Since we all need a go-to Taco Salad recipe, here are my favorite tips and go to recipe for a totally tasty classic taco salad! They’re easy to make and can be customized with all your favorite toppings.
Happy Cinco de Mayo!
*cue confetti and buckets of margs*
Chances are you are…
[A] reading on your phone while wearing a giant sombrero *OR*
[B] at home trying to figure out what on earth you’re going to stuff in your face today.
I really hope that either way you’re wearing a sombrero.
Don’t let me down.
Anywho! If you’re in the market for a speedy lunch or dinner today, may I suggest whipping up a taco salad?
Either way I’m bombarding you with them in 3…2…1…
It’s Taco Salad Time!!!
There isn’t a single restaurant near me that makes a halfway decent one (seriously… how does that happen!?) so you can expect to see these beauties popping up in my kitchen, on my Instagram feed, and all over my What I Ate Wednesday posts all spring and summer long. Paul and I LIVE for taco salads.
We eat them almost as frequently as pasta salad which, as you know, is a freaking LOT!
What can I say?
The stomach wants what the stomach wants 😉
I don’t think I’ve ever done an official taco salad post yet, and with my recent taco salad face-stuffage coupled with the impending awesomeness that is Cinco de Mayo, how could I not?
Veggies for Taco Salad
- romaine lettuce
- tomatoes
- bell peppers
- olives
- onion
- corn
- jalapeños
- avocado
Grilled or roasted veggies work excellent in taco salad and even less conventional add-ins like roasted sweet potato or zucchini can take your taco salad game to the next level!
Taco Salad ToppingS
- grated cheese
- fresh cilantro
- chopped green onion
- black bean salsa
- salsa or pico de gallo
- jarred or homemade salsa
- guacamole
- sour cream
- tomatillo salsa verde
- avocado salsa verde (yessss!)
- pickled jalapeño peppers
- pickled red onion
- shredded cabbage or slaw
- crushed tortilla chips
Clearly the possibilities are endless! Choose your favorites and have fun with it! Next time you whip up a taco salad, you have my full permission to play mad scientist in the kitchen. Your taste buds will thank you.
The Tastiest Taco Salad Recipe!
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef or ground turkey
- 2 TBSP taco seasoning
- ¼ cup salsa
- 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 cup corn (canned or steamed from fresh/frozen)
- 1 cup diced onion (any color)
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- ¼ cup sliced green onion
- 1 small avocado (diced before serving)
- grated cheddar cheese (add a little – or a lot!)
- ¼-½ cup sour cream for topping
- tortilla chips
AWESOME EXTRAS – CHOOSE YOUR FAVORITES
- black beans or pinto beans
- salsa or taco sauce
- guacamole
- jalapeños
- bell pepper
- black olives
- cilantro
Instructions
- In a skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat until cooked through. Drain if needed. Add the taco seasoning, salsa, and ¼ cup water. Simmer uncovered over low heat until saucy and thickened.
- Chop all the veggies up super small for a little bit of goodness in every bite. Finely chop romaine lettuce, onion, and tomatoes, and thinly chop/slice green onion. Add to a large mixing bowl.
- Next add corn, crushed or whole tortilla chips, and any extras desired from the list above. Let your taste buds be your guide!
- Mix well and divide salad into bowls.
- Top with desired amount of grated cheese, diced avocado, and a dollop or two of sour cream. For a saucier taco salad you can add some of your favorite salsa or taco sauce to the mix. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Taco Salad Dressing
No need for a fancy dressing! Add a hearty dollop of sour cream and a drizzle of your favorite salsa or taco sauce and you’re good to go!
If you want a saucier taco salad, my honey chipotle dressing tastes like the delish taco salad dressing from Chipotle. A dollop of fresh guacamole is another tasty way to dress things up.
Vegan Taco Salad
Top with black beans or pinto beans, taco-style lentils, or taco roasted chickpeas; you can also crumble up a triple-bean veggie burger to make a faux-meat
Vegetarian Taco Salad
Same as above, or if you’re pescatarian you can try them topped with salmon or shrimp!
make your bowl, and eat it too!
Ok so this tortilla baking contraption is absolutely genius.
It’s hands-down one of the most fun foodie gifts I’ve received and you should totally gift these to all your kitchen-savvy friends. Or just run out and buy one for yourself. I love them!
In the meantime? Make your own crunchy baked taco bowls using a small oven-safe bowl to shape the tortilla and you’re good. to. go! For either option, bake at 350F for 6-10 minutes after rubbing/spritzing the tortilla with a teeny bit of healthy oil. I also microwave my tortilla first for 5 seconds to make it extra pliable, it fits perfectly into the tortilla tray this way.
taco salad recipe collection
If you get a chance to try this classic taco salad recipe, or any of my other variations, let me know! Leave me a comment here (LOVE checking those daily!) and tag @PEASandCRAYONS on Instagram so I can happy dance over your tasty creations. I can’t wait to see what you whip up!
Questions & Reviews
These look AMAZING!!! So colorful and I LOVE your cute taco bowls!
If you have a Cafe Rio near you, you must try their creamy cilantro dressing and then try to mimic it. It is the best salad dressing!
A friend of mine bought the shell maker thing & loves it. I keep meaning to get one but I keep forgetting. Thanks for the reminder!
I did not celebrate Cinco de Mayo as I was super busy with other stuff going on and I am SO bummed – Mexican food is my favourite! I reassure myself by reminding myself that every day at my house is Cinco de Mayo haha. And that we have a long summer of warm summer nights and barbecues where taco salad is the perfect vegetarian bringalong so I will make sure I do that! Love these ideas!
I’ve got a large amount of sauteed veggies left from Cinco de Mayo party, and I’m thinking this is a great way to use them. Perfect timing, as usual.
I definitely had a healthy and happy Cinco De Mayo. We had steak tacos 🙂
Reading this post was like going to a party! So cute! Love the recipe.
I haven’t had taco salad in forever! Thanks for inspiring me to make some 🙂
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
YUM I love Cinco de Mayo, your recipes look delish!!! I had a party since it’s also my birthday and definitely enjoyed margaritas and tacos too 🙂
The dish really makes my mouth watering and I feel I have to prepare it now and have it soon.
Yummmmmmm! 🙂 Pinned!
Yum! Your salads look delicious!
Yum! I love taco salad!
Oh girl, I absolutely LOVE this post! Mexican food (especially taco salads) are one of my favorite things to make at home since you can throw practically anything at it and still end up stuffing your face with deliciousness! I really like the idea of fajita-ing the squash/sweet potatoes (seriously, WHY/HOW did I just type “poptart”?!)! I’ve never thought of that before! And I’m with P…ranch, guac, and salsa is one of the best combos EVA!!
Hope you had a great weekend…poptart! <- Yeah, that’s where that was coming from! 😉 xoxo
Is it wrong that I totally forgot what day it was?! Oh the joys of having a newborn!
Taco salads are some of my FAVORITE dinners! Though I should admit I’m quite excited about the fish tacos and margarita I had last night (w/ leftovers tonight)! 😉
This looks great! Those taco bowls are genius 🙂
No sombrero, currently but I DID wear one last night, for several hours. Ole! 🙂
Loveee all of the bright colors! We haven’t tried those tortillas from TJ’s but I love the hint of lime tortilla chips so I can only imagine how tasty they are 😀
Happy Cinco de Mayo! Yum!! I’m going to cook a Mexican feast today too!
i want to lick the bowl then bite it!
This looks so yummy. So easy to mix and match based on preferences. I keep seeing this in the store and wanted to get one. I think I will now. Love taco night!