I don't have a specific recipe, just browned ground beef with taco seasonings, chopped green onion, etc. For the dressing I have used ranch with a little salsa mixed in & the whole lettuce/meat mixture topped with shredded cheddar or cheddar/Monterey Jack mix & chopped black olives if I'm feeling frisky.

I like it with a vinaigrette also but topped with sour cream & salsa.

We love this taco salad, originally from Cookinglight.

Three-Step Taco Salad

One of EthanÂs favorite "taco" inspired recipe!

1 pound ground sirloin
1 (1.25-ounce package) taco seasoning
3/4 cup water
2/3 cup fat-free sour cream
2/3 cup bottled salsa
8 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
4 cups (4 ounces) bite-sized baked tortilla chips
2 cups chopped fresh tomatoes, drained
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese, divided
1 (15-ounce) can kidney or black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup sliced ripe black olives

Cook the beef in large skillet over medium-high heat until browned, stirring to crumble. Stir in taco seasoning and water. Reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Combine sour cream and salsa in a small bowl.
Combine the beef mixture, iceberg lettuce, tortilla chips, tomatoes, 1/2 cup cheese, and beans in a large bowl. Drizzle the sour cream mixture over the salad, and toss gently. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheese and black olives. Serve immediately.

Yield: 10 servings (serving size: 2 cups)

CALORIES 217 (24% from fat); FAT 5.7g (satfat 2.3g, monofat 1.5g, polyfat 0.7g); PROTEIN 16.8g; CARBOHYDRATE 26.1g; FIBER 5g; CHOLESTEROL 34mg; IRON 2.2mg; SODIUM 757mg; CALCIUM 171mg;
Cooking Light, JULY 2003

My recipe calls for 1000 Island dressing and is a standby summertime recipe when I can't think of what we want for dinner. Other than that, it is the same as Ginger's.

I don't have a real recipe either...We're into chicken taco salads. I braise chicken breasts in little Margarita mix and some cumin (lime juice works). For the shells: flour tortillas thrown on an oiled bowl and baked. Inside: salad greens, shredded cheddar and/or jack, onions, maybe some olives, guacamole and/or Mexican corn relish. For the dressing: sour cream and salsa.

THis one is awesome (if not very traditional LOL)

Frito Salad

Servings: 11

Ingredients:
1 (10 ounce) package prewashed and cut lettuce
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar and Monterey cheese blend
1 red onion, chopped
1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, drained
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 (16 ounce) package corn chips
1 (16 ounce) bottle Catalina salad dressing

Directions:
1. In a large bowl, combine the lettuce, cheese, pinto beans, black beans, onion and tomatoes.
2. Add the corn chips and enough dressing to coat; toss and serve.

Ginger, I did find a taco salad on Epicurious that called for a vinegrette dressing, although it was based on cilantro, which family doesn't care for. I imagine I could substitute parsley. Thank you for the response.

Roselin, I'm doing a holiday snacky thing for my teens/young adults & some friends and figured the taco salad would be easy and go over well. Actually the kids may prefer the thousand island dressing-thank you!

Katie, the lime juice/Margarita mix/cumin sounds really good with the chicken, will give it a try!

opkikid & caliloo, thank you for the recipes, they sound wonderful!

we use italian dressing usually, although I have used ranch and salsa. also, we'll sometimes use nacho cheese doritos instead of tortilla chips.

That Frito salad sounds like the first salad of that type I ever had.That's what I always make and Catalina dressing is what makes it so good.

My favorite way to make taco salad is to use all the regular taco fixings (black beans, shredded cheese, lettuce tomatoes and onions, sliced black olives, and crushed corn chips) and a dressing of salsa mixed with sour cream. I like the flavour of taco meat, but I don't like the greasy taste or feeling when it is cold so I am more apt to spice chicken and use that.

Dances.

I enjoyed my first taco salad about 30 years ago. It's the one I continue to make. Like Dances, I don't especially like greasy meat in my salad. Indeed, my recipe doesn't call for any. My recipe is like the Frito one above, only it has two chopped green (or red) peppers, and drained chilli beans, rather than the pinto and black ones. This is something I fix in the summer when there are nice tomatoes and peppers from the garden. Perfect!

I like just about any kind of taco salad but I've never had one with French dressing. I just discovered Mexican Chorizo sausage and love what it can do for a taco salad.

I also like a taco salad made simply with grilled, seasoned chicken strips, black bean and corn salsa, sour cream, tortilla chips and lettuce.

{{!gwi}}

Taco Meat

1 pound ground beef, chicken or turkey
4 ounces Mexican chorizo sausage (optional)
1 small onion; chopped
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon chopped jalapenos
2/3 cup beef or chicken broth or stock

Brown meat along with onion in a medium skillet until cooked through. (If the meat is very lean, it may be necessary to add 1 tablespoon olive oil.) Stir in remaining ingredients and simmer until liquid is evaporated. If desired, stir in sliced jalapenos

*I like to use the sliced jalapenos that come in a jar and also add some of the liquid to the meat mixture.

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

15 oz. can black beans; rinse and drain
1 cup frozen corn; thawed
1 small onion; chopped
1 Roma tomato; seeded and chopped
juice from 1/2 fresh lime
kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning of your choice
2 tablespoon chopped cilantro

Combine ingredients at least 1/2 hour before serving with tortilla chips or on a salad.
*This is also great served over fish.

Marilyn

Thank you for the ideas & suggestions! Marilyn, your salad looks scrumptious. I did make the salad and incorporated the ideas received-I'm looking forward to trying it next with the chicken and either Fritos or the Doritos(Anything with Doritos has to be good-lol). Sometimes these simple comfort snacks/meals are just sooo good!

Thank you again everyone for the responses!

Here's one that got rave reviews

Here is a link that might be useful: John's Taco Salad

Okay Marilyn, 'fess up. You're a food stylist, right? I'm saving this thread to keep your recipe. Looks sooo good. Thank you for posting it. Cream

caliloo:

Mine is almost like yours except I add a can of whole kernal corn, can of olives and taco meat.