Description
Beef Taco Salad Bowls are a quick, flavorful, and nutritious meal combining seasoned lean ground beef with fresh romaine lettuce, black beans, corn, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cheese, avocado, and fresh cilantro. Ready in under 30 minutes, this customizable dish offers a balanced blend of protein, fiber, and vibrant Mexican-inspired flavors all served in a single bowl for a mess-free and satisfying dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Seasoning
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 2 tbsp taco seasoning (blend of chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic, oregano)
- 2 tbsp water (for simmering beef and seasoning)
Fresh Vegetables
- 4 cups romaine lettuce, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 avocado or 1/2 cup guacamole, diced
Additional Toppings
- 1 cup black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 cup sweet corn, roasted or canned
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or Mexican blend)
- Lime wedges (from 1 lime)
Instructions
- Cook the Beef: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add the ground beef. Brown the beef while breaking it apart with a spatula until fully cooked. Drain any excess fat. Stir in the taco seasoning along with a splash of water, then simmer the mixture until thickened and fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Prepare the Veggies: While the beef is simmering, rinse and chop the romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces. Halve the cherry tomatoes and thinly slice the red onion. Prepare other fresh toppings such as chopping cilantro and dicing avocado or preparing guacamole.
- Assemble the Bowls: Begin with a generous handful of romaine lettuce as the base in each bowl. Layer on the seasoned beef, black beans, corn, cherry tomatoes, and red onion. Sprinkle shredded cheese over the top, add diced avocado or guacamole, and garnish with fresh cilantro. Finish with a squeeze of lime juice to brighten the flavors.
Notes
- Use fresh homemade taco seasoning for better control over flavor and salt content.
- Do not overcrowd the pan when browning beef to ensure it crisps rather than steams.
- Chop vegetables and cook beef ahead of time to speed up assembly for busy evenings.
- Combine crunchy, creamy, and juicy ingredients to balance textures and create a satisfying bite.
- Assemble salad bowls immediately before serving to keep lettuce crisp and fresh.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 80mg