Holiday Party Appetizers
Mini tacos in colors to match every holiday, from Thanksgiving and Christmas to New Year’s Eve, game day and the Fourth of July.
Our handmade mini taco shells come in six colors: yellow, white, red, blue, green and orange. Mix them to match any holiday and you’ve got a festive, one-bite appetizer that’s ready to fill with no heating or prep. Here’s how to dress them up for every celebration on the calendar.
Holiday by Holiday
Shell colors, a savory filling and a dessert idea for each celebration. For desserts, use our Sugar & Spice shells.
Thanksgiving
Colors: orange, yellow and red.
Try: The Gobbler, with turkey, cornbread stuffing, andouille and cranberry reduction.
Dessert: pecan mousse in a Sugar & Spice shell.
Christmas & Holiday Parties
Colors: red, green and white.
Try: Guinness braised short rib with shaved Brussels sprout slaw.
Dessert: cannoli cream with mini chocolate chips in a Sugar & Spice shell.
Hanukkah
Colors: blue and white.
Try: house cured salmon with radish, red onion and dill.
Dessert: sour cream cheesecake filling with raspberry coulis in a cinnamon sugar Sugar & Spice shell.
New Year’s Eve
Colors: white and yellow for a classy gold-and-white look.
Try: Maine lobster with crème fraîche and caviar, or blue fin tuna tartare with wasabi cream and yuzu tobiko.
Dessert: chocolate mousse topped with gold sprinkles in a Sugar & Spice shell.
Game Day
Colors: your team’s colors, like blue and yellow, red and white, or green and white.
Try: buffalo chicken or barbecue pulled pork.
Dessert: s’mores, with chocolate, marshmallow fluff and graham cracker crumbs in a Sugar & Spice shell.
Valentine’s Day
Colors: red and white.
Try: black pepper and grapefruit flank steak.
Dessert: chocolate mousse and fresh strawberries in a Sugar & Spice shell.
St. Patrick’s Day
Colors: green and white.
Try: Guinness braised short rib with pickled onions.
Dessert: mint chocolate mousse in a Sugar & Spice shell.
Easter & Spring
Colors: yellow, white and green.
Try: roasted root vegetables with pesto aioli.
Dessert: lemon curd and fresh berries in a Sugar & Spice shell.
Cinco de Mayo
Colors: green, white and red.
Try: chicken tinga with cotija and pickled red onion.
Dessert: dulce de leche and a dusting of cinnamon in a Sugar & Spice shell.
Memorial Day & Fourth of July
Colors: red, white and blue. Try a 50-count case of each.
Try: pulled pork, brisket, pulled beer can chicken or a fresh fish ceviche.
Dessert: whipped cream with strawberries and blueberries in a Sugar & Spice shell.
Halloween
Shells: our Sugar & Spice shells for a sweet treat.
Dessert: fill with pumpkin mousse, caramel apple or chocolate and whipped cream.
Birthdays & Graduations
Colors: all six, or school colors.
Try: a mix of crowd pleasers so everyone finds a favorite.
Dessert: cake batter mousse with rainbow sprinkles in a Sugar & Spice shell.
Find more recipes in our 28 mini taco filling ideas.
Holiday Color Chart
Quick reference for ordering.
| Holiday | Shell colors |
|---|---|
| Thanksgiving | Orange, yellow, red |
| Christmas | Red, green, white |
| Hanukkah | Blue, white |
| New Year’s Eve | White, yellow |
| Valentine’s Day | Red, white |
| St. Patrick’s Day | Green, white |
| Easter & spring | Yellow, white, green |
| Cinco de Mayo | Green, white, red |
| Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day | Red, white, blue (try a 50-count case of each) |
| Halloween | Sugar & Spice, filled as a sweet treat |
Holiday Display Ideas
Make the appetizer table part of the decorations.
Stripes & Patterns
Alternate colors in rows on a tray, like red and green stripes for Christmas or red and white with a blue corner for a flag.
Tiered Centerpiece
A wood step rack shows off 36 mini tacos, one color per tier.
Passed Trays
Our bamboo, walnut and stainless steel trays hold each taco upright for passing at parties.
Tip: keep extra trays in the kitchen, ready for the chefs to fill and swap in as tacos get eaten, so the display always looks full. Setting up a self-serve station? See our mini taco bar ideas.
Order Early for the Holidays
Holiday weeks are our busiest, and carriers slow down too.
Pick Your Colors
Use the chart above to choose your shells.
Plan Your Amounts
See our appetizer suggestions.
Order Early
You can order up to 3 months ahead. Watch for our holiday order deadlines at the top of the site.
Choose “I’m Planning Ahead”
At checkout, pick your event date and we’ll ship by Ground so your shells arrive a few days before.
Make This Holiday Season Delicious
Handmade mini taco shells in six colors, made fresh after you order and shipped nationwide.