Taco salad

A taco salad is a salad that contains many of the same ingredients as a taco. The salad is usually served in a tortilla shell or on a bed of lettuce.

The first taco salad recipe was published in a cookbook in the early 1970s. The salad was made with ground beef, tomatoes, lettuce, and cheese. It was served in a tortilla shell.

Over the years, the recipe has been adapted to include different ingredients. Some recipes include beans, rice, corn, and peppers. Others include chicken or steak. Some recipes are vegetarian.

Advice

When making taco salad, it is important to use fresh ingredients, such as tomatoes, lettuce, and onions. It is also beneficial to use lean ground beef or turkey to cut down on fat and calories. Additionally, you can add a variety of other ingredients, such as black beans, corn, and jalapenos to add flavor and texture. Once the ingredients are prepared, you can mix them together in a large bowl and top with a homemade dressing. When serving, be sure to top the taco salad with crushed tortilla chips, shredded cheese, and a dollop of sour cream.

Questions

What are taco salads made of?

Taco salads are typically made with a combination of lettuce, tomatoes, beans, cheese, avocado, sour cream, and ground beef or chicken. They are usually served with a side of Mexican-style dressing such as salsa or guacamole.

Are taco salads unhealthy?

Taco salads can be both healthy and unhealthy depending on the ingredients used. If it is made with fresh ingredients like lettuce, tomatoes, bell peppers, and lean meats, it can be a healthy meal. However, if it is made with unhealthy ingredients like fried tortilla chips, processed meats, and unhealthy dressings, it can be an unhealthy meal.

Is taco salad really a salad?

Taco salad can be considered a salad, depending on its ingredients. Generally, it is a mixture of ingredients such as lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and ground beef or chicken, which can be considered a salad. However, some taco salads may also include ingredients such as tortilla chips, which would not be considered a part of a traditional salad.

Why is it called a taco salad?

The dish is called a taco salad because it is typically served in a crisp shell bowl (like a taco shell) and is composed of ingredients that are often found in tacos, such as ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and cheese, as well as other ingredients such as beans, corn, and peppers.

What lettuce is best for tacos?

Iceberg lettuce is a great choice for tacos. It has a crunchy texture and mild flavor that complements the other ingredients in tacos.

How do you cut lettuce for taco salad?

To cut lettuce for taco salad, start by washing and drying the lettuce. Then, cut off the bottom of the lettuce and discard it. Next, cut the lettuce into bite-sized pieces, or as thin or thick as desired. Finally, toss the lettuce with the other ingredients for the taco salad.

Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights

Recipes

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Chicken Taco Salad

  • tortilla chips of
  • green leaf lettuce
  • cilantro
  • pepper jack cheese
  • salsa
  • vegetable oil
  • butter
  • taco seasoning
  • avocado
  • chicken breast
  • ears corn
  • cilantro
  • green onion
  • tomato
  • ranch dressing
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Best Taco Salad Recipe

  • corn
  • sour cream
  • ground beef
  • taco seasoning
  • buttermilk ranch seasoning
  • cheddar cheese
  • cherry tomato
  • cilantro
  • romaine lettuce
  • lime juice
  • lime zest
  • serrano pepper
  • jalapeño
  • green onion
  • mayonnaise
  • cilantro
  • onion
  • restaurant salsa
  • mccormick taco seasoning
  • avocado
  • tomatillo
  • water
  • radish
  • juanitas tortilla chip
  • milk
  • restaurant salsa
  • lime
  • sour cream
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Easy Taco Salad

  • black bean
  • cheddar cheese
  • tomato
  • tortilla chip
  • ground beef
  • avocado
  • taco seasoning
  • salsa
  • sour cream
  • romaine
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Healthy Taco Salad

  • walnut
  • red cabbage
  • olive oil
  • tamari
  • chili powder
  • avocado
  • romaine lettuce
  • black bean
  • cherry tomato
  • balsamic vinegar
  • corn tortilla
  • red radish
  • shiitake mushroom
  • cilantro lime dressing
  • olive oil
  • jalapeño
  • lime
  • salt
  • salt
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The Best Beefy Taco Salad Recipe

  • beef stock
  • cheddar cheese
  • french salad dressing
  • pepper jack cheese
  • salsa
  • black olife
  • sour cream
  • ground beef
  • kidney bean
  • jalapeño
  • onion
  • bell pepper
  • yellow bell pepper
  • taco seasoning
  • avocado
  • nacho tortilla chip
  • garlic
  • tomato
  • lettuce
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Taco Salad With Sour Cream Dressing

  • taco seasoning
  • olife
  • garlic
  • cheddar cheese
  • salt
  • ground beef
  • olive oil
  • refried bean
  • bell pepper
  • green onion
  • onion
  • salsa
  • chili powder
  • cilantro
  • cumin
  • tomato
  • lime juice
  • mayonnaise
  • corn
  • sour cream
  • lettuce
  • salt
  • cooking spray
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Almost-Famous Steak Taco Salad

  • cooking spray
  • salsa
  • salt
  • salt
  • garlic flake
  • onion flake
  • oregano
  • english cucumber
  • bell pepper
  • onion
  • black bean
  • mayonnaise
  • olive oil
  • chipotle chile powder
  • cumin
  • romaine lettuce heart
  • black olife
  • buttermilk
  • green onion
  • sirloin steak
  • monterey jack cheese
  • worcestershire sauce
  • flour tortilla
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Al Pastor Taco Salad with Spicy Salsa Verde Ranch

  • achiote paste
  • pickled red onion
  • chicken broth
  • smoked paprika
  • cilantro
  • bay leaf
  • oil
  • green onion
  • oregano
  • sage
  • jalapeño
  • lime
  • poblano pepper
  • red fresno
  • onion
  • onion
  • tomatillo
  • red wine vinegar
  • queso fresco
  • cilantro
  • ranch dressing
  • salsa verde
  • cumin seed
  • black pepper
  • clove
  • onion
  • al pastor
  • pork shoulder
  • salt
  • light brown sugar
  • cumin
  • salt
  • bay leaf
  • romaine heart
  • pineapple
  • sugar
  • olive oil
  • garlic
  • flour tortilla
  • radish
  • garlic
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Taco Salad

  • black bean
  • corn
  • ground beef
  • romaine lettuce
  • cilantro
  • cheese
  • olife
  • water
  • red
  • cherry tomato
  • taco seasoning
  • flour tortilla
  • guacamole
  • salsa
  • sour cream
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Dorito Taco Salad

  • catalina dressing
  • onion
  • onion
  • ground beef
  • chili bean
  • taco seasoning
  • cheddar cheese
  • jack cheese
  • nacho cheese dorito
  • lettuce
  • grape tomato
  • ranch dressing
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Beef Taco Salad in Tortilla Bowls

  • black bean
  • ground beef
  • avocado
  • salsa
  • grape tomato
  • black olife
  • cilantro
  • sour cream
  • water
  • chipotle
  • iceberg lettuce
  • cheddar cheese
  • olive oil
  • salt
  • salt
  • vinegar
  • taco seasoning
  • tomato paste
  • green onion
  • flour tortilla
  • bowl
  • romaine lettuce
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Shrimp Avocado Taco Salad

  • black bean
  • yellow corn kernel
  • shrimp
  • chili powder
  • romaine lettuce
  • cherry tomato
  • oregano
  • cumin
  • ranch dressing
  • garlic powder
  • onion
  • black pepper
  • salt
  • cilantro
  • salsa
  • oil
  • avocado
  • lime juice
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Beef Taco Salad

  • dorito
  • cheese
  • ground beef
  • chili powder
  • cilantro
  • olive oil
  • garlic powder
  • cumin
  • onion powder
  • smoked paprika
  • black bean
  • corn
  • avocado
  • onion
  • little tomato
  • salsa
  • sour cream
  • romaine lettuce
  • salt
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Chicken Taco Salad

  • lime juice
  • salt
  • chicken broth
  • chili powder
  • vegetable oil
  • romaine lettuce
  • onion
  • cumin
  • black bean
  • rotisserie chicken
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Chicken Taco Salad

  • salt
  • corn
  • cheddar cheese
  • pickled jalapeno
  • avocado
  • lime zest
  • black bean
  • iceberg lettuce
  • rotisserie chicken
  • vegetable oil
  • tomato
  • flour tortilla
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Creamy Taco Salad

  • mexican cheese
  • ground beef
  • green chile
  • onion
  • grape tomato
  • taco seasoning
  • black bean
  • salsa
  • cilantro
  • tomato sauce
  • romaine heart
  • black olife
  • dressing
  • flour tortilla
  • olive oil
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Nacho Taco Salad

  • refried bean
  • ground beef
  • pepper
  • salt
  • garlic salt
  • original vegetable juice
  • yellow corn meal
  • onion
  • tortilla chip
  • chili powder
  • cumin
  • garlic
  • condiments cheese
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Taco Salad

  • Creamy Salsa Dressing
  • salt
  • sour cream
  • lime juice
  • taco seasoning
  • salsa
  • cilantro
  • jalapeño
  • avocado
  • black bean
  • tortilla
  • corn
  • romaine lettuce
  • ground beef
  • olive oil
  • pepita
  • cilantro
  • onion
  • salsa
  • taco seasoning
  • mexican cheese
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Chipotle Pork Taco Salad

  • salt
  • pork tenderloin
  • chipotle
  • sweet potato tortilla chip
  • cilantro
  • sour cream
  • corn
  • lime juice
  • vegetable oil
  • romaine lettuce
  • tomato
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Dorito Taco Salad

  • cheese
  • cherry tomato
  • lettuce
  • ground beef
  • doritos chip
  • taco seasoning
  • black olife
  • pinto bean
  • salad dressing
  • water
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Chicken Taco Salad

  • green leaf lettuce of lettuce
  • cilantro
  • pepper jack cheese
  • kernel corn
  • salsa
  • taco seasoning
  • vegetable oil
  • avocado
  • chicken breast
  • cilantro
  • green onion
  • tomato
  • ranch dressing
  • tortilla chip
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Skinny Taco Salad

  • black bean
  • black olife
  • kernel corn
  • cilantro
  • cheddar cheese
  • tortilla
  • honey
  • avocado
  • romaine lettuce
  • orange juice
  • cumin
  • black pepper
  • salt
  • grape tomato
  • cilantro
  • olive oil
  • lime juice
  • onion
  • skinny cilantro lime dressing
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Whole30 Taco Salad

  • meat
  • tomato
  • mayonnaise
  • lime
  • onion
  • cilantro
  • taco seasoning
  • almond milk
  • avocado
  • romaine
  • cilantro
  • cilantro
  • jalapeño
  • lime juice
  • black olife

Ingredient Breakdown

 
cilantro
salt
onion
avocado
taco seasoning
salsa
black bean
ground beef
olive oil
tomato
sour cream
romaine lettuce
corn
lime juice
cumin
green onion
cheddar cheese
black olife
chili powder
jalapeño
lime
flour tortilla
vegetable oil
ranch dressing
cherry tomato
mayonnaise
garlic
water
bell pepper
lettuce
grape tomato
pepper jack cheese
tortilla chip
oregano
black pepper
romaine heart
cheese
chipotle
tortilla
garlic powder
chicken breast
lime zest
restaurant salsa
tomatillo
radish
romaine
kidney bean
olife
refried bean
cooking spray
chicken broth
smoked paprika
bay leaf
oil
red wine vinegar
sugar
iceberg lettuce
onion powder
rotisserie chicken
mexican cheese
kernel corn
tortilla chips of
green leaf lettuce
butter
ears corn
buttermilk ranch seasoning
serrano pepper
mccormick taco seasoning
juanitas tortilla chip
milk
walnut
red cabbage
tamari
balsamic vinegar
corn tortilla
red radish
shiitake mushroom
cilantro lime dressing
beef stock
french salad dressing
yellow bell pepper
nacho tortilla chip
garlic flake
onion flake
english cucumber
chipotle chile powder
romaine lettuce heart
buttermilk
sirloin steak
monterey jack cheese
worcestershire sauce
achiote paste
pickled red onion
sage
poblano pepper
red fresno
queso fresco
salsa verde
cumin seed
clove
al pastor
pork shoulder
light brown sugar
pineapple
red
guacamole
catalina dressing
chili bean
jack cheese
nacho cheese dorito
vinegar
tomato paste
bowl
cucumber
hidden valley original ranch dressing mix
chicken
greek yogurt
yellow corn kernel
shrimp
dorito
little tomato
pickled jalapeno
chicken tender
cayenne pepper
green
green chile
tomato sauce
dressing
pepper
garlic salt
original vegetable juice
yellow corn meal
condiments cheese
pepita
pork tenderloin
sweet potato tortilla chip
doritos chip
pinto bean
salad dressing
green leaf lettuce of lettuce
honey
orange juice
skinny cilantro lime dressing
meat
almond milk

Insights

Correlated with Higher Ratings

  • olive oil
  • taco seasoning

Staple Ingredients

  • onion 56%
  • salt 56%
  • avocado 52%
  • black bean 52%
  • cilantro 52%

Common Ingredients

  • ground beef 48%
  • salsa 44%
  • taco seasoning 44%
  • olive oil 40%

Usual Ingredients

  • cumin 36%
  • romaine lettuce 36%
  • cheddar cheese 32%
  • corn 32%
  • sour cream 32%
  • black olife 28%
  • chili powder 28%
  • green onion 28%
  • lime juice 28%
  • tomato 28%

Rarey Ingredients

  • flour tortilla 24%
  • cherry tomato 20%
  • jalapeño 20%