Ground Beef Taco Salad Recipe

Top-down view of a colorful ground beef taco salad with romaine lettuce, seasoned ground beef, diced tomatoes, black beans, shredded cheddar cheese, crushed tortilla chips, sour cream salsa dressing, and fresh cilantro. Small scattered tortilla chips and cilantro garnish the surrounding surface.

Looking for a quick, flavorful meal that hits all the right notes? This ground beef taco salad brings together savory taco-seasoned beef, crunchy veggies, and a creamy salsa dressing. It's perfect for busy weeknights when you want something satisfying yet light.

Prep Time10

Cook Time15

Total Time25

Servings: servings

Calories: 554kcal

Author: Sandra

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
1 small onion diced
1 bell pepper diced
1 packet taco seasoning or homemade seasoning blend Note 1.
1 15 oz can black beans drained and rinsed
6 cups romaine lettuce chopped
1½ cups cheddar cheese shredded
½ cup sour cream Note 2.
¼ cup salsa Note 3.
Tortilla chips for topping (optional)
Fresh cilantro chopped (optional)

Instructions

Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned and no longer pink, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks. Cook for about 6-8 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
1 lb ground beef
Add diced onion and bell pepper to the skillet with the beef. Cook for 4-5 minutes, or until the veggies are softened. Stir in the taco seasoning and black beans. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, mixing well. Note 4.
1 small onion, 1 bell pepper, 1 packet taco seasoning, 1 15 oz can black beans
In a large bowl, toss the chopped romaine lettuce with shredded cheddar cheese.
6 cups romaine lettuce, 1½ cups cheddar cheese
In a small bowl, combine sour cream and salsa, stirring until smooth.
½ cup sour cream, ¼ cup salsa
Top the lettuce mixture with the beef and black bean mixture. Drizzle with the sour cream and salsa dressing. Toss to combine. For extra texture and flavor, add tortilla chips and cilantro if desired.
Tortilla chips, Fresh cilantro

Notes

If you prefer to use a homemade taco seasoning blend, you can mix 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon each of ground cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and ½ teaspoon each of dried oregano, crushed red pepper flakes, ground black pepper, and salt. This recipe makes enough for one batch to use in this salad recipe.
Swap out the sour cream for Greek yogurt if you're looking to lighten up the dish.
Adjust the salsa and sour cream ratio to suit your taste. For extra heat, use a spicy salsa or add some hot sauce.
Feel free to toss in additional vegetables like corn, tomatoes, or avocado for more color, flavor, and nutrients.

Meal Prep Tip: This salad is great for meal prep! Cook the beef mixture ahead of time and store it separately from the lettuce and dressing. Assemble when ready to eat.

Nutrition