This quick and easy Taco Salad is a great weeknight dinner recipe! Seasoned beef tossed with lettuce, beans, cheese, and tomatoes and then topped with crunchy tortilla chips. You will love this easy salad.
We are big taco fans, but when we want to switch up our taco Tuesday, we make this easy taco salad! It’s everything you love about tacos, but served up as a salad instead.
Unlike other salads this one won’t leave you hungry an hour after dinner! It’s hearty but has really fresh flavors and won’t weigh you down. We usually keep the ingredients on hand because it’s really easy to toss together when there’s not much time to cook!
Table of Contents
What Goes in a Taco Salad?
- Lean ground beef
- Taco seasoning
- Salsa
- Chopped romaine lettuce
- Sliced scallions
- Frozen corn
- Canned black beans
- Diced Roma tomatoes
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Diced avocado
- Tortilla chips
How to Make a Taco Salad
This is a really easy recipe that’s ready in about 30 minutes!
First, cook the beef in a large skillet. Once it’s no longer pink, add the seasoning, corn, and salsa. Stir and cook them together for a few minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let the beef cool.
While the beef is cooling, assemble the salad. Toss the lettuce, scallions, beans, tomatoes, and avocado together in a large serving bowl.
Add the cooled beef mixture and toss it all together. Break up the tortilla chips and sprinkle them over the top and serve!
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What About the Dressing?
Instead of a dressing we like to add a little more salsa to the salad for serving. But you can add your favorite dressing if you want to – ranch, avocado dressing, or even Catalina-style dressing would work really well!
Switch Up the Ingredients for a Different Flavor!
- Instead of ground beef: Try subbing ground turkey instead. Or, you can also use cooked chicken!
- Switch the beans: We’ve made this with pinto beans, kidney beans, and white beans – use what you have on hand!
- Add some heat: Use your favorite spicy salsa or hot sauce. Or, keep it mild if you’re not into heat.
- Try different kinds of cheese: Use mild or sharp cheddar cheese. Shredded pepper jack or Monterey jack cheese would be delicious, too.
- Add more color: You can use plain tortilla chips or buy the blue corn chips or try tri-colored tortilla strips.
- Dress it up more! Treat your salad like a taco and add a spoonful of sour cream and a dollop of guacamole!
Make It Ahead for Meal Prep
This is a great recipe for meal prep! You can cook the beef mixture ahead of time and keep it in the fridge. When it’s time to eat just assemble the salad and serve. The beef will keep well in the refrigerator for three to four days.
I don’t recommend assembling the salad ahead of time because the lettuce will wilt, so keep the veggies separate until you’re ready to eat.
Are you ready to add this taco salad recipe to your meal plan this week? It’s great for dinner or lunch and has the best flavors. It’s so easy to make you’ll want to make it every week. I hope you enjoy it!
Other Salads You’ll Enjoy
Taco Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning 1 ounce
- ¼ cup mild salsa
- 1 large head of Romaine lettuce washed, dried then chopped
- 4 scallions sliced thinly
- 2 cups frozen corn
- 1 15 ounce can black beans drained and rinsed
- 2 Roma tomatoes chopped
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 avocado diced
- Tortilla Chips store bought
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Spray large skillet and bring to medium heat. Add beef and cook until pink I gone (6-8 minutes)
- Add taco seasoning, corn and salsa. Stir together and allow the liquid to thicken for 2-4. Minutes. Remove from heat and let cool
- In a large bowl add Romaine lettuce, scallions, beans, tomatoes and avocados. Toss well. Once the beef has cooled add to the salad and toss again. Crunch up Tortilla chips and sprinkle over the top. Note: We don’t use dressing with this salad but like to add some salsa to add taste.
Recipe Notes
- If you like it spicy add a hotter salsa or a little hot sauce
- Try different types of cheese. A sharp cheddar adds a little kick
- I like using different colors of tortilla chips to a little color to the salad
Recipe Nutrition
This quick and easy Taco Salad is a great weeknight dinner recipe! Seasoned beef tossed with lettuce, beans, cheese, and tomatoes and then topped with crunchy tortilla chips. You will love this easy salad.