Kitchen notes · a little help before you start
Taco Salad (Healthy, Easy Recipe)
Warm taco beef meets crisp lettuce and cool, creamy toppings in this generous salad. Salsa and sour cream coat the leaves as everything is tossed together, so the bold seasoning carries through the bowl instead of staying only on the beef.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Total
- 20 min
- Original yield
- Serves 6
- Ingredients
- 10 listed
Make it part of your week
Recipe categories & planning details
- Meal type
- Main course
- Primary protein
- Beef
- Cuisine
- Mexican
- Cooking method
- Stir fry
- Preparation & total time
- Prep: 15 minutes or less · Total: 30 minutes or less
- Dish type
- Salads · Tacos
A few quick notes
1. Brown the beef well
Break up the ground beef as it cooks and wait until the moisture has evaporated before adding the taco seasoning.
2. Mix in the seasoning
Stir the taco seasoning thoroughly through the browned beef so the spices are spread throughout the meat.
3. Toss together
Combine the salad ingredients in a large bowl before adding the seasoned beef and tossing everything together.
Get to know the ingredients
Romaine
Use chopped romaine so the lettuce mixes easily with the beef, tomatoes and creamy ingredients when tossed.
Avocado
Cube the avocado for the salad so it distributes through the bowl with the other toppings.
Taco seasoning
Either store bought or homemade taco seasoning is listed; stir it into the beef after browning.
Let’s make it
Choose your servings, then check things off as you go.
Original recipe: Serves 6. Original quantities shown.
Check ingredients as you prepare them. These checks stay on this page.
How to make it
0 of 3 steps completeMake room for Taco Salad (Healthy, Easy Recipe)
Review ingredients in your pantry before anything is added. Meal plans use your household size; grocery-only additions use the servings selected above.
The last little job
Coat the whole salad
Toss the beef with the salad ingredients so the salsa and sour cream mingle throughout the bowl.
A little more help as you go
Optional splash of water
You can add a quarter cup of water with the seasoning and let the beef simmer a little.
Prep while beef cooks
Combine the remaining ingredients while the beef browns so the salad is ready for the seasoned meat.
A few questions you might have
When does the taco seasoning go in?
Brown the ground beef first, breaking it into pieces, then stir in the taco seasoning until well combined.
Can I use homemade taco seasoning?
Yes. The ingredient list allows either homemade or store bought taco seasoning for the browned ground beef.
Is water required for the beef?
Water is optional; add a quarter cup with the seasoning and let the mixture simmer a little if desired.
How should the tomatoes be prepared?
Halve the grape tomatoes before combining them with the chopped lettuce and other ingredients in the salad bowl.
When do I combine the beef and salad?
Once the beef is browned and seasoned, add it to the bowl of remaining ingredients and toss everything together.
Storage & reheating safety
For cooked, perishable leftovers, refrigerate within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F), using shallow containers for prompt cooling. Keep the refrigerator at 40°F or below, use refrigerated leftovers within 3–4 days, and reheat hot leftovers to 165°F, checked with a food thermometer. Follow any shorter package limit.
These are general safety limits, not a tested storage or freezing recommendation for this particular dish. USDA leftovers guidance · Safe cooking temperatures
Recipe source: wholesomeyum.com. Ingredient names and quantities may be adapted for the pantry.
Preparation notes follow the recipe shown here.
