This Taco Salad Recipe is loaded with seasoned ground beef, crisp lettuce, crunchy tortilla chips, cheese, and all your favorite taco toppings. It’s a budget-friendly meal that’s ready in about 30 minutes and perfect for busy weeknights, meal prep, or feeding a crowd.
We make this recipe often when we have leftover taco meat because it’s quick, customizable, and a great way to stretch simple ingredients into a filling family meal.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
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, Tamale Pie or this Taco Casserole make salad. You can even make Crockpot Taco Meat to make this recipe.
We rely on one-pot meals to keep dinner simple and affordable, and if you do too, you’ll love our Easy One Pot Dinners for Busy Families Series.
Quick Glance at this Recipe
- Ready in: 30 minutes
- Serves: 6
- Main ingredients: Ground beef, lettuce, black beans, cheese, tortilla chips
- Budget-friendly: Uses simple pantry staples and stretches taco meat further
- Make-ahead friendly: Prep ingredients in advance and assemble before serving
- Family favorite: Everyone can customize their own bowl with favorite toppings
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
- Black Beans – Make sure to drain and rinse black beans before adding to the salad mixture
- Grape Tomatoes – Slice the tomatoes in half
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese – Use any type of shredded cheese that you prefer
- Tortilla Chips – This recipe is delicious made with your choice of tortilla chips. We have even made it with tortilla strips.
- 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.
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, 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.
- Preparing – You can combine all the salad ingredients together in a bowl or build individually with your favorite toppings.
Variations Ideas
- Change Meat – This 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.
Serving Recommendations
We usually serve this salad on a plate or in a bowl. You can even place the 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 this 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.
Storage & Freezer Instructions
- Storage – Store the leftover taco meat in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Store the salad ingredients separately so that the it is not served soggy.
- Freezer – Freeze cooled taco meat in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Reheating – Reheat the leftover taco meat in the microwave or in a saucepan on the stovetop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Popular options include salsa, Catalina dressing, ranch dressing, taco ranch, or sour cream.
Yes. Leave out the chips for a lower-carb option.
Ground turkey, chicken, shredded chicken, or leftover taco meat all work well.
Store all ingredients separately and assemble right before serving.
More Easy Salad Recipes
We love to hear from you. If you make this recipe, please leave us a comment or a star review.
Taco Salad
Ingredients
For the Meat:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 Tbsp Taco Seasoning
- ¼ cup Salsa
For the Salad:
- 6 cups Chopped Romaine Lettuce
- 1 cup Black Beans drained and rinsed
- 1 cup Grape Tomatoes cut in half
- 1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- 2 cups Tortilla Chips
- ½ cup Salsa
- ½ cup Sour Cream
- Other Optional Toppings: Avocado olive, jalapeño slices, green onions, etc.
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- Brown 1 pound lean ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat. Break up the ground beef as it cooks. Drain off any excess grease.
- Stir 2 tablespoons taco seasoning and ¼ cup salsa into the ground beef.
- 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.
- In a large bowl or individual serving bowls, toss together 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce, 1 cup drained and rinsed black beans, 1 cup grape tomatoes cut in half, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, and 2 cups tortilla chips.
- Gently stir in the seasoned beef.
- Serve topped with ½ cup salsa, ½ cup sour cream, and any optional toppings. Enjoy!
Super easy and super good!
Taco salad at its best
Taco Salad is one our weekly staples! And this is our favorite, and allows everyone to add their own personalized toppings!
Definitely making this again!!
Loved it! Perfect dinner on a busy night
So glad you loved it
So easy and delicious!
This is the perfect recipe for even the pickiest eater!
Fresh, flavorful, and super easy to throw together! I made and had this Taco Salad while watching a movie —crunchy, zesty, and totally satisfying.
I loved how easy this recipe was and the entire family loved it!
My Whole Family loved this Taco Salad Recipe. Everyone added their favorite toppings and was so easy to make.