During the summer I often like to have salads as light meals and one of my favourites is a taco salad, which as the name implies has all of the flavours of tacos! This salad is a great way to finish off any leftover ingredients from taco night though I am usually too impatient to wait and just make it from scratch starting out with a homemade taco seasoning. This recipe is very flexible where you can use whatever your favoutite taco ingredients are and I generally like to pack the salad with plenty of healthy ones like beans, corn, tomatoes and avocado before moving onto things like cheese, Greek yogurt and salsa. Although a number of salad dressing would be perfect on this, I usually go with salsa verde as a dressing. As far as salads go this taco salad certainly makes for one tasty, light and satisfying meal meal!
Just add some crumbled tortilla chips and salsa verde and you are ready to dig in!
Another nice way to serve this salad is topped with a drizzle of sour cream and hot sauce!
Taco Salad
A salad inspired by the flavours of tacos including seasoned ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes, beans, corn, salsa, cheese and crunchy tortilla chips.
ingredients
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 clove garlic chopped
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
- 1/4 cup water
- 6 cups lettuce, sliced
- 1 cup tomato, diced
- 1 cup black beans
- 1 cup corn
- 1/4 cup red onion, diced
- 1/4 cup guacamole or 1 avocado, diced
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup salsa verde
- 1/4 cup cheese such as cotija, feta, cheddar, crumbled or shredded
For the taco seasoned meat:
For the salad:
directions
- Cook the meat, onion and garlic in a pan over medium heat until the meat is browned and drain off any excess grease.
- Mix in the taco seasoning and water and simmer until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 3-5 minutes.
- Assemble salad and enjoy!
For the taco seasoned meat:
For the salad:
Option: Use your favourite taco toppings!
Option: Use a dressing like ranch or a creamy avocado dressing (aka guacamole dressing), cilantro lime vinaigrette, cilantro lime ranch dressing, jalapeno ranch dressing, jalapeno popper dressing, etc.
Option: Serve topped with crumbled tortilla chips.
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BBQ Chicken COBB Salad with Cilantro Lime Ranch Dressing
Texmex Grilled Chicken Salad in Creamy Avocado Salsa Verde Dressing
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Anonymous says
I do a very similiar salad to this…The base is broken corn chips, then the seasoned beef, cheese etc…
Tasty!
SheilaRae the Brave says
Everything you post looks great and the things I have cooked taste even better! This is my fav food blog!
Elizabeth says
If it has avocados it must be tasty!
Joanne says
I like that you don't play favorites…smart man. 😛 I bet a veg version of this with double the beans would be awesome!
hannah love says
WOW, this is looks amazing! Time to make it for lunch tomorrow! thank you!
Lisa Tedder says
Hah! Where would you find a tomato worth eating? I only use cherry or grape tomatoes from the store. Nothing else worth bringing home.
Robin Schaff says
The best ones are those grown in your own garden! Ugh, I miss my garden! 😔
Anonymous says
Uhh this one looks so good! xoxo
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Rev says
hey Kevin, this looks fab! please pass on the plate over 🙂
Jane @ urbanejane. says
This looks delicious!! I'll definitely have to try this! 🙂
-a fellow torontonian, jane @ urbanejane.com
What A Dish! says
Loved this- thanks! Love your blog; I've made many tasty things from it.
Anula says
Have to try this one day (soon!). It sounds very delicious 🙂
Pozdrawiam, Anula.
P.S. Your blog is 'short listed' as one of my favourite ones, on my main page 🙂
Loveforfood says
These sounds really good, I would love to give it a try
yerba mate benefits says
Yum!!This is the same as the guacamole…The only thing that's missing here is the chicken fajitas and mojitos… then get the party started..
Kevin says
Joanne: A vegetarian bean version would be good!
Greybeard says
Lisa sure nailed it. Either use a tomato from your garden or the Farmers Market, or the cherry or grape tomatoes from the store.
A good taco salad begs to be served in a baked tortilla shell. The moulds are quite inexpensive and presentation really "kicks it up a notch" to quote a much better chef than I am.
Tom Sproull says
I love this! I love Mexican. Can't wait to try. It's the #1 thing I order at a restaurant.
Jenny says
Perfect salad Kevin! One of my favorites!!
Librarian Lavender says
This salad looks amazing. I love taco salads!
Matt Robinson says
Amazing as always Kevin!
bev @ bev cooks says
this.is.fantastic.
Gaby says
Gorgeous salad, I need one now!
Maria says
Love all of the colors!
Jamie Tarence says
A never fail favorite! Looks delicious!
Anonymous says
Seriously, I could look at your blog *just* for the pictures… They are always so vibrant and appetizing! 😀
Alice // Hip Foodie Mom says
Kevin, I love this taco salad !!! and love it even more because you made your own taco seasoning!! looks so vibrant and flavorful!! Pinning!!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
Salad like this is THE BEST! Gah!! Love this!
gautami says
why i like salad?
one reason for that is salad provides good amount of energy to body and it is easy to cook.
Aimee says
We're totally into dinner salads this summer and taco salad tops the list. Can't wait to try your version!
Heidi says
Kevin, this looks great. In fact, everything you cook looks fantastic. You are the best cook. I love how everything jumps out at you. I could look at your blogs all day.
kevin says
Heidi: Thanks!
marla {Family Fresh Cooking} says
So many delicious flavors in this salad, I'm craving it now!!
Allie BakingAMoment says
So many yummy things in this bowl! I think I'd go for both the salsa verde and the sour cream. YUM!
Hazel Vice says
I lurve tacos and Mexican food. This looks so delicious.
Brenna Rastrelli says
I love your taco seasoning recipe. I substituted ground chicken breast. Thanks for all the great reci9