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5.0 from 93 votes

Taco Salad (Easy 30 Minute Dinner Option!)

How to make the ULTIMATE Taco Salad! So easy, ready in less than 30 minutes, this is a great and filling easy weeknight dinner option!

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 331 kcal
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • ⅔ cup water
  • 1 packet (or 3 Tablespoons) taco seasoning*
  • 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 avocado diced
  • ⅓ cup finely diced red onion
  • 1 ½ cups sharp shredded cheddar cheese
  • ⅓ cup cilantro chopped
  • jalapeño slices optional, use more or less depending on how hot you like things. I only used half of a sliced jalapeno for this recipe. You may use fresh or pickled.
Dressing
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • ½ cup medium salsa
  • 1 ½ Tablespoons taco seasoning
  • broken corn chips optional**

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Heat a medium-sized skillet over medium-high heat and add ground beef. 
  2. Cook until browned and drain.
  3. Add water and taco seasoning and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until thickened.
  4. Remove from heat and allow ground beef to cool for at least 15 minutes while you prepare the rest of your taco salad.
  5. Combine chopped romaine lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, diced avocado, diced red onion, cheddar cheese, cilantro, and jalapenos (if using) in a large bowl.
  6. Add (cooled) ground beef and toss ingredients together until well-combined. Meanwhile, prepare dressing.
Dressing
  1. Combine sour cream, salsa, and 1 ½ Tablespoons taco seasoning in a bowl and whisk until well-combined.
  2. Pour dressing over salad ingredients and toss until well-combined.
  3. Serve, topped with crushed corn chips if desired. If not serving immediately, cover and keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Notes

  • Feel free to add your favorite add-ins! We've added ½ cup of frozen sweet corn, half a can of (drained, rinsed) black beans, and olives to suit our flavor preferences!
  • *Please note that this recipe calls for taco seasoning for both cooking the ground beef and for making the dressing, so if you are using packets of taco seasoning you will need two packets
  • **Do not add the broken corn chips to the bowl of taco salad, just add it as a topping to individual servings. The corn chips will get soggy if left in with the other ingredients

Nutrition Information

Serving 1serving (does not include corn chips) Calories 331kcal (17%) Carbohydrates 11g (4%) Protein 17g (34%) Fat 25g (38%) Saturated Fat 11g (55%) Cholesterol 70mg (23%) Sodium 712mg (30%) Potassium 588mg (17%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 4g (8%) Vitamin A 4290IU (86%) Vitamin C 21mg (23%) Calcium 206mg (21%) Iron 3mg (17%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 331

% Daily Value*

Serving 1serving (does not include corn chips)
Calories 331kcal 17%
Carbohydrates 11g 4%
Protein 17g 34%
Fat 25g 38%
Saturated Fat 11g 55%
Cholesterol 70mg 23%
Sodium 712mg 30%
Potassium 588mg 13%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 4g 8%
Vitamin A 4290IU 86%
Vitamin C 21mg 23%
Calcium 206mg 21%
Iron 3mg 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.