The Super Bowl is the biggest sporting event in the United States, with over 100 million viewers tuning in every year. It’s a day filled with football, commercials, halftime shows, and of course, food. Super Bowl Sunday is the second largest food consumption day in the US after Thanksgiving. The traditional Super Bowl foods like wings, pizza, and nachos are always popular choices for game day. But what about tacos? Are tacos considered a standard Super Bowl food? Let’s take a look at the history, stats, and opinions on this tasty game day option.
The history of tacos
Tacos have been around for centuries, originating in Mexico where they were a common street food. The first tacos were likely simple, made of corn tortillas filled with meat, vegetables, and salsa. Tacos became popular in the southwest United States, especially in Texas, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Their popularity spread across the country over the next several decades.
Traditional American tacos consist of a corn or flour tortilla filled with seasoned ground beef or chicken, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and other toppings. The taco shell has to be able to hold all the delicious fillings. The crunchy shells sold in kits at the grocery store weren’t invented until the 1940s.
The history of the Super Bowl
The Super Bowl began as an agreement between the established National Football League (NFL) and the newer American Football League (AFL) to merge their leagues. The first Super Bowl (though it wasn’t called that until a few years later) was played in 1967 between the NFL champion Green Bay Packers and the AFL champion Kansas City Chiefs. The Packers won that inaugural face-off between the leagues.
Over 50 Super Bowls have been played since then, gaining massive popularity through the decades. It’s now one of the most watched TV events worldwide every year. Food and drink are a big part of the experience, with viewers consuming an incredible amount of calories and spending more on food than any other day besides Thanksgiving.
When did tacos become a Super Bowl food?
Tacos weren’t an original iconic food for the big game like wings and pizza were. But over the years as Super Bowl parties became more elaborate, tacos emerged as a crowd-pleasing option for the event. By the 1990s, tacos had clearly earned their place on Super Bowl food spreads.
Their versatility makes them well-suited for a party buffet. Fillings can please meat lovers or vegetarians. Crunchy or soft shells suit different tastes. And tacos are handheld, easy to eat from a plate or while watching the game.
Super Bowl taco consumption stats
Americans eat an astonishing amount of food on Super Bowl Sunday. Here are some of the stats around tacos specifically:
- Over 50 million pounds of avocados are consumed on Super Bowl weekend, many of those in guacamole to top tacos.
- 654 million pounds of chicken wings are eaten on Super Bowl Sunday – that’s 120 million more pounds than the next biggest chicken wing day, the March Madness Final Four weekend.
- Up to 79 million Americans say they will eat snacks like nachos, dips, or tacos during the Super Bowl.
- In a survey, tacos came in 5th when people were asked to name their favorite Super Bowl foods. Here were the top 5:
- Pizza
- Wings
- Chips and dip
- Nachos
- Tacos
So while tacos may not beat out pizza or wings, millions of tacos will still be consumed on Super Bowl Sunday.
Super Bowl taco orders from restaurants and brands
Many restaurants and taco chains see a significant spike in sales around the Super Bowl. Here are some estimated taco order numbers:
| Restaurant/Brand | Estimated Super Bowl taco orders |
|---|---|
| Taco Bell | Over 8 million tacos |
| On The Border | Over 150,000 tacos |
| Del Taco | Over 500,000 tacos |
| Chili’s Grill & Bar | Over 200,000 tacos |
Several million tacos will be purchased from major chains alone, for convenience or to cater a Super Bowl party.
Are tacos considered an essential Super Bowl food?
Opinions are split on whether tacos are an essential part of the big game experience versus just an optional menu item. Here are some perspectives both for and against:
Reasons why tacos are essential for the Super Bowl:
- Tacos are versatile with many fillings, allowing them to please different tastes and diets.
- They are easy to make for a crowd, either homemade or purchased.
- Tacos are finger food that are easy to eat while watching the game.
- Taco bars allow guests to customize their tacos at a party.
- Tacos feel casual and game day appropriate.
Reasons tacos aren’t essential:
- They aren’t one of the original iconic game foods like wings, pizza, nachos, or chili.
- Tacos can be messy with fillings falling out, which may frustrate some people trying to focus on the game.
- Shells can break and crack, turning tacos into more of a salad.
- They require some assembly, versus grab-and-go finger foods.
Expert opinions on tacos for the Super Bowl
To get a professional take, here are some thoughts from food experts on whether tacos should be considered a Super Bowl staple:
In favor:
“Tacos check all the boxes for a perfect game day food. They’re customizable, hand-held, and full of flavors like spicy salsas and cool guacamole that keep you wanting more during a long game.” – Chef Jose Andres, ThinkFoodGroup
“Tacos bring a fun, casual vibe to your Super Bowl spread. Just like pizza and wings, they’re hard to eat neatly which adds to the laid-back experience of game day.” – Jordana Rothman, Food Writer, NY Times
Not essential:
“While tacos have certainly emerged as a popular Super Bowl option, I wouldn’t put them in the same tier as true classic game foods. Tacos feel more like a trendy millennial choice versus a household tradition.” – Guy Fieri, Celebrity Chef
“Tacos are tasty but temperamental as game food. One false bite and your delicious fillings go spilling everywhere. I’d rather focus on the action than worry about toppings falling into my lap.” – Sunny Anderson, Food Network Host
The experts seem divided on how essential tacos really are for the occasion versus just being one option people enjoy.
Most popular taco fillings for the Super Bowl
While chicken, steak, fish, and vegetarian tacos certainly get eaten on Super Bowl Sunday, these tend to be the most popular taco fillings for game day:
Ground beef
Seasoned ground beef is a Super Bowl taco staple. It’s simple, satisfying, and goes well with classic taco toppings. Fans who grow up eating seasoned ground beef in tacos and chili will especially crave that comforting filling.
Shredded chicken
Chicken is one of the most popular proteins for tacos in general, so it’s no surprise shredded chicken ranks high for Super Bowl tacos. Slow cooker chicken is an easy way to prepare shredded chicken ahead for party tacos.
Carne asada
Marinated, grilled steak is a favorite taco filling. Carne asada brings a more upscale vibe to Super Bowl tacos. Skirt or flank steak are typical cuts used for carne asada.
Carnitas
Braised, seasoned pork like carnitas provides a succulent, flavorful taco filling. Pork tacos pair nicely with typical toppings like guacamole, pico de gallo, and hot sauce.
Barbacoa
Shredded barbacoa beef is a popular filling, providing a smoky, spicy-sweet flavor profile. It’s commonly made by braising beef cheeks or brisket until tender.
Chorizo and potatoes
Spicy chorizo sausage and tender potatoes make a hearty taco filling. This vegetarian chorizo and potato taco is also a hit.
Crispy fish
For a lighter filling option, fried white fish or cod is delicious in tacos. Cabbage slaw and chipotle crema pair nicely with crispy fish.
Shrimp
Sauteed spiced shrimp or blackened shrimp tacos bring seafood flavor to the party spread.
Popular taco toppings
Beyond the fillings, the toppings help make tacos a can’t-miss Super Bowl food:
- Guacamole
- Pico de gallo
- Sour cream
- Shredded cheese like cheddar, Mexican blend, pepper jack, or queso fresco
- Salsa
- Jalapeños
- Cabbage or lettuce
- Avocado slices
- Lime wedges
- Cilantro
Don’t skimp on the toppings bar for build your own taco fun.
Most popular taco shells
You don’t just have one taco shell option for game day. Here are go-to shells for Super Bowl tacos:
Hard shells
Whether homemade or the kit varieties, crunchy hard shells are taco classics. They contain fillings well when eaten right away. Hard shells give that crispy, satisfying texture.
Soft flour tortillas
Flour tortillas make easy grab-and-go soft tacos. Their larger size keeps fillings wrapped up securely. Flour tortillas hold up well in a warmer.
Soft corn tortillas
Small street taco size corn tortillas offer an authentic touch. Their petite size lets you easily eat multiple tacos. Just plan to serve them fresh.
Lettuce wraps
For lower carb tacos, use lettuce leaves like bibb or butter lettuce as fun taco shells.
Most popular ways to serve Super Bowl tacos
Serving up your game day tacos? These are crowd-pleasing ways to present them:
Taco bar
Let guests build their own tacos with provided fillings, toppings, shells, and sauces. This works for large or small crowds.
Passed appetizers
Have someone pass bite-sized tacos during pre-game mingling. Mini tacos are handheld starters.
Individual orders
Each guest can customize an order of 2-4 tacos however they like them.
Tacos as the main dish
For a casual crowd not looking to snack all day, serves tacos as the hearty main meal either before or during the game. Provide lots of fixings.
Tacos with sides
Offer several taco fillings along with complementary sides like:
- Chips and guacamole
- Esquites (Mexican street corn)
- Rice and beans
- Queso dip
- Mexican salad
This gives a more rounded meal but still keeps tacos the star.
Are breakfast tacos a good option?
With the Super Bowl starting late in the afternoon, breakfast tacos are a fun twist. Try fillings like:
- Scrambled eggs and bacon
- Egg, cheese, and potato
- Chorizo and egg
- Scrambled egg and black bean
- Hash browns and sausage
- Barbacoa
- Steak and egg
Breakfast tacos feel vibrant for a morning pre-game meal. Not just for mornings, the fillings also appeal for snacking through the game.
Dessert taco options
Tacos don’t have to disappear when the game ends. Sweet Mexican dessert tacos are a fun way to cap off your taco bar. Try offerings like:
- Cinnamon sugar apple with caramel
- Chocolate and banana
- Strawberry with whipped cream
- Ice cream taco with hot fudge
- S’mores taco
Kids will especially appreciate the chance to build their own dessert tacos.
Conclusion
Tacos have certainly earned their place in the roster of Super Bowl foods. Their adaptability to please all tastes and diets gives tacos an advantage. Tacos feel fun, casual, and easy to make or order for a crowd. While they may not have the decades-long history of classic game foods like wings and nachos, tacos have become a staple part of modern Super Bowl spreads. Their popularity on the biggest snacking day of the year proves that tacos deserve a spot among the essential foods of Super Bowl Sunday.
