Loaded Crunchy Taco Salad Recipe

This loaded crunchy taco salad is easy to make and a total crowd favorite topped with our creamy tomatillo dressing.

When I was living with my best friend after grad school I somehow fell in love with making taco salads to take to work several days a week most weeks.

They were easy to make in advance, could be as "healthy" as I wanted to make them, and super satisfying and filling in the middle of a long work day.

This loaded crunchy taco salad recipe is an homage to those taco salads of yore, but far tastier and more grown up thanks to the homemade dressing.

The creamy tomatillo dressing is easy to make and requires just a handful of ingredients so don't skip it! Trust me - it might just be the very best part.

Why We Love This Crunchy Taco Salad Recipe

I've already alluded to why this taco salad recipe is such a favorite, but let's get into it, shall we? In short - it's so so good, but also so quick and easy to make.

This taco salad recipe is crunchy thanks to tons of crisp veggies and the addition of blue corn tortilla chips. The texture combination is out of this world.

This is the kind of salad you can easily make for dinner when you're home from work, but it's also a great option for meal planning lunches for the work week.

Never has any recipe been so versatile and easy to customize to match your preferences. Hate tomatoes? Skip them! Love cucumber? Add it into the mix!

You can make this loaded crunchy taco salad to munch on the leftovers throughout the week - or make it to serve a larger crowd. Nobody will go hungry!

It's easy enough to whip together on a busy weeknight, but it's also special enough to serve friends for dinner or to bring along to a party. I love that!

FAQ: How long is taco meat good for in the fridge? Find out now!

Loaded Crunchy Taco Salad Recipe

To make this easy, crunchy taco salad recipe, you will need:

Ingredients

• Ground beef - Use the ground beef of your choice - I generally use grass fed 85/15 ground beef so it's juicy but not overly greasy.
• Taco seasoning - You can use a packet of taco seasoning or make our easy and tasty homemade taco seasoning recipe.
• Lettuce - I generally use a green leaf lettuce, Boston leaf lettuce, crispy romaine lettuce or a combination of one or more when making taco salad.
• Corn - For recipes like this one I typically used frozen corn that has been thawed. It tastes so fresh! You could also use canned corn or corn on the cob or even leftover Mexican street corn. 
• Beans - Use your favorite beans for this taco salad recipe - my recommendation is both black beans and garbanzo beans, but pinto beans and kidney beans are also delicious.
• Cheese - I like to use a mix of Mexican style shredded cheese and crumbled cotija cheese, but queso fresco is also perfect for taco salad.
• Onion - Sliced red onions are where it's at for taco salad, but any other kind of onion like yellow. white or green onion works perfectly, too.
• Avocado - Sliced or chunked avocado is a must when making taco salad. Add it at the end to keep it from getting mushy.
• Tortilla chips - I use blue corn tortilla chips because they're my favorite but any tortilla chip, including Frits or Doritos. are a win.
• Black olives - Sliced black olives are a taco salad staple if you love them as much as I do. Cut down on prep time by grabbing a can of sliced olives and simply draining and rinsing them.
• Tomatoes - Avoid mushiness by using sliced or chopped grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes.
• Dressing - Our homemade creamy tomatillo dressing is made with plain Greek yogurt, tomatillos, garlic, cilantro, chives, fresh lime juice, avocao and jalapeño

Gear

• Skillet
• Large serving bowl
• Food processor or high power blender
• Knives and cutting board

Step 1. Add the ground beef to a skillet and sprinkle the taco seasoning over top. Brown the ground beef until cooked through, drain off the excess grease set aside to cool

Step 2. In the meantime, prep the lettuce and slice the veggies and add to a large serving bowl with the corn and beans. Toss everything together.

Step 3. Place all of the dressing ingredients in a food processor or in the pitcher of a high power blender. Process or blend on high until smooth and creamy.

Step 4. If the finished dressing is thicker than you prefer, add a couple of tablespoons of water at a time and blend until you achieve the desired consistency.

Step 5. Add the tortilla chips, sliced avocado, cheese and ground beef to the top of the salad. Top with a generous amount of dressing and serve.

When I tell you that this taco salad is about to become your new favorite salad recipe I am not exaggerating in the least. It's really that good!

The mixture of fresh greens, crisp veggies, crunchy tortilla chips and creamy dressing is out of this world in terms of both flavor profile and texture.

Of course, I also love the versatility. Make it with whatever you happen to have on hand. Skip things your family hates. Add in the veggies you personally love.

Ground Beef Alternatives

If you don't love ground beef, don't eat red meat, want to lighten things up or simply don't have any ground beef in your freezer, consider these alternatives:

• Ground chicken
• Ground turkey
• Leftover rotisserie chicken
• Chopped grilled chicken
• Grilled or roasted salmon
• Vegetarian grounf beef alternative such as Beyond or Impossible
• Our homemade tofu sofritas recipe

More Taco Salad Recipes We Love

At this point I've made my love for a good taco salad recipe clear and this one is certainly my favorite. I also love our fun party ready taco salad cups recipe!

Our chicken taco salad recipe with homemade cilantro ranch dressing is another huge crowd favorite. We also have a killer gluten free taco salad recipe.

You can also make taco salad boats wrapped in crispy leaves of romaine lettuce or our classic chicken taco salad recipe packed with veggies and avocado.

Planning a dinner party and need some inspiration?

How about looking for a new slow cooker dinner idea?

We’ve got you covered in our ever-growing Facebook group! If you’re not a member yet, why not?!

We’re chatting cooking techniques, dessert ideas, and everything in between. If you’re already a member, invite your friends to join us too!