This Taco Salad is the best of both worlds–Tacos and Salads! Imagine your favorite hearty taco made into a salad bowl. Our Taco Salad recipe is loaded with fresh veggies, ground beef, taco chips and a creamy salsa dressing. So crazy delicious!! Video and step by step recipe below!
We usually make tacos about once a week and when I shared my Birria Tacos–so many of you have made it and fell in love with it too! Then came our absolute favorite twist : Lamb Birria 🙂 If you love tacos, those are top of the list to make NOW!!
A super light dinner would be Air Fryer Fish For Air Fryer Fish Tacos. My favorite go to Mexican meal would be Fajita Bowl made with chicken, along with this MUST make Crunchwrap Supreme loaded with Nacho Cheese Sauce Recipe.
Now let’s talk all about tacos and salads and today’s star recipe!
Why Taco Salad Recipe
This taco salad recipe is amazingly healthy and fulfilling. It is the perfect choice for days when you feel like tacos, but can’t yourself to assemble them. Or when you want to make dinner ahead of time.
It’s super versatile that you can add or swap your favorite ingredients and it would still taste so GOOD!!
So many ingredients can be made ahead of time like the ground beef or lamb which is the same one I used in this Crunchwrap Supreme. Plus the Nacho Cheese Sauce Recipe which is optional but so good!
This taco salad recipe is loaded with so much protein, it’s rather a full meal! Plus you can make it vegetarian or even vegan so easily and enjoy all the nutritional goodness it offers.
It literally takes just a few minutes to assemble and there you have it!
So on busy days, this meal feels just right! And to make it wholesome, flavorful, and protein-packed, you can add ground beef or lamb too!
Taco Salad Ingredients
- Cooked Ground Beef or lamb — I used the same on from my popular Crunchwrap Supreme
- Lettuce — I used Romaine, chopped up roughly
- Tomatoes — any type would work.
- Corn –fresh or frozen or even canned would work.
- Black beans –if canned, drained and rinsed , or use freshly cooked.
- shredded cheese or Nacho Cheese Sauce Recipe
- Onions –diced
- Jalapeños –sliced
- Avocados –diced
- Tortilla chips –Spiced or plain, crushed roughly
- Cilantro –Torn leaves
How to Make Taco Salad
Simply toss all ingredients above together which include: some lettuce, tomatoes, cooked ground beef or lamb, cheese, corn, black beans, onions, jalapenos, and cilantro in a bowl.
Throw in your favorite chips for some crunch, and your low-carb, high-protein salad is ready!
But wait! Don’t forget to drizzle some creamy dressing!
Dressing for Taco Salad
You’ll need
- sour cream –you could use Mayo but I find sour cream to be creamier and fresher in taste.
- salsa –don’t for get to try my Homemade Salsa
- lime juice
- salt
Just mix all together and it’s ready!
How to Make a Taco Salad Bowl
To finish the dish drizzle the dressing generously on top of your plate. Lightly toss together, and ta-da! Your creamy, protein-packed bowl full of goodness is ready to devour!
Vegan Taco Salad
You can make the vegan version of this recipe even if you’re vegan or vegetarian. All the ingredients remain the same for the vegan taco salad, but instead of ground beef or lamb, you can use vegan meat and vegan cheese.
Fiesta Taco Salad
You also have the choice of alternating some of the ingredients with low-fat versions to turn it into the fiesta taco salad. You can use reduced-sodium taco seasoning instead of the regular one and switch the cheese with low-fat sharp cheddar. For the sour cream, you can use reduced-fat sour cream.
Layered Taco Salad Recipe
Now, if you’re making this for a potluck supper or having guests over for dinner, you would definitely want a plate with some presentation. This is where the layered taco salad recipe comes in!
All you need is a trifle dish. Simply place the ingredients one by one in the dish in layers. For instance, layer the bottom with lettuce, then make a layer of tomatoes, followed by a layer of ground beef/lamb, and so on.
The result? A colorful and tempting layered dish that is pleasing to the eyes and tastes great.
Tips
- Always use lean ground beef because it has lower fat content, is juicy, and cooks easily.
- Assemble the salad right before serving. If you mix it earlier, the lettuce might wilt and lose its crispiness due to the seasoning and dressing.
- You can add mashed avocado or Guacamole , broccoli, and other veggies of your choice to the dish.
What do you serve with taco salad?
You can serve it with tortilla wraps, chips, beans, or Mexican rice. But, you can have it on its own also as a bowl.
What’s the difference between nachos and taco salad?
Taco salad comprises lettuce and other vegetables that make it crunchy, while the dressing makes it creamy. So the veggies are the highlight of it. As for nachos, the tortilla chips on which everything is piled are the main ingredient.
How do you eat taco salad?
You can eat it as the main course or as a side. If you want to get creative, make a taco bar where you can arrange all the ingredients in separate bowls so that people can build their own taco salads based on their diet.
Can you refrigerate taco salad?
If you’ve prepared this recipe beforehand, make sure to refrigerate the ingredients separately in the fridge so the vegetables don’t lose their crunch. However, leftover can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Similar Taco Recipes
30 Mins Mexican Tilapia Fish Dinner
Birria Tacos
Crunchwrap Supreme
Nacho Cheese Sauce Recipe
Sheet Pan Fajitas
Chicken Flautas
Lamb Birria
Fajita Bowl
Air Fryer Hot Dogs
Tandoori Chicken Tacos With Cilantro Corn Slaw
Taco Salad
This Taco Salad is the best of both worlds–Tacos and Salads! Imagine your favorite hearty taco made into a salad bowl. Our Taco Salad recipe is loaded with fresh veggies, ground beef, taco chips and a creamy salsa dressing. So crazy delicious!! Video and step by step recipe below!
Ingredients
Taco Salad
-
1 1/2
cups
ground beef
cooked like here https://www.twopurplefigs.com/crunchwrap-supreme/ -
2 1/2
cups
lettuce
chopped roughly -
1
cup
black beans -
2
cups
tomatoes diced -
1
cup
corn -
1/2
cup
onions
red onions diced -
1
jalapeno -
2
avocados
diced -
1
cup
tortilla chips
crushed roughly -
1/2
cup
cheese
or sauce here: https://www.twopurplefigs.com/nacho-cheese-sauce-recipe/
Taco Salad Dressing
-
1
cup
sour cream -
1/2
cup
salsa
homemade here: https://www.twopurplefigs.com/restaurant-style-mexican-salsa/ -
1
teaspoon
lime juice -
1/4
teaspoon
salt and pepper
Instructions
-
Prepare the salad ingredients by chopping cooking the ground beef and having everything ready.
-
Mix all ingredients for the salad in a large salad plate.
-
Make the dressing by combining all ingredients in a medium bowl.
-
Drizzle the dressing generously over the salad.
-
Serve right away & enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Tips
- Always use lean ground beef because it has lower fat content, is juicy, and cooks easily.
- Assemble the salad right before serving. If you mix it earlier, the lettuce might wilt and lose its crispiness due to the seasoning and dressing.
- You can add mashed avocado or Guacamole , broccoli, and other veggies of your choice to the dish.
What do you serve with taco salad?
You can serve it with tortilla wraps, chips, beans, or Mexican rice. But, you can have it on its own also as a bowl.
What’s the difference between nachos and taco salad?
Taco salad comprises lettuce and other vegetables that make it crunchy, while the dressing makes it creamy. So the veggies are the highlight of it. As for nachos, the tortilla chips on which everything is piled are the main ingredient.
How do you eat taco salad?
You can eat it as the main course or as a side. If you want to get creative, make a taco bar where you can arrange all the ingredients in separate bowls so that people can build their own taco salads based on their diet.
Can you refrigerate taco salad?
If you’ve prepared this recipe beforehand, make sure to refrigerate the ingredients separately in the fridge so the vegetables don’t lose their crunch. However, leftover can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition Facts
Taco Salad
Amount Per Serving
Calories 700
Calories from Fat 495
% Daily Value*
Fat 55g85%
Saturated Fat 18g113%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 6g
Monounsaturated Fat 23g
Cholesterol 108mg36%
Sodium 645mg28%
Potassium 1499mg43%
Carbohydrates 60g20%
Fiber 16g67%
Sugar 11g12%
Protein 30g60%
Vitamin A 1312IU26%
Vitamin C 32mg39%
Calcium 288mg29%
Iron 5mg28%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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