Love easy summer salads? Try Mouthwatering Strawberry Spinach Salad, Honey Lime Poppy Seed Fruit Salad, Best Ever Creamy Pea Salad with Bacon, BLT Tortellini Pasta Salad, or this Classic Potato Salad Recipe.
Ground Beef Taco Salad Ingredients
Don’t let the long list of ingredients worry you. This recipe really does come together so quickly! Check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.
Easy to make: This recipe comes together quickly and easily, making it perfect for busy weeknights! Fresh flavor: This recipe appeals to both young and old with its seasoned beef, veggies, and delicious toppings like avocado, salsa, and cheese. Nutritious: This is not only a crowd-pleaser but also a well-balanced meal that provides protein, fiber, veggies, and healthy fats!
Ground Beef
Olive Oil: Provides richness and helps distribute the heat while cooking. Red Onion: Adds a kick of fresh flavor. Lean Ground Beef: Acts as the protein for the taco salad. Garlic: Enhances the overall flavor of the beef. Water: Helps incorporate the seasoning throughout the beef. Taco Seasoning: Gives the beef mixture all the delicious taco flavoring.
Salad
Lettuce: Provides a fresh base for the salad and a crisp texture. Red Onion: Adds a bright, sharp flavor that enhances the overall flavor profile. Tomatoes: Gives the salad a pop of color and a burst of sweet acidic flavor. Corn: Complements the other ingredients with its sweet flavor. Black Beans: Provide protein, fiber, and a hearty texture. Avocado: Adds a creamy, buttery texture and provides healthy fats. It also helps to cool down the heat if you’ve added hot sauce or if you used spicy taco seasoning. Fresh Cilantro: Offers a bright herbal note that complements the other flavors in the beef taco salad. Tortilla Strips: Gives the salad a nice crunchy texture. Salt & Pepper: Enhances all of the other flavors in the salad.
Taco Salad Dressing
Sour Cream: Provides the base of the sauce. It gives it a creamy, tangy flavor. Milk: Helps to thin out the sour cream, making it smoother and easier to stir into the salad. Minced Cilantro: Gives the dressing a bright, citrusy flavor. Lime Juice: Adds a zest and acidity that balances out the creaminess of the sour cream. Taco Seasoning: Provides an infusion of spices and flavors. Salt & Pepper: Enhances the flavor of all the other ingredients.
How to Make This Easy Taco Salad Recipe
I love how this beef taco salad recipe lets me multitask in the kitchen. While the onions are sizzling away, I can chop up my veggies; and as the meat cools, I whip up the dressing. It all comes together so smoothly that by the time everything’s prepped and cooked, I’m already looking forward to enjoying it!
Main or side dish: This salad Serves 4+ as a main dish and can serve even more as a side. Spicy: Want to make the beef spicy? Add in 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Dressing: If the dressing needs to be thinned, simply add more milk. Conversely, if it needs to be thickened, add more sour cream. Topping ideas: You can easily customize the toppings on this salad to suit your taste. Try using cheddar cheese, black olives, green onions, or tortilla chips instead of strips. For a bit of heat, add some minced jalapeño! Protein Variations: For a healthier alternative to ground beef, try using ground chicken or ground turkey. Taco seasoning: Instead of using a packet of taco seasoning, you could use 2 Tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning.
