Beef Taco Salad with Lime Cilantro Dressing Recipe
A vibrant and flavorful Beef Taco Salad combining seasoned ground beef with fresh vegetables, black beans, corn, and a creamy cilantro-lime dressing, all tossed together with crunchy tortilla strips for a satisfying meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
Scale
For the Beef:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ diced red onion
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
For the Salad:
- 1 head shredded Romaine lettuce
- ½ chopped red onion
- 2 diced tomatoes
- 1 cup corn (frozen or canned)
- 1 cup black beans (drained and rinsed)
- 1 diced avocado
- ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- Tortilla strips
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For the Dressing:
- 1 cup sour cream
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 teaspoons minced cilantro
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Sauté the Aromatics and Beef: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add ½ diced red onion and sauté until translucent. Add 1 pound lean ground beef and cook until mostly browned. Stir in 2 cloves minced garlic and cook for an additional minute to develop flavor.
- Season and Cook the Beef: Pour ¼ cup water and 2 tablespoons taco seasoning into the skillet with the beef. Stir well to coat the beef evenly with the seasoning. Continue cooking until the water has evaporated and the beef is thoroughly cooked and well seasoned. Remove from heat and allow the beef to cool slightly.
- Prepare the Salad Base: While the beef cools, combine 1 head shredded Romaine lettuce, ½ chopped red onion, 2 diced tomatoes, 1 cup corn, 1 cup black beans, 1 diced avocado, ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro, and tortilla strips in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together 1 cup sour cream, ¼ cup milk, 2 teaspoons minced cilantro, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 2 tablespoons taco seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble the Salad: Top the salad mixture with the cooled, seasoned ground beef. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss everything together gently to coat evenly.
- Serve: Serve the salad fresh for a crunchy, flavorful meal.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess fat in the dish.
- Adjust taco seasoning amount according to your spice preference.
- For a lighter dressing, substitute sour cream with Greek yogurt.
- Tortilla strips can be store-bought or homemade by baking or frying tortilla strips until crispy.
- Fresh lime juice gives the dressing a bright, tangy flavor; avoid bottled lime juice if possible.
- Beans and corn can be fresh, canned, or thawed frozen as preferred.
Keywords: Beef Taco Salad, taco salad recipe, ground beef salad, Mexican salad, easy taco salad, healthy taco salad
