Easy Taco Salad – Spend With Pennies
I can’t even count how many times I’ve made this taco salad recipe. It’s a go-to anytime I need a quick meal.
Quick and easy, this taco salad has seasoned ground beef and cheese atop crisp lettuce and our favorite taco toppings.
Taco Salad Ingredients
The beauty of this Tex-Mex-inspired salad is that you can add what you love or use what you have on hand.
Meat: I use lean ground beef (80/20), ground turkey, or ground chicken depending on what I’ve got on hand.
Seasoning: Season the meat with either a packet or homemade taco seasoning. Making your own seasoning with spices like paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and oregano is easy.
Lettuce: Romaine or iceberg lettuce are crunchy and sturdy, so they hold up well to lots of toppings. A mix of greens, like mesclun, is a bit too tender.
Toppings: Whatever you put on a taco (and more) is great on a taco salad! Our family favorites include shredded cheddar cheese, black olives, and a variety of veggies like leftover grilled corn, green onions, or cherry or Roma tomatoes.
Try any of the following to add flavor, crunch, and color.
- Crunchy: Tortilla chips, Doritos, tortilla strips, or corn chips.
- Spicy/Zesty: Jalapenos, red onion, or hot sauce.
- Fresh: Guacamole, a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
Taco Salad Dressing
How to Make Taco Salad
- Brown and season the ground beef (recipe below). Stir in beans if using.
- Wash lettuce and spin dry. Top with beef mixture and your favorite toppings.
- Scoop into a large serving bowl or plates and top with tortilla chips, sour cream, and salsa.
Serve this taco salad in a tortilla bowl to make it just like your favorite restaurant!
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Spray a flour tortilla with cooking spray (or brush it with butter or olive oil) and season with salt & your fave seasonings (cumin or a bit of chili powder are good).
- Place the tortilla in an ovenproof bowl or a taco bowl maker and bake for 10-15 minutes or until lightly browned and crispy.
More Main Dish Salad Recipes
Did you make this easy Taco Salad? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
Easy Taco Salad
This easy taco salad is crispy, crunchy, and colorful. Make a DIY taco bar by putting out all the toppings and let everyone make their own!
Prevent your screen from going dark
- In a medium skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat until no pink remains. Drain any fat.
- Add the taco seasoning and ½ cup water. Simmer uncovered over medium heat for 5 minutes or until thickened. Stir in beans.
- Place the lettuce in a large salad bowl or divide over individual serving bowls. Top with the seasoned meat mixture, tomatoes, cheese, avocado, and desired toppings.
- Top with tortilla chips, salsa, and sour cream.
To make this meal fast, use pre-washed lettuce. Prepare topping ingredients while the beef is browning.
Leftover taco meat can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container and reheated in the microwave.
Calories: 360 | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 328mg | Potassium: 608mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 3585IU | Vitamin C: 6.9mg | Calcium: 178mg | Iron: 2.7mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Beef, Dinner, Lunch, Salad
Cuisine American, Mexican© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
