• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
trending now: 35 cinco de mayo recipes!
  • About
  • Press/Advertise
  • Contact

Isabel Eats

Easy Mexican recipes for home cooks

  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Course
      • Breakfast
      • Dinner
      • Sides
      • Desserts
      • Appetizers
      • Drinks
      • Soups & Stews
      • Salads
      • Salsas
      • Sauces and Condiments
    • Diet
      • Gluten Free
      • Low Carb
      • Paleo
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
    • Meat
      • Beef
      • Chicken
      • Chorizo
      • Pork
      • Turkey
      • Seafood
    • Occasion
      • Christmas
      • Cinco De Mayo
      • Easter
      • Game Day
      • Summer
      • Thanksgiving
    • Type
      • 30 Minute Meals
      • Mexican Basics
      • Freezer Friendly
      • Grilling
      • Healthy
      • Instant Pot
      • Slow Cooker
      • Tacos
  • Dinners
  • Kitchen Tips
  • Life
  • Shop
  • Free ebook!

    Download my top 10 easy Mexican recipes!

Browse by Course/Type/Diet

  • by course
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner
    • Sides
    • Desserts
    • Appetizers
    • Drinks
    • Soups & Stews
    • Salads
    • Salsas
    • Sauces & Condiments
  • by type
    • 30 Minute Meals
    • Mexican Basics
    • Freezer Friendly
    • Grilling
    • Healthy
    • Instant Pot
    • Slow Cooker
    • Tacos
  • by meat
    • Beef
    • Chicken
    • Chorizo
    • Pork
    • Turkey
    • Seafood
  • by diet
    • Gluten Free
    • Low Carb
    • Paleo
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
  • by occasion
    • Christmas
    • Cinco De Mayo
    • Easter
    • Game Day
    • Summer
    • Thanksgiving
Jump to latest Browse All Recipes
HomeRecipes30 Minute Meals

The Best Taco Salad Recipe

  • Facebook
  • Email
By: IsabelPosted: 4/16/19

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclaimer.

Jump to Recipe

This Taco Salad recipe is the absolute best! Made with seasoned ground beef, chopped lettuce and all your favorite toppings (including nacho-flavored Doritos tortilla chips), this salad is ready in under 30 minutes and the kids will love it!

A white bowl filled with taco salad made from ground beef, iceberg lettuce and tortilla chips.

Maybe it’s just my inner 13-year-old child talking, but a taco salad recipe that’s actually topped with nacho-flavored tortilla chips is pretty much my dream come true.

I definitely ate a version of this in middle school at least once a week. Back then it was all about the walking taco – you’d buy one of those 25 cent bags of corn chips or tortilla chips (or in my case Hot Cheetos), stuff them with nacho cheese, ground beef, sour cream, a teeny tiny bit of lettuce and eat it all with a fork. I looked forward to lunch every single day.

But now that I’m older and slightly wiser, I try to make sure my meals are at least 80% good for me and filled healthy ingredients.

The other 20%? Well that’s all about cravings, healthy or not, and today I’m craving good ol’ classic Doritos!

A white mixing bowl filled with chopped iceberg lettuce.
A white mixing bowl filled with chopped tomatoes, pinto beans, iceberg lettuce, cheese and green onions for taco salad.

Taco Salad ingredients

While you probably won’t see a taco salad recipe quite like this in your favorite Mexican restaurant, it is made with all of my favorite Mexican-inspired ingredients.

  • chopped iceberg lettuce (which is great for meal prep since it holds up well in the fridge)
  • lean ground beef
  • homemade taco seasoning
  • pinto beans for some added fiber to keep you full
  • tomatoes and green onions
  • cheese
  • and of course, tortilla chips! I used nacho-flavored Doritos, but you can use regular tortilla chips or even make your own homemade tortilla chips if you prefer

A bowl of taco salad made from ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes, and doritos tortilla chips.

How to make this Taco Salad Recipe

First, combine my favorite homemade taco seasoning spices with lean ground beef. These include chili powder, cumin, garlic and onion powder, paprika and oregano.

Then cook the ground beef in a large skillet. Add a 1/2 cup of water at the end, bring to a simmer and then remove from heat. This will create a flavorful sauce that acts almost as a dressing in the salad.

In a large bowl, mix together chopped lettuce, tomatoes, pinto beans, green onions and cheese.

Last but not least, serve the salad with the seasoned ground beef and sauce and top with nacho-flavored tortilla chips.

How to serve Taco Salad

If you’re serving this Dorito Taco Salad at a party or potluck, I recommend tossing all the ingredients together right before serving to prevent it from becoming too soggy.

If you’re making this for yourself or your family and you anticipate having leftovers, I recommend adding the ground beef and Doritos to each individual serving so that the lettuce mixture doesn’t get soggy when you store it in the fridge.

Sliced avocado halves on top of a taco salad bowl.

Dressing or no dressing?

Feel free to drizzle in some additional dressing like this creamy cilantro lime dressing, ranch, catalina or even guacamole Salsa. I find that adding dressing makes everything a bit too wet and soggy for my liking, but that’s totally personal preference.

More Mexican inspired recipes you’ll love

  • Grilled Corn Salsa
  • Easy Taco Casserole
  • Chicken Fajita Stuffed French Bread
  • Easy Loaded Mexican Nachos
  • Mexican Chimichurri Chicken Salad

I hope you love this recipe – be sure to give it a review below! To get more easy Mexican recipes delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for my weekly email newsletter. You can also follow Isabel Eats on Facebook,  Instagram and Pinterest!

Recipe

4.04 from 29 votes

The Best Taco Salad Recipe

Serves: 6 servings
Print
Rate
This Taco Salad recipe is the absolute best! Made with seasoned ground beef, chopped lettuce and all your favorite toppings (including nacho-flavored tortilla chips), this salad is ready in under 30 minutes and the kids will love it!
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total : 25 minutes
This Taco Salad recipe is the absolute best! Made with seasoned ground beef, chopped lettuce and all your favorite toppings (including nacho-flavored tortilla chips), this salad is ready in under 30 minutes and the kids will love it!

Ingredients

For the taco meat

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 tablespoon cooking oil
  • 1/2 cup water

For the salad

  • 1 head iceberg lettuce, chopped
  • 1 15-ounce can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 cup diced tomatoes
  • 1/3 cup chopped green onions
  • 1 cup shredded mexican blend cheese
  • 1/2 11-ounce bag nacho-flavored tortilla chips (like Doritos)

Instructions

For the taco meat

  • In a large bowl, add ground beef, chili powder, ground cumin, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and dried oregano. Mix together with hands until well combined.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add the cooking oil. Add the ground beef and break up the meat into smaller chunks using a wooden spoon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the beef is completely browned, about 8 to 10 minutes.
  • Add the water and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat and cover to keep warm.

For the salad

  • In a large mixing bowl, add the lettuce, pinto beans, diced tomatoes, chopped green onions and shredded cheese. Toss to combine.
  • If you're planning to serve this at a party, add the cooked ground beef and nacho-flavored tortilla chips and toss to combine. Serve immediately.
    If you're planning to serve this for dinner and you think you'll have leftovers, I recommend adding the ground beef and nacho-flavored tortilla chips to each individual serving so that the lettuce mixture doesn't get soggy when you store it in the fridge.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1/6th of recipe Calories: 405kcal (20%) Carbohydrates: 35g (12%) Protein: 27g (54%) Fat: 19g (29%) Saturated Fat: 7g (35%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 6g Trans Fat: 0g Cholesterol: 65mg (22%) Sodium: 940mg (39%) Potassium: 369mg (11%) Fiber: 8g (32%) Sugar: 3g (3%) Vitamin A: 1450IU (29%) Vitamin C: 10.7mg (13%) Calcium: 210mg (21%) Iron: 5mg (28%)
Author: Isabel Eats
Course:Main
Cuisine:Mexican
This Taco Salad recipe is the absolute best! Made with seasoned ground beef, chopped lettuce and all your favorite toppings (including nacho-flavored tortilla chips), this salad is ready in under 30 minutes and the kids will love it!
Did you Make my The Best Taco Salad Recipe?Leave a comment below and tag @isabeleats on social media!
@isabeleats

You may also like…

  • This Homemade Taco Seasoning recipe is made without any added sugar or weird ingredients - just a delicious blend of Mexican spices and herbs to get your taco party started!
    Homemade Taco Seasoning Recipe
  • This Healthy Taco Dip made with 5 layers of delicious ingredients is ready in under 10 minutes and is the perfect appetizer for any party!
    Healthy Taco Dip
  • A bright, fresh Mexican Chimichurri Chicken Salad featuring grilled corn, summer tomatoes, marinated and grilled chimichurri chicken and creamy avocados. (gluten free)
    Mexican Chimichurri Chicken Salad
  • This Easy Taco Casserole (also known as Taco Lasagna) is made with 3 layers of corn tortillas, ground beef, corn, black beans, the best taco seasoning and lots of melted cheese!
    Easy Taco Casserole
free ebook!

download my top 10 recipe book

Subscribe and receive a free e-cookbook of our Top 10 Easy Mexican Recipes!

Get My Copy!

Download my top 10 easy Mexican recipes!

Crumbled cotija cheese on a gray stone plate.
Previous Post
Cotija Cheese 101
Made with dried chiles and a piece of Mexican chocolate, this Authentic Enchilada Sauce recipe is perfect in many dishes including enchiladas!
Next Post
Authentic Enchilada Sauce

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Use the form below to submit your question or comment. I love hearing from you and seeing what you made!
Recipe Rating:




  1. AvatarSabrina says

    Posted on 9/19 at 7:06 pm

    5 stars
    I love taco salad but haven’t had one or made one in years, so don’t remember all of the ingredients, this recipe looks like it fits my memory very well, thank you!

    Reply
  2. Avatardoug murray says

    Posted on 7/7 at 8:39 pm

    5 stars
    We found this recipe was just what a hot night in SouthEastern Ontario was meant for.We did add a tbsp. of salsa but stayed true to the rest of the recipe and thoroughly enjoyed it. After making this I was surprised by the so so ratings from other tasters but we will be having it again

    Reply
  3. AvatarFlo says

    Posted on 6/14 at 2:16 pm

    5 stars
    Current recipe Called for Catalina dressing but didn’t like the flavor. I also like the taco seasoning as I can control the salt. Took ur advice and just made what the 2 of us needed. Meat was great for tacos, chalupas . . .

    Reply
  4. AvatarAailyah Alce says

    Posted on 3/11 at 10:03 am

    wow that is best taco i use this recipe for my job everyone love it thank mmmm good job

    Reply
  5. AvatarGary Franks says

    Posted on 2/18 at 11:15 am

    Can’t wait to try this recipe. If I was to use your taco seasoning, how much should I use?

    Reply
    • IsabelIsabel says

      Posted on 4/1 at 12:04 pm

      Thanks, Gary! I would use 2 tablespoons of my homemade taco seasoning. I hope you love it!

      Reply
  6. AvatarJeff says

    Posted on 5/28 at 5:26 pm

    5 stars
    All your recipes look so yummy. Thank you for the great fruit flavoured Kombucha recipe. It’s awesome

    Reply
    • IsabelIsabel says

      Posted on 6/3 at 2:06 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  7. AvatarJack Smith says

    Posted on 4/17 at 12:02 pm

    5 stars
    I love this salads! Such a great childhood memory for me. This looks delish!

    And your site…this is the first time I’m seeing it on my big 27″ iMac and omg it’s so beautiful 🙂

    Reply
    • IsabelIsabel says

      Posted on 4/18 at 9:55 am

      Haha, aw thank you so much! It’s one of my childhood favorites, too!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

¡Hola!

i’m isabel

A first-generation Mexican American who loves to cook! Here at Isabel Eats, you’ll find a mix of all your favorite authentic Mexican recipes with a twist! Read More

free ebook!

download my top 10 easy mexican recipes!

Life’s too short for boring food. Subscribe and receive a free e-book of our Top 10 Easy Mexican Recipes!

Get my copy!

Download my top 10 easy Mexican recipes!

Healthy Favorites

This low carb and cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower Rice Chicken Casserole recipe is perfect for dinner and makes great leftovers. It's also gluten free!

Broccoli Cauliflower Rice Chicken Casserole

Cooked canned black beans with tomatoes, onions and garlic in a bowl.

How to Cook Canned Black Beans

A bowl of cilantro lime cauliflower rice on a table next to fresh limes.

Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

Healthy Chicken Nachos

Chicken Pozole Verde is a comforting Mexican soup filled with shredded chicken and hominy in a comforting green chile broth. (gluten free, freezer friendly)

Chicken Pozole Verde

Sauteed Peppers and onions in a white bowl.

Sauteed Peppers and Onions

Popular Recipes

Steak Fajita Marinade

Chile relleno on a plate with red salsa.

Chile Relleno Recipe

Flan on a plate with a slice cut out

Easy Flan Recipe

Chicken enchiladas in a baking dish topped with cilantro.

Easy Chicken Enchiladas

Juicy pork carnitas in warm corn tortillas topped with cilantro, onions and limes.

Easy Carnitas Recipe

These simple yet flavorful chicken tacos are easy to make and filled with super juicy and delicious boneless skinless chicken thighs. Perfect for weeknight meals and makes great leftovers! #tacos #mexican #glutenfree

Easy Chicken Tacos Recipe

Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window

5-star faves

Frozen margaritas in glasses topped with lime wedges.

Frozen Margaritas

These were absolutely delicious. So fresh and the perfect amount of sweetness.
A bowl of borracho beans

Borracho Beans

These beans are delicious! Garlic, onion, beer and bacon…you can’t go wrong, lol! I loved these!

Chile Colorado

This recipe is so perfect and delicious. My entire family loved it! Big kudos to you for such an authentic masterpiece!
follow along @isabeleats

Favorites

  • Tacos
  • Sides
  • 30 Minute Meals
  • Desserts
  • Drinks
  • Salsas

Browse By Meat

  • Chicken
  • Beef
  • Pork
  • Seafood
  • Turkey
  • Chorizo
Back to Top
  • About
  • Press
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
© 2021 Isabel Eats Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled