The Best Easy Ground Beef Taco Salad Recipe
Make this family favorite taco salad quickly. This recipe features seasoned ground beef, fresh lettuce, and a creamy dressing, perfect for a weeknight dinner or a summer gathering.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Total Time: 30 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Skillet Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican Inspired
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning mix
- 1 head iceberg or romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup chopped tomatoes
- 1/2 cup sliced black olives
- 1/2 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup Catalina dressing (optional, for classic flavor)
- 1 cup crushed tortilla chips or Doritos (optional, for crunch)
Instructions
- Cook the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat until browned. Drain off any excess fat.
- Stir the taco seasoning mix and the amount of water specified on the seasoning packet into the beef. Simmer according to package directions until the sauce thickens.
- In a large bowl, combine the chopped lettuce, seasoned ground beef, tomatoes, and black olives. If using Doritos, add them now.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream and Catalina dressing until smooth. If you skip the Catalina dressing, use only sour cream or yogurt.
- Pour the dressing mixture over the salad ingredients. Gently toss everything together until lightly coated.
- Top the salad with shredded cheddar cheese before serving immediately.
Notes
- For a low carb taco salad, omit the Doritos or tortilla chips and use a sugar-free dressing.
- To make this a layered taco salad bowl, place the lettuce on the bottom, then the meat, followed by the toppings and dressing.
- This recipe scales well for a crowd; simply increase ingredient amounts proportionally.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Unsaturated Fat: 16
- Trans Fat: 0.5
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 30
- Cholesterol: 75