Taco Salad

Taco Salad is packed with flavor and completely customizable. If you have made our Crockpot Taco Salad Recipe or Doritos Taco Salad Recipe then you are going to love this recipe.

This main dish recipe is perfect for a crowd or a weeknight meal. My entire family loves when this meal is on the menu. Instead of making Ground Beef Tacos Recipe or this Taco Casserole make Taco Salad.

Why We Love Taco Salad

Anytime we have leftover taco meat we make taco salad. You can easily make it with or without tortilla chips for a low carb option. We love to add in your favorite veggies to fit any type of diet.

This Taco Salad is packed with flavor and has a simple crunch.

Ingredients

• Ground Beef – We used lean ground beef but you can also make it with ground turkey
• Taco Seasoning – Use store bought taco seasoning or use Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe
• Salsa – Use jar salsa or use Homemade Salsa Recipe
• Chopped Romaine Lettuce – Iceberg lettuce also works to make this taco salad
• Black Beans – Make sure to drain and rinse black beans before adding to the taco salad mixture
• Grape Tomatoes – Slice the tomatoes in half
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese – Use any type of shredded cheese that you prefer
• Tortilla Chips – This taco salad is delicious made with your choice of tortilla chips. We have even made it with tortilla strips.
• Taco Salad Toppings – Diced Avocado, Fresh Cilantro, Black olives, jalapeño slices, green onions, and Easy Pico De Gallo

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.

Variations Ideas

• Change Meat – This taco salad can easily be made with different types of meat. Swap the ground beef and make it with ground chicken.
• Veggies – When we are cooking the ground beef we love to add in veggies such as red onion and bell pepper. You can even substitute the grape tomatoes to cherry tomatoes.
• Seasoning – We love using homemade taco seasoning or a packet of taco seasoning. You can even add in the seasoning separately such as garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, paprika, cumin, salt and chili powder. We usually start by adding in ½ teaspoon and add more to taste.

How to Make Taco Salad

• Step 1 – Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Break up the ground beef as it cooks with wooden spoon. Drain off any excess grease.

• Step 2 – Stir in the taco seasoning and salsa into the ground beef. 

• Step 3 – Reduce the heat to low and cook uncovered for 3-5 minutes to incorporate the flavors. Remove from the heat and let the mixture cool.

• Step 4 – In a large bowl or individual serving bowls toss together the lettuce, black beans, tomato, cheddar cheese, and tortilla chips. Gently stir in the meat mixture. 

• Step 5 – Serve topped with the salsa, hot sauce, lime juice, taco salad dressing, dollop of sour cream and other toppings.  Enjoy! 

Recipe Tips

• Ground Beef – We made the ground beef in a large skillet but you can also use leftover ground beef or cook the ground beef in the slow cooker. Make sure to drain excess grease before combining with the other ingredients.
• Making Taco Salad – You can combine all the taco salad ingredients together in a bowl or build individually with your favorite toppings.

What to Serve with Taco Salad?

We usually serve this taco salad on a plate or in a bowl. You can even place the taco salad ingredients in a crispy taco bowl made with a flour tortilla.

Taco Salad is a complete meal but we love to serve with Queso Fundido to dip Homemade Air Fryer Tortilla Chips Recipe. We even love to top the taco salad with Black Bean Corn Salsa, Guacamole Recipe or sour cream but it is also delicious topped with Catalina dressing or thousand island dressing instead.  

For even more side dish ideas, see What to Serve with Taco Salad.

Frequently Asked Questions