The Ultimate Taco Salad Recipe: Classic Ground Beef and Doritos Version
Make this classic taco salad featuring seasoned ground beef, fresh toppings, and a creamy dressing. This recipe is fast enough for a weeknight dinner and easily adaptable for parties.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Total Time: 30 min
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: No Cook Assembly
- Cuisine: Mexican Inspired
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning mix
- 1 head iceberg lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup sliced black olives
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion
- 1 cup crushed tortilla chips or Doritos (optional)
- 1 cup Catalina dressing
Instructions
- Cook the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Stir the taco seasoning mix and the amount of water specified on the packet into the beef. Simmer for 5 minutes until thickened. Set aside to cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, combine the chopped lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, and red onion.
- If using, crush the tortilla chips or Doritos and add them to the vegetable mixture.
- Add the cooked ground beef mixture to the salad bowl.
- Pour the Catalina dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the top before serving.
Notes
- For a healthier version, skip the Doritos and use a light vinaigrette instead of Catalina dressing.
- You can prepare the beef mixture and chop the vegetables ahead of time for quick assembly later.
- To make this a low-carb option, omit the chips and use shredded cabbage instead of lettuce.
- For a crowd, layer the ingredients in a large, shallow serving dish instead of tossing them together.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 750
- Fat: 30
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Unsaturated Fat: 20
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 22
- Cholesterol: 65