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    Home » Recipes » Salads » Taco Salad

    Taco Salad

    Published: May 8, 2022 · Modified: May 8, 2022 by John Kanell

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

    Ready in less than 30 minutes, this Taco Salad is a quick and flavorful recipe that is beyond easy to make. Loaded with perfectly seasoned beef, crisp romaine lettuce, and all of your favorite taco toppings, this salad is everyone’s favorite for a reason! It’s such a hearty and satisfying meal that you can whip together on a busy weeknight.

    Two bowls of taco salad with a small bowl of pico de gallo and chips on the side.
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    Pinterest graphic of a close up taco salad with tortilla chips.
    Pinterest graphic of a forkful of taco salad lifted from the bowl.
    Pinterest graphic of diced avocado added to a taco salad.
    Pinterest graphic of a close up view of taco salad.
    Pinterest graphic of two bowls of taco salad with a small bowl of pico de gallo beside it.

    If you’re looking for an easy and refreshing meal that the whole family will love, you need to make this taco salad! It’s perfect for nights when you don’t want to spend a ton of time cooking, as all you need is one pan and around 10 minutes to cook the beef. Everything else just requires some chopping, then you toss it all in a bowl, and you’ve got dinner ready to go.

    This taco salad is essentially a deconstructed taco in a bowl. It’s just as comforting, filling, and fresh as a taco but in a salad form. It’s always a crowd-pleaser and is definitely one of my favorite ways to enjoy a salad. Don’t forget to try my easy taco soup recipe, nachos recipe, or my shrimp taco recipe.

    What You Need to Make This Recipe

    Ingredients needed to make taco salad.

    Beef — if you want to save yourself the effort of draining the fat from cooked beef, get lean ground beef.

    Taco seasoning — you can make your own taco seasoning mix or use a packet from the store!

    Lettuce — I love using romaine lettuce as it has a nice crunch to it. You can chop your own or buy the lettuce pre-cut to save time.

    Shredded cheese — use your favorite cheese for this taco salad recipe: mozzarella, cheddar, Monterey Jack, Mexican cheese blend, or a combination of a few kinds of cheese.

    Avocado — I love how avocado adds a creamy component to the salad. You can use guacamole if you prefer.

    How to Make Taco Salad

    Set of two photos showing taco seasoning and water added to ground beef.

    1. Heat a large skillet over high heat. Add the ground beef. Cook, breaking up the meat while stirring frequently until browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in the taco seasoning

    2. Add the water to the skillet of beef, and bring it to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes until the mixture thickens slightly but is still saucy and the meat is cooked through. Remove from the heat.

    Set of two photos showing romaine lettuce sliced and cheese added to the bowl with taco salad.

    3. Chop and divide the lettuce among 4 bowls.

    4. Top each bowl with seasoned beef, tomatoes, cheese, avocado, green onions, and cilantro. Serve with tortilla chips, sour cream, salsa, and lime.

    Close up of a taco salad bowl with tortilla chips.

    Pro Tips for Making This Recipe

    • Some more toppings you can add to the taco salad are sliced radishes, corn, red onions, jalapenos, and beans.
    • If you want to add some heat to the taco beef, add a few pinches of cayenne pepper alongside the taco seasoning.
    • Assemble the salad bowl just before serving. You don’t want the diced avocado to oxidize, nor do you want the salad to get soggy from the tomatoes, sour cream, and salsa.
    • Not a fan of cilantro? Use parsley or chives instead.
    • When chopping the romaine lettuce, make sure they’re bite-sized to make eating it easier. Also, pat them dry or run them through a salad spinner to keep the salad from becoming soggy.

    A forkful of taco salad lifted from a bowl with another bowl in the background.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Do I have to use beef?

    If you want to change things up, you can swap the ground beef for ground turkey or ground chicken.

    Can I make this ahead of time?

    If you want to make this taco salad ahead of time, you can cook the beef a few days beforehand and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat it when ready to assemble the salad. You can water and chop the romaine lettuce ahead of time as well. I don’t recommend preparing any other topping ahead of time.

    What dressing can I serve this salad with?

    This taco salad is tasty on its own, but you can make a dressing if you’d like. If you want a creamy dressing for your salad, try one of these:

    • Creamy Salsa Verde Dressing: Stir together ½ cup each sour cream and salsa verde, zest and juice of 1 lime, and salt to taste.
    • Spicy Ranch Dressing: Whisk together ¾ cup sour cream, 2 tablespoons mayo, 1 packet ranch dressing mix, zest and juice of 1 lime, cayenne pepper to taste, and milk or water to thin.

     

    If you love this recipe try these out!

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      Birria Tacos

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      Fish Taco Recipe

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      Instant Pot Chicken Tacos

    • Chicken enchiladas on a plate

      Chicken Enchiladas

    • A plate of three lobster tacos in front of filling ingredients and a cocktail.

      Lobster Tacos

    If you’ve tried this Taco Salad recipe, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!

    Overhead view of a bowl of taco salad with lime wedges and pico de gallo beside it.
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    5 from 2 votes

    Taco Salad

    The perfect weeknight meal, this taco salad recipe comes together quickly and easily! Hearty, fresh, and flavorful, this salad bowl is a household favorite.
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Mexican
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 15 minutes
    Total Time 25 minutes
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 612kcal
    Author John Kanell

    Equipment

    • Large skillet

    Ingredients

    For the Beef:

    • 1 pound ground beef
    • 1 1-ounce packet taco seasoning (29g/3 tablespoons)
    • ½ cup water

    For the Salad:

    • 1 head romaine lettuce chopped
    • 1 cup grape tomatoes chopped
    • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
    • 1 avocado diced
    • ½ cup sliced green onions
    • ½ cup chopped cilantro

    To Serve:

    • tortilla chips or strips
    • sour cream
    • salsa
    • lime wedges

    Instructions

    • Heat a large skillet over high heat. Add the ground beef. Cook, breaking up the meat while stirring frequently until browned, about 5 minutes. Drain off any fat if your beef isn’t very lean.
    • Stir in the taco seasoning and water, and bring to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes until the mixture thickens slightly but is still saucy and the meat is cooked through. Remove from the heat. (Depending on the taco seasoning you use, you may need to add additional water to keep the meat saucy.)
    • Divide the lettuce among 4 bowls. Top each bowl with seasoned beef, tomatoes, cheese, avocado, green onions, and cilantro. Serve with tortilla chips, sour cream, salsa, and lime.

    Notes

    • Some more toppings you can add to the taco salad are sliced radishes, corn, red onions, jalapenos, and beans.
    • If you want to add some heat to the taco beef, add a few pinches of cayenne pepper alongside the taco seasoning.
    • Assemble the salad bowl just before serving. You don’t want the diced avocado to oxidize, nor do you want the salad to get soggy from the tomatoes, sour cream, and salsa.
    • Not a fan of cilantro? Use parsley or chives instead.
    • When chopping the romaine lettuce, make sure they're bite-sized to make eating it easier. Also, pat them dry or run them through a salad spinner to keep the salad from becoming soggy.
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 612kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 45g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 18g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 116mg | Sodium: 453mg | Potassium: 1189mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 14743IU | Vitamin C: 25mg | Calcium: 328mg | Iron: 5mg
    *Nutrition Disclaimer
    Have you Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @preppykitchen and tag #preppykitchen!
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    Thanks for stopping by! I’m John Kanell, a husband, dad to twins Lachlan and George, Los Angeles native, and an avid baker and cooker of all things delicious thanks to a life long education from my mother. This blog is where I share all of my kitchen creations!

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