Description
A vibrant and hearty Taco Salad featuring seasoned ground beef or turkey, fresh vegetables, crunchy tortilla chips, and a zesty homemade Catalina dressing. Perfect for a quick, flavorful meal that combines textures and bold Mexican-inspired flavors in a healthy salad.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Seasoning
- 1 pound ground beef or turkey
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Salad
- 1 head (about 6–8 cups) romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup crushed tortilla chips
- ½ cup canned corn, drained
- ½ cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 avocado, diced
Dressing
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ⅓ cup Catalina dressing
- 2 tablespoons salsa
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Toppings
- Additional shredded cheddar cheese
- Additional Catalina dressing
Instructions
- Cook the Meat: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef or turkey until thoroughly browned and no longer pink, breaking it apart with a spatula as it cooks.
- Season the Meat: Add water, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper to the skillet. Stir well to evenly coat the meat with the spices. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.
- Prepare the Salad Base: In a large bowl, combine chopped romaine lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, shredded cheddar cheese, crushed tortilla chips, drained corn, and rinsed black beans. Toss gently to mix ingredients evenly.
- Add the Meat: Add the seasoned ground meat to the salad bowl and toss everything together to combine all components thoroughly.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream, Catalina dressing, salsa, lime juice, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well blended.
- Toss Salad with Dressing: Pour the dressing over the salad mixture and toss carefully to coat all ingredients evenly with the dressing.
- Add Toppings and Serve: Top the salad with diced avocado, extra shredded cheddar cheese, and additional Catalina dressing if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy.
Notes
- Ground turkey can be used as a leaner alternative to beef.
- For added crunch, consider toasting the tortilla chips lightly before crushing.
- Adjust chili powder and spices to taste for preferred heat level.
- This salad is best served immediately to keep the chips crunchy.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Keywords: Taco Salad, Catalina Dressing, Ground Beef Salad, Mexican Salad, Healthy Taco Recipe
