A little reason to celebrate

National Crunchy Taco Day

Food · March 21

A food day for the crunchy taco: a folded, fried corn shell filled with seasoned meat, lettuce, cheese and whatever else fits before it cracks.

National Crunchy Taco Day falls on Sunday, March 21, 2027. That is 145 days away.

The crunchy taco is a corn tortilla fried until crisp and set into a U shape, then filled. The usual filling in American kitchens is seasoned ground beef, shredded lettuce, cheese and a spoonful of salsa or tomato, though chicken, beans and roasted vegetables all work.

The shell is the whole point. It snaps on the first bite, and the second bite tends to send part of it onto the plate. Most people accept this and keep a fork nearby for the remains. Some tilt their head and lean in, others hold the taco level with two hands, and both methods lose a little lettuce.

Many families know the crunchy taco from a boxed kit with shells, seasoning packet and a jar of sauce, which made taco night a weekly habit in a lot of homes. Others fry their own shells by folding a soft corn tortilla in hot oil until it holds its shape. Homemade shells come out uneven and a bit sturdier, and they smell like fresh corn.

The order of fillings changes the eating. Meat goes in first so its warmth doesn't wilt the lettuce, and cheese laid directly on hot meat melts slightly and helps hold things together. Warming store-bought shells in the oven for a few minutes brings back the crunch they lose sitting in the box.

Ways to celebrate

Make a taco night at home with shells, fillings and toppings set out.
Try frying a corn tortilla into your own shell.
Warm store-bought shells in the oven before filling them.
Share a taco plate with a neighbor or coworker.
Try a new filling, like black beans or roasted squash.

Dates

Year	Date
2026	Saturday, March 21
2027	Sunday, March 21
2028	Tuesday, March 21
2029	Wednesday, March 21
2030	Thursday, March 21

All national days on March 21

Also on March 21

Categories: Food days