Easy Layered Beef Taco Salad
This post contains affiliate links or images. When you grow up in a house with 6 kids, you tend to eat a lot of the same foods. We had pot roast on Sunday, spaghetti on Thursday and tacos on Tuesday.
I looked forward to Taco Tuesdays because I loved that zesty meat mixture topped with my favorite ingredients. I love adding fresh tomatoes and the crunch of those corn tortillas. As an adult, I have not lost my love for Taco Tuesday.
To mix things up a bit, I make my Easy Layered Beef Taco Salad! This salad has everything you love about tacos, all in one bowl. This dish is especially perfect for those hot summer days when it’s too hot to cook.
I make a large batch of the mixture for the layered taco salad and freeze. This way, I can defrost it in the microwave and I am ready to go! Also, this salad is absolutely gorgeous! Trust me. People will be afraid to dig in because it is almost too pretty to eat.
If you are a vegetarian, you can leave out the beef or turkey. You can add vegetarian beans and lots of fresh vegetables. My husband loves corn and black olives in his. I am not a fan, so I leave it out of mine. That is another reason making an individual layered taco salad is so great.
You can make it to suit the tastes of each person. I serve this 6 layered taco salad in a glass trifle bowl. In less than 3 minutes, I have a happy family with happy bellies!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1 small red or yellow onion, diced
- 2 tablespoons of diced garlic
- 1 pound 93%-lean ground beef or turkey
- 1/4 cup beef broth
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1 avocado, pitted
- 1/2 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
- 1 1/2 cups crumbled unsalted tortilla chips
- 1 cup prepared salsa
- 1 15-ounce can spicy pinto beans, rinsed
- 1 5 ounce can of black beans, rinsed
- 5 cups thinly sliced romaine lettuce
- 1/2 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
- 1 medium tomato, chopped
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic and cook 1-2 minutes or until translucent. Add beef or turkey and cook until no longer pink, stirring and breaking up lumps as you go.
- Add beef broth, chili powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Turn heat down to low and simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, mash avocado, yogurt and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small bowl with a fork until smooth.
- Transfer the taco mixture to a serving bowl. Layer chips, salsa, beans and lettuce over the taco mixture. Spread the avocado mixture over the lettuce. Top with cheese, then tomato.
What would you add to your Layered Beef Taco Salad for Taco Tuesday?
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2019 Kelly Hutchinson
Kerri says
April 13, 2015 at 10:58 amI love the idea of serving the taco salad like this. I will have to take out my trifle dish!
Mama to 5 BLessings says
April 14, 2015 at 1:17 amMe too that is very clever! BTW this looks amazing!
Robin Masshole Mommy says
April 13, 2015 at 9:58 pmthat looks to die for! We love Mexican food in our house and I know this would be a huge hit!
Dawn says
April 13, 2015 at 9:59 pmThat looks fantastic! Taco salad is one of my favorite dishes! It’s all the deliciousness of tacos without all the filling slopping down your shirt.
Jennifer says
April 13, 2015 at 10:00 pmThis is definitely on the menu for this weekend. My husband and I love taco salad, and you made it look so fancy!
maria Long says
April 13, 2015 at 10:01 pmthis is how we make our taco salads but not as pretty at yours. That would be great for a party
Jenna Wood says
April 13, 2015 at 10:32 pmWhat a cute entertaining idea! I think a layer of guacamole would really add some great texture too!
Katie Markey McLaughlin says
April 13, 2015 at 10:50 pmYUM! This will be a huge hit in my house! Love that you use Greek yogurt.
Allie D. says
April 13, 2015 at 10:59 pmYour taco salad looks so delicious! I prefer topping taco salad with plain non fat Greek yogurt, Mexican cheese, diced tomatoes, and hot sauce. My hubby is for a huge dollop of sour cream, cheddar cheese, and tomatoes. Love doing layered taco salads. We always lay all the stuff for our salads on the counter buffet style, so everyone can make it their own way.
Lorane says
April 13, 2015 at 11:16 pmI know what you mean by eating the same things over and over again. I love Tacos and this is a great way to switch things up.
Jessica Harlow says
April 13, 2015 at 11:53 pmFinally, my kids have all reached the age where they love Tacos! We have a taco inspired meal at least once a week! These little layered taco salads have definitely made the menu!
Liz Mays says
April 14, 2015 at 12:35 amThat looks so good! I’d love to make some taco salad like this for guests. It’s so pretty in those dishes.
Chelley says
April 14, 2015 at 12:38 amWe just had this… except in burrito form for dinner. I would love to cut out the shell to save some of those calories- great recipe!
Mama to 5 BLessings says
April 14, 2015 at 1:11 amThat looks great. I love Mexican food. I want this now!
Rosey says
April 14, 2015 at 1:43 amI’m glad you mentioned that it’s pretty. That’s why I like to make these, they make me happy to look at the/serve them to family and guests. 🙂
becca says
April 13, 2015 at 10:49 pmYUMMY!! I enjoy food and especially salads. This looks delicious.
Amanda says
April 14, 2015 at 2:52 amThis looks so good! We are making a version of this on the menu this week. Such an easy dinner idea on busy nights.
Courtney says
April 14, 2015 at 2:58 amThis looks so good, and such a pretty presentation! Plus, you get to use your trifle dish which for me is not a frequent occurrence. haha! Very good idea!
Andrea Kruse says
April 14, 2015 at 3:18 amI love that you served these up in small trifle bowls! So pretty. Shoot, I only have 3 kids and we have repeat meals. It is so much easier sometimes to have a safety net for dinner that everyone will eat. I am going to have to make these soon. The layered look is so classy!
Tonya C says
April 14, 2015 at 3:18 amMy family’s love tacos. WE have Taco Tuesdays every week and this would be a great change of pace. Pinning for later.
aly mashrah says
April 14, 2015 at 4:26 amYum!!! I love taco salad. Totally making this tomorrow.
Aubrey says
April 14, 2015 at 4:35 amThis looks really good. wonder if I could get my kids to eat it?
Stacey says
April 14, 2015 at 4:35 amI love a good taco salad! That looks sooo good! I want it for myself!
Autumn Reo says
April 14, 2015 at 5:18 amThat looks yummy! And the layers look amazing and fancy!
Kristina says
April 14, 2015 at 5:20 amThis looks so good and so easy to make. I love those glasses you have them in. Thanks for sharing.
Crystal says
April 14, 2015 at 12:24 pmThat looks so good! I wish my kids liked tacos. I’m sure I could make an individual portion, though, for just me.
Kathy says
April 14, 2015 at 1:12 pmI love taco salad! It’s one of my favorite things to eat. This recipe sounds very delicious! I’ll have to try it out soon.
Emerald says
April 14, 2015 at 1:47 pmThis looks amazing! I love taco salad and how you have it layered in the glass bowl!
Christi says
April 14, 2015 at 2:55 pmThis looks SO delicious! We eat TexMex food for a large portion of our meals and I’m always looking for new meal ideas to bring into the rotation.
Shauna says
April 14, 2015 at 3:07 pmI would never have thought about using Greek yogurt in this. What a fabulous idea… will have to give it a try. Thanks for sharing.
AJ says
April 14, 2015 at 12:06 pmI love taco salad! So yummy and perfect for lunch or dinner!
Ann Bacciaglia says
April 14, 2015 at 4:34 pmThis looks delicious. I love making Taco Salad. I will have to try this recipe next time i make it. It is a family favorite.
lisa says
April 14, 2015 at 4:59 pmThese look amazing. I’m so hungry I could eat one now!!
valerie g says
April 14, 2015 at 6:16 pmthat looks really good. i’ll have to make it soon!!!
Melissa Vera says
April 14, 2015 at 6:27 pmThese look yummy I can’t wait to try these out with my family. I love the individual servings.
Nancys says
April 14, 2015 at 11:25 pmMmm, this looks delicious! I have the ingredients and I am cooking this!
Censie says
April 15, 2015 at 3:57 amFantastic way to spice up Taco Tuesday! Going to do this next week.
Kristin says
April 15, 2015 at 1:36 pmWhat a pretty presentation! This would be great for a garden party!
Krystal says
April 15, 2015 at 11:01 pmI am going to have to make this! Mexican salad is my favorite.
Amanda Love says
April 16, 2015 at 9:19 pmI love anything that doesn’t take forever to cook and this surely hits the spot. Will have to give this a try one day.
Heather Lawrence says
April 30, 2015 at 9:41 pmI would add the tiniest bit of coco powder {1 tsp} to the meat while I was cooking it.
Family secret but it sure is YuMmY!!
Jenn @TheRebelChick says
April 30, 2015 at 9:59 pmOh, yum! That taco salad looks so tasty! Thank you for sharing your recipe!
Laura (Lauras Little House Tips) says
April 30, 2015 at 11:22 pmYou cannot go wrong with Taco Salad so easy and looks amazing displayed like you did. Nice job by the way it looks great. I like how versatile it can be no matter how I dress it it is always a huge hit in my family.
Tracie says
April 30, 2015 at 11:25 pmAs a person who loves tacos I wold love to try this. This Taco Salad looks delicious.
Mama to 5 BLessings says
April 30, 2015 at 11:45 pmLove Mexican food. This sounds like a nice change to taco’s. Yum!
Meagan says
April 30, 2015 at 11:50 pmI love taco salad! That presentation is amazing!
Ashley says
April 30, 2015 at 11:56 pmI love to make taco salads. I like how you served them in the trifle bowls
Allie D. says
May 1, 2015 at 12:26 amThis looks so good! I am getting hungry looking at it. I would love to add some guacamole and pico de gallo to the layered taco salad.
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
May 1, 2015 at 12:44 amTaco salad is one of my favorites! I am definitely going to be making this for my family!
Tess says
May 1, 2015 at 2:09 amOh man, I just made taco salad tonight. I like this better lol.
Heather says
May 1, 2015 at 2:18 amThis looks like a tasty dinner idea!
Amanda says
May 1, 2015 at 2:35 amThis looks so good! I never thought to add beans to taco salad, but it makes sense. I’m going to try this tomorrow.
Jeanette says
May 1, 2015 at 2:36 amYup this one is going on the dinner menu next week. I am literally licking the screen! This looks SO good!
Heather says
May 1, 2015 at 2:54 amThat looks delicious and that bowl you have it in is spectacular! What a lovely layered taco salad!
Audrey M says
May 1, 2015 at 3:09 amWe love Taco Tuesday in my house!! This is a great idea for dinner!
Lorane says
May 1, 2015 at 3:12 amGreat Recipe Kelly! I’ts great to change things up just to keep things interesting
Tiaras & Tantrums says
May 1, 2015 at 3:23 amyum! yum! yum! I love anything taco related – especially in a bowl!
Lena says
May 1, 2015 at 3:55 amLove all the colors. Such a great salad – might be a good one to make over the weekend
Tammi says
May 1, 2015 at 4:09 amI love a good layered taco salad, and especially this time of year. I can’t get enough of salads, I so need to try out your recipe, it’s a little different than mine.
HopscotchNJellybeans says
May 1, 2015 at 4:30 amThese are darling I want to use those cups and make that salad. Thanks for the cute idea
Tammilee TIps says
May 1, 2015 at 4:54 amThis is an amazing idea for taco Tuesday! I love easy dinners to make up like this plus its easy to customize for anyone in the family!
Emily says
May 1, 2015 at 6:34 amWoah! This looks delicious. I love the use of Greek Yogurt in it too!
Taralyn says
May 3, 2015 at 7:44 pmLove how your served it! I have a cake stand just like that that I am going to use for taco salad now.
Laura Funk says
May 4, 2015 at 5:53 pmHow cute are those mini taco salad containers. Looks easy and delicious.
Stefani Tolson says
May 6, 2015 at 10:23 amThat looks really good! I haven’t had a taco salad in ages.
Judy says
December 25, 2015 at 7:37 amThis is good but can even be better. I take a small bottle of taco sauce and a half bottle of catalina dressing mix together an pour over salad. Very good and keeps well.
mycraftingworld says
January 9, 2017 at 6:44 amI love the presentation of the salad. I usually get Taco Salad when we go to a Mexican restaurant. I like all the textures. Thank you for the recipe.