The Ultimate Beef Taco Salad Fiesta in a Bowl

Recipe Introduction

Quick Hook

Fancy a fiesta in a bowl? This beef taco salad is the easy answer to a quick and yummy dinner. Honestly, who can resist seasoned ground beef and crispy tortilla chips?

Brief Overview

The beef taco salad is a Tex-Mex marvel! It takes cues from the classics mexican ground beef recipes , and turns a simple taco into a vibrant meal.

This easy taco salad recipe is ready in 40 minutes and serves 4-6.

Main Benefits

This recipe is a fantastic way to sneak in some extra veggies. It can be enjoyed as one of those easy weeknight dinners . The best part? It is totally customizable.

Craving more info? Let's chat about the bits and bobs you will need!

Get Your Bits Ready: Beef Taco Salad Ingredients

Beefy Goodness

For the star of the show, you'll need 1 tablespoon of olive oil, a medium yellow onion, and 1 pound of ground beef.

Don’t forget a packet of homemade taco seasoning recipe to bring that authentic flavor. Oh, and half a cup of water to bring it all together.

Salad Shenanigans

Get your greens ready! Grab one head of iceberg lettuce, a can each of black beans and corn. Add color with 1 cup of halved cherry tomatoes and 2 diced avocados.

Top it all off with 4 ounces of shredded cheddar, half a cup each of sour cream and salsa.

Crunch Time!

No beef taco salad is complete without some crunch. A bag of lightly salted tortilla chips is essential, and feel free to use taco salad with doritos .

Ingredients & Equipment for Your Beef Taco Salad

Right, so you fancy making a beef taco salad ? Sorted! Let's dive into what you'll need. I reckon this is one of those easy weeknight dinners that'll become a firm favourite.

It's even good as a quick lunch idea .

Main Ingredients: The Nitty Gritty

• Olive Oil: 1 tablespoon (15 ml) . Any will do, really.
• Onion: 1 medium , finely chopped. Yellow onions are ideal.
• Ground Beef: 1 pound (450g) . Go for 80/20 for that juicy flavour.
• Taco Seasoning: 1 packet (approx. 1 oz or 28g) . Makes life easy!
• Water: ½ cup (120 ml) . Plain and simple.
• Iceberg Lettuce: 1 head , shredded. About 8 cups' worth.
• Black Beans: 1 (15-ounce) can (425g) , rinsed.
• Corn: 1 (15-ounce) can (425g) , drained.
• Cherry Tomatoes: 1 cup (150g) , halved.
• Avocados: 2 , diced. Hass avocados are the best.
• Cheddar Cheese: 4 ounces (115g) , shredded.
• Sour Cream: ½ cup (120ml) . Or Greek yogurt for a healthier twist.
• Salsa: ½ cup (120ml) . Pick your favourite!
• Tortilla Chips: Lightly salted, for that satisfying crunch.

When it comes to ground beef, look for a bright red colour and a firm texture. And for avocados, give them a gentle squeeze they should yield slightly.

Seasoning Notes: Spice it Up!

Taco seasoning is your best mate here. It is the easy way to get your taste of mexican ground beef recipes .

But feel free to tweak it. Cumin, chili powder, and a pinch of smoked paprika work wonders. You might want to make your own homemade taco seasoning recipe .

A dash of hot sauce will always give it a spicy kick!. If you are trying other taco recipes with ground beef this base seasoning would be ideal.

If you're after a vegetarian taco fillings option, swap the beef with seasoned lentils. Honestly, it works a treat! This is just as delicious as the chicken fajita salad recipe in my opinion.

Equipment Needed: Keep It Simple

• Large Skillet. For browning that beef.
• Cutting Board. Obvious, innit?
• Chef's Knife. To chop those veggies like a pro.
• Large Bowl. For assembling the masterpiece.

If you haven't got a fancy skillet, a regular frying pan will do the trick. And if you are making a dump and go crockpot recipes version of this beef, you can make the meet there and it will also do the job, just make sure you drain it before.

This is one of those healthy salad recipes that doesn't require any fancy gear.

The Ultimate Beef Taco Salad: Fiesta in a Bowl!

Fancy a proper crowd pleaser? This beef taco salad is the business. It's easy to make, packed with flavour, and way more fun than regular taco recipes with ground beef .

Honestly, it’s like a party in your mouth.

Prep Steps: Get Your Act Together

First, you need to get your mise en place sorted. Chop your onion, measure out your spices. It saves ages, trust me.

Essential mise en place is a must. Chop your onion and measure out all your spices. Drain those beans and corn.

It saves ages and keeps things running smoothly, trust me, your future self will thank you.

Time Saving Tip: Shred the lettuce and prep other toppings earlier in the day, or even the night before. This is perfect for easy weeknight dinners .

step-by-step: From Frying Pan to Fiesta

1. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in your skillet over medium high heat.
2. Add the chopped onion. Cook for 5 minutes until softened.
3. Brown 1 pound of ground beef. Break it up with a spoon until evenly cooked. Drain the fat no one wants a greasy salad, you know?
4. Stir in the taco seasoning and ½ cup of water. Simmer for 5- 7 minutes , till it thickens.
5. Chuck your lettuce, beans, corn and tomatoes into a big bowl.
6. Add your beef mixture to the salad bowl. Toss gently.
7. Top with avocado, cheese, sour cream, and salsa.
8. Crush some tortilla chips on top right before serving.

Pro Tips for a Cracking Taco Salad

Want to up your game? Here's the skinny.

To avoid overcooking the beef, cook it just until it's browned. The taco seasoning blend will work its magic. Honestly, I’ve made this mistake before, and nobody wants dry beef in their salad.

No way!

Shortcut: Use pre-shredded lettuce to save time. It's readily available and one of the quick lunch ideas you can use in your life.

A common mistake is not draining the beef properly. Get rid of that extra grease or your salad will be swimming in fat.

Nobody wants that. make-ahead? Absolutely! You can prepare the beef mixture a day in advance. Just store it in the fridge and reheat when you’re ready to assemble your beef taco salad .

Boom!

Recipe Notes for Your Amazing Beef Taco Salad

Right then, let's chat about making this beef taco salad your own . This ain't just a recipe, it’s a guideline!

Serving Suggestions: Ace Your Plating!

Picture this: A vibrant bowl, piled high. Start with the lettuce, then layer the k_annotated = ['mexican ground beef recipes'] beef, beans, and corn.

Arrange your tomatoes and avocado nicely on top. A sprinkle of cheese and a dollop of sour cream finishes it off.

Honestly , presentation matters! Serve with a frosty Corona or some agua fresca for the full effect.

Storage Tips: Keep it Fresh!

Got leftovers? No worries! Store the beef mixture separately from the salad in airtight containers. That keeps the lettuce from getting soggy.

The beef will happily sit in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a pan or microwave.

Freezing isn't ideal due to the lettuce, but the beef freezes okay for a month or two.

Variations: Go Wild!

Fancy a change? For a veggie twist, try swapping the beef for seasoned lentils or sweet potatoes honestly amazing.

Need a k_annotated = ['healthy salad recipes'] option? Use ground turkey taco salad instead of beef and go easy on the cheese.

You could always use k_annotated = ['chicken fajita salad recipe'], maybe for k_annotated = ['quick lunch ideas']. In the summer, grilled corn adds a smoky sweetness.

Use this in other k_annotated = ['taco recipes with ground beef'].

Nutrition Basics: Fuel Your Body!

This easy taco salad recipe is packed with protein and fiber. The beef gives you iron, and the veggies are full of vitamins.

Go easy on the sour cream and cheese if you're watching your waistline. Look for k_annotated = ['best salad dressing for tacos'].

Remember, k_annotated = ['healthy beef taco salad'] is possible.

So there you have it! Loads of ideas to make this ground beef taco salad totally you . This is one of our favourite k_annotated = ['easy weeknight dinners'].

It's easier than searching for k_annotated = ['dump and go crockpot recipes'] in my opinion. Now go on, get creative, have fun, and enjoy every delicious bite!