Description
Taco Salad with Catalina Dressing is a quick and easy meal combining fresh vegetables, seasoned ground beef or turkey, crunchy tortilla chips, and a sweet tangy Catalina dressing. Perfect for weeknight dinners or entertaining, this flavorful salad balances savory, sweet, crunchy, and creamy elements for a satisfying and customizable dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 1 lb ground beef or turkey (lean)
- 2 tbsp taco seasoning
- 1/4 cup water
Vegetables
- 1 head romaine lettuce, washed and chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
- Optional: diced jalapeños for spice
Other Salad Ingredients
- 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 to 1 1/2 cups tortilla chips, crushed or whole
Dressing
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup Catalina dressing (store-bought or homemade)
Instructions
- Cook the Meat: Brown ground beef or turkey in a skillet over medium-high heat. Drain excess fat, then stir in taco seasoning and water. Simmer until fully cooked and flavorful, about 5-7 minutes.
- Prepare the Veggies: Wash and chop romaine lettuce, halve cherry tomatoes, thinly slice red onion, and roughly chop fresh cilantro to create a fresh, vibrant base.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large bowl, combine cooked meat, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, black beans, and shredded cheddar cheese. Toss gently to mix ingredients evenly.
- Dress It Up: Drizzle Catalina dressing generously over the salad. Toss gently again just before serving to keep the tortilla chips crunchy.
- Add the Crunch: Top the salad with crushed or whole tortilla chips and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro for added texture and authentic taco flavor.
Notes
- Season meat generously with taco seasoning for bold flavor.
- Keep Catalina dressing chilled until serving for best taste.
- Add tortilla chips last, right before eating, to maintain crunch.
- Use fresh cilantro to brighten flavor and presentation.
- Adjust spice levels by adding jalapeños or hot sauce if desired.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Skillet Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salad bowl
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
Keywords: taco salad, Catalina dressing, ground beef salad, quick dinner, Mexican salad, healthy salad, gluten free salad