Ground Beef Taco Salad

Salads like these are the perfect all-in-one dinner to serve on busy weeknights.

This Ground Beef Taco Salad is healthy and one of our favorites! Ground beef is browned with onions and garlic. Once cooked, kidney beans, tomato and spices are mixed in. Lettuce and crushed tortilla chips are topped with the ground beef mixture for a delicious salad idea.

It's a healthy dinner that can be on the table in less than 30 minutes!

An Easy Salad With Ground Beef

• It's an easy all-in-one dinner that keeps dirty dishes to a minimum.
• Not only is it budget-friendly, it's also easily adaptable with ingredient variations.
• No need to cook the ground beef separately, which makes this recipe super easy.
• This is a great way to eat more veggies as they're mixed right in with the taco beef.
• This meal is healthy and flavorful.

Recipe Ingredients

GROUND BEEF: Lean ground beef is sauteed with onion and garlic until it's browned. Using lean or extra lean ground beef will eliminate excess grease that needs to be drained before adding other ingredients.

VEGETABLES: Yellow or white onions and minced garlic are sauteed with the ground beef. Tomatoes are added at the last minute of cooking. Shredded lettuce is the perfect crispy base for the salad.

BEANS: A can of red kidney beans is the perfect addition to this meal. However, most varieties of canned beans will also do! Black beans, white kidney beans, chickpeas and lentils would all be a great substitution.

TOPPINGS: Fresh salsa and sour cream are the perfect additions just before serving.

How To Make Ground Beef Taco Salad

This salad is easy to prep, simple and delicious.

1. Brown the ground beef with onions and garlic.
2. Add spices, salsa, beans and tomatoes according to the full recipe below.
3. Assemble chopped lettuce and crushed tortilla chips on a plate.
4. Top with ground beef mixture, salsa and a dollop of sour cream.

Storing Leftovers

The leftover cooked ground beef mixture should be stored separately in an airtight container. Lettuce and tortilla chips will turn soggy if stored together. Keep chopped lettuce in a separate air-tight bag or container.

Cooked ground beef taco mix can be stored in the fridge up to 4-5 days. Leftovers also freeze really well - add to freezer bag, remove air, seal tightly and freeze up to 3 months for maximum freshness.

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

• Substitute ground beef for ground chicken or turkey for a lighter meal.
• Use black beans, white kidney beans, chickpeas, or lentils instead of red kidney beans.
• Try kale, spinach or mixed greens in replacement of romaine lettuce.
• Skip the sour cream and add more salsa to avoid dairy.
• Add hot sauce just before serving for a spicier kick.
• For more fresh toppings, you can serve with guacamole or sliced avocados, lime juice, and shredded cheese.

More Salad Recipes

• Strawberry Spinach Salad is light, fresh and delicious.
• Six Mason Jar Salad recipes everyone should know for easy meal prep.
• Easy Greek Salad is an easy side dish.
• Chicken Bacon Avocado Salad is another all-in-one meal.

Did you love this salad recipe? Be sure to leave a rating below!