Description
This Taco Salad with Catalina Dressing is a colorful, flavorful, and easy-to-make meal that’s perfect for weeknight dinners or gatherings. Loaded with seasoned ground beef, crunchy tortilla chips, and a tangy homemade Catalina dressing, this salad is sure to please!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Salad:
- 1 lb ground beef or turkey
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 head romaine lettuce (about 6–8 cups), chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup crushed tortilla chips
- 1/2 cup canned corn, drained
- 1/2 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 avocado, diced
For the Dressing:
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/3 cup Catalina dressing
- 2 tbsp salsa
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Optional Toppings:
- Extra shredded cheddar cheese
- Additional Catalina dressing
Instructions
Cook the Ground Beef or Turkey:
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef or turkey, cooking until browned and fully cooked, breaking it up as it cooks.
- Once cooked, add the water, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Stir until the meat is well coated with the seasonings. Set aside.
Prepare the Salad:
- In a large bowl, combine the chopped romaine lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, shredded cheddar cheese, crushed tortilla chips, canned corn, and canned black beans.
Assemble the Salad:
- Add the seasoned ground beef or turkey to the salad and gently toss everything together until well combined.
Make the Dressing:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream, Catalina dressing, salsa, lime juice, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
Dress the Salad:
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until all ingredients are evenly coated.
Serve and Garnish:
- Top the salad with diced avocado, extra shredded cheese, and additional Catalina dressing if desired.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- You can adjust the amount of Catalina dressing to taste, depending on how much tangy flavor you prefer.
- For extra crunch, top with more crushed tortilla chips right before serving.
- Ground turkey is a leaner option, but ground beef adds more richness to the salad.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad, Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Serving
- Calories: 540kcal
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 1100mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 85mg