cup shredded cheese over the top so it melts slightly from the heat of the meat.

  4. 9

    Top each portion with 2 tbs pico de gallo, 1/2 tbs pickled jalapeños, and 3/4 tbs sour cream or crema.

  5. 10

    Garnish with extra sliced jalapeño if desired and serve with lime wedges for squeezing over the top.

Serving & notes

  1. 11

    Serve immediately while meat is hot and chips are still crisp. If preparing for a crowd, keep proteins warm in a low oven (200°F / 95°C) or crockpot, and assemble on demand to avoid soggy chips.

More from Magnolia's Veranda at Four Queens