Epic Taco Salad
- PREP 15min
- COOK 15min
- TOTAL 30min
This easy taco salad recipe with ground beef is such an easy weeknight dinner. Make our recommended cilantro lime dressing recipe (which is sort of like a cilantro ranch) or skip that step and use your favorite store-bought ranch.
You Will Need
- For the Taco Meat
1 ½ teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon dried oregano
¾ teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more as needed
1 ½ tablespoons avocado oil
1 pound lean ground beef, 90/10 (450g)
2 tablespoons tomato paste (35g)
½ cup chicken stock or water
- For the Taco Salad
12 cups shredded crispy lettuce, like romaine or iceberg lettuce
1 cup homemade pico de gallo or chopped tomatoes
½ cup Mexican blend shredded cheese (113g)
1 large avocado, pitted and sliced
1 cup tortilla chips, try homemade tortilla chips, optional
Cilantro Lime Dressing, Homemade Ranch, or your favorite store-bought ranch
Directions
1Make spice mix: In a small bowl, stir together the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, dried oregano, and salt.
2Cook the seasoned beef: Heat the avocado oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and sprinkle the spice mixture over it. Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat as it cooks, stirring until it begins to brown. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 more minutes. Add the chicken stock (or water) and let it simmer for a few minutes until the sauce has thickened. Taste, and then add more salt if you think it needs it (since this will top a salad, keeping this well seasoned works really well with the rest of the salad.)
3Make the salad: In a large salad bowl, toss the lettuce with 4 to 8 tablespoons of the dressing (adjust depending on how dressed you like your salad). Divide the lettuce between four bowls or plates, then top each with a generous ½ cup of the beef mixture, pico de gallo, shredded cheese, and the avocado. Sneak some tortilla chips on the side, then enjoy!
Adam and Joanne's Tips
- More toppings: Feel free to add more of your favorite taco toppings like sour cream, salsa, chopped tomatoes, queso fresco, red onion, black olives, and more!
- Seasoning: I prefer the spice blend above to your average packet of taco seasoning from the store; however, if you have a favorite, feel free to swap our blend for the packet. Of all the options I have tried, Siete Foods has the tastiest.
- Lettuce: I usually buy the romaine hearts sold in threes at the store. For 4 servings (12 cups), you will need two 12-ounce bags of romaine hearts.
- The nutrition facts are estimates.