Randy Chandler
Taco salad is a fun twist on the traditional taco, and a great way to get your kids involved in the kitchen. The basic ingredients are ground beef, beans, tortilla chips, lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, salsa, and sour cream. But you can also add your own twist with toppings like jalapenos, corn, avocado, black beans, onions, and black olives.
The key to a great taco salad is the dressing. You can use French dressing, or make your own with mayonnaise, garlic, lime juice, and cilantro. If you want to go all out, serve your taco salad in a tortilla bowl.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Salad Dressing | Catalina, Ranch, French, Thousand Island, Italian, Green Goddess, Creamy Italian, Russian, Western, Zesty Italian, Kraft Catalina, Lite Catalina, Homemade French, Taco Sauce, Sour Cream, Greek Yogurt, Salsa, Mayo, Taco Sauce and Mayo, Homemade, Creamy French, Cilantro Lime, Tomatillo Avocado Ranch, Baja Catalina, Creamy Salsa Avocado, Greek Yogurt Instead of Sour Cream, Light Cheese, Less Cheese, Lean Ground Beef, Half a Pound of Beef, Ground Turkey, Chicken, Beans, Black Beans, Kidney Beans, Pinto Beans, Red Kidney Beans, Corn, Avocado, Tomato, Lettuce, Iceberg Lettuce, Romaine Lettuce, Cheese, Cheddar Cheese, Pepper Jack Cheese, Mexican Cheese Blend, Fritos, Doritos, Cool Ranch Doritos, Spicy Doritos, Nacho Doritos, Tortilla Chips, Tortilla Strips, Sunflower Seeds, Pickled Red Onions, Mango, Pico de Gallo, Bacon, Hot Sauce, Greek Yogurt, Light Cheese, Lean Ground Beef, Baked Tortilla Chips, Homemade Baked Tortilla Chips, Homemade Baked Tortilla Bowls, Sour Cream, Greek Yogurt |
What You'll Learn
What to serve with taco salad
Taco salad is a hearty meal in itself, but if you're looking for some side dishes to round out your meal, here are some suggestions:
- Spanish rice
- Corn on the cob
- Fruit salad
- Cornbread
- Grilled corn
- Refried beans
- Guacamole
- Pico de gallo
- Chips and salsa
- Avocado corn salsa
- Sweet cornbread
- Mexican chicken
- Chili mac and cheese
- Chicken tortilla soup
- Burrito bowls
- Chicken panang curry
- Chili lime chicken
- Chipotle chicken
- Chicken taco salad
You can also serve your taco salad in a tortilla bowl for a fun presentation.
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How to store taco salad
Taco salad is best served fresh, but if you want to store it, it's best to keep the components separate to maintain freshness and texture. Store the cooked beef in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Keep the lettuce, cheese, and other toppings in separate containers and wait to combine them until just before serving to prevent sogginess.
You can also freeze the cooked beef mixture separately in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to three months. Simply thaw and reheat the beef before assembling your fresh ingredients when you're ready to eat.
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How to make tortilla bowls
Making tortilla bowls at home is an easy and fun way to elevate your next taco night or Mexican-themed dinner. They're also a great way to avoid the excess calories, trans fats, and harmful byproducts that come with deep-fried tortilla bowls. Here's a step-by-step guide to making tortilla bowls in the oven.
Ingredients:
- Tortillas of choice (burrito-size, 8-10 inches)
- Cooking spray
- Oven-safe bowls (about 1-quart to 1½-quarts in size)
- Optional: Shredded cheese of choice
Method:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Spray both sides of your tortillas with cooking spray.
- Gently press a tortilla into your oven-safe bowl, making sure it reaches the bottom.
- Fold and crease the edges of the tortilla to fit the shape of the bowl. Be patient, as it may take a few tries to get the hang of it!
- Place the bowl on a baking sheet and repeat with any additional tortillas.
- Bake on the middle or lower rack of the oven for 15-20 minutes, until the edges are browned and crispy.
- If using cheese, sprinkle some into the bowls a few minutes before they're done baking.
- Allow the tortilla bowls to cool to room temperature before filling them with your favourite taco salad ingredients.
Tips:
- You can use any type of tortilla you like, including flour, whole wheat, gluten-free, or grain-free. Just make sure they're sturdy and large enough to fit your bowl.
- If you have designated tortilla bowl moulds, you can use those instead of an oven-safe bowl.
- For a fun twist, try making smaller tortilla bowls using 6-inch fajita-size tortillas and smaller oven-safe bowls. Adjust the baking time and temperature as needed.
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Healthy taco salad recipe variations
The Classic Taco Salad
The classic taco salad is made with a base of leafy greens, such as romaine or iceberg lettuce, topped with seasoned ground beef, tomatoes, black beans, avocado, onion, salsa, and shredded cheese. It's a fun and easy way to enjoy all the flavours of a taco in a salad bowl. You can also add corn, radishes, jalapenos, bell peppers, guacamole, or crumbled tortilla chips for extra texture and flavour.
Customise Your Taco Salad
The great thing about taco salads is that they are endlessly customisable. Here are some ideas for variations:
- Switch up the sauce: Try one of the three versions of cilantro lime dressing, or use Greek yoghurt instead of avocado for a creamy finish. You could also use tomatillo salsa or chipotle sauce.
- Change the creamy component: Try adding crumbled Cotija or grated cheddar cheese, cashew sour cream, or Greek yoghurt.
- Make it fruity: Add mango or pineapple salsa for a tropical twist.
- Vary the veggies: Include raw or sauteed bell peppers, charred poblano, corn, or green onions.
- Make it a burrito bowl: Reduce the lettuce and add a scoop of cilantro lime rice to the bottom of the bowl.
- Make it vegan: Instead of ground beef, use diced mushrooms and walnuts sauteed in a pan with tamari and taco seasoning for a savory and smoky flavour.
- Make it Whole30-friendly: Leave off the chips and cheese, and swap sour cream for cashew sour cream.
- Make it vegetarian: Top with barbacoa, salsa verde chicken, or carnitas.
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Best taco salad recipe variations
Taco salad is a fun, tasty, and versatile dish that can be customised to suit your taste preferences. Here are some ideas for how to switch up the classic recipe:
Dressing
The dressing you choose for your taco salad can make or break the dish. Here are some options to consider:
- Catalina dressing: This sweet, tangy dressing is a popular choice for taco salads.
- French dressing: This dressing is similar to Catalina dressing and can be used as a substitute.
- Ranch dressing: A creamy, savoury option that pairs well with the other ingredients in a taco salad.
- Salsa: For a healthier option, you can use salsa as a dressing. It adds a nice kick to the dish.
- Sour cream: Another healthier option is to use sour cream as a dressing or as a topping.
- Taco sauce: This adds a nice tang to the salad.
- Mayonnaise and taco seasoning: For a creamy, spicy option, mix mayonnaise with taco seasoning.
- Green goddess dressing: This herby, tangy dressing is a unique choice for a taco salad.
- Thousand island dressing: This dressing has a sweet and tangy flavour that goes well with the other ingredients in a taco salad.
- Italian dressing: For a more savoury option, Italian dressing is a good choice.
- Homemade French dressing: If you want to make your own French dressing, you can mix mayonnaise, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and Tabasco.
Meat
While the classic recipe calls for ground beef, you can switch it up by using:
- Ground turkey: This is a leaner option that can be seasoned with beef bouillon powder to mimic the flavour of ground beef.
- Chicken: Shredded rotisserie chicken can be sautéed with seasonings or used as-is.
- Vegetarian option: For a vegetarian version, you can use Morning Star Crumbles instead of meat.
Beans
While the classic recipe calls for black beans, you can use other types of beans such as:
- Kidney beans
- Pinto beans
- Chili beans
Vegetables
There are many vegetables you can add to a taco salad to customise it to your taste. Here are some options:
- Corn: Charred sweet corn adds a nice smoky flavour to the dish.
- Tomatoes: Cherry or grape tomatoes are ideal because of their firm and juicy texture.
- Red onion: Soaking the onion in cold water can help take away some of the raw flavour.
- Avocados: Adding sliced or chopped avocados gives the salad a nice creamy texture.
- Bell peppers: These add a satisfying crunch.
- Olives: Black or green olives offer a tangy flavour.
- Pickled jalapeños: For those who like it spicy!
- Pickled red onions: These add a bright, tangy flavour with a slight sweetness.
- Mangos: The juicy sweetness of mangos creates a nice contrast to the earthy flavours in the salad.
- Pico de gallo: You can use this instead of fresh tomatoes and onions.
Cheese
While the classic recipe calls for cheddar cheese, you can switch it up by using:
- Pepper Jack Cheese: This adds a creamy texture with a hint of spice.
- Mexican cheese blend: This will give you a mix of different cheeses to enhance the flavour.
- Sharp cheddar: For a more intense flavour, you can use sharp cheddar.
Chips/Tortilla Bowls
The chips or tortilla bowls add a nice crunch to the taco salad. Here are some options to consider:
- Tortilla chips: These are the classic choice and can be crushed and mixed into the salad or served on the side.
- Doritos: These add an extra punch of flavour and can be crushed and mixed into the salad or served on the side.
- Tortilla bowls: For a fun presentation, you can serve the taco salad in tortilla bowls. These can be made by pressing tortillas into oven-safe bowls and baking them until crispy.
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Frequently asked questions
There are many salad dressings that go well with taco-flavored cheese and beans. Some popular options include Catalina, ranch, French, and salsa. You can also experiment with different dressings such as Italian, Thousand Island, or green goddess.
In addition to the cheese and beans, you can add ground beef or turkey, lettuce, tomatoes, corn, onions, avocado, sour cream, and tortilla chips or strips.
To make taco salad healthier, consider using Greek yogurt instead of sour cream in the dressing, light cheese, lean ground beef, or ground turkey. You can also add more vegetables or beans and less meat.
