Taco Salad with taco seasoned ground beef with all all your favorite mix-ins served with a homemade creamy cilantro dressing.

This recipe first appeared on the blog in 2013.  This post has been updated with new photos and content! 

Taco Salad with Cilantro Dressing

Taco salads are often served with tortilla chips or in a fried tortilla shell.  This recipe is a lighter version making it a favorite for low carb followers.  

This taco salad is hearty and satisfying, just the meal for salad lovers!  I don’t know about you, but one way I ensure getting lots of greens in my diet is by eating salads.

In fact, every day I eat a side salad packed with a mix of lettuce, some raw veggies like broccoli with a protein like grilled chicken.  Nine times out of ten the salad is a complete meal like this taco salad leaving me satisfied.

I’m really lucky to live in an area that offers three different days during the week where I can shop at our Farmer’s Market.

I load up on organic greens, then wash and cut up everything, so when I make salads it is just as quick and convenient as buying pre-packaged lettuce.

My favorite type is romaine mixed with baby spinach, but when I make taco salads, I include iceberg.

Fresh leafy greens are super low in calories and high in fiber, but the health benefits are often negated by the high calorie dressing we often bathe salads in.

What dressing to use for taco salad?

What’s your favorite taco salad dressing? Ranch, Catalina, Thousand Island, sour cream and salsa?

All of the above are dressings that pair well with the seasoned ground beef.  If you like a sweet flavor then go with the Catalina.  The Thousand Island dressing is mild tasting.

Each variety will taste a little different, so you’ll never be bored with this dish.  However, homemade dressings are the best and if you want to try something new then whip up this fresh creamy cilantro dressing!

The whole batch mixes up to make about cup of dressing and it’s about 300 calories. The dressing will be enough for 4-6 salads.

If you use it sparingly, which I doubt you will because it’s so tasty, store it in an air tight container in your refrigerator. It’ll keep fresh for about a week.

Taco salad toppings

Some basic ingredients for taco salad are lettuce, protein of your choice, cheese, tomatoes, and a dressing or fresh salsa.  Some people like to add tortilla chips as well, but if you want to stay low carb, then skip the chips.

First start with fresh green salad, then add any of your favorite Mexican-type of flavor add-in.  It all goes when making a taco salad and if you like to try different combination of flavors you might enjoy the following:

• Ground turkey or chicken
• Shredded beef or chicken
• Beans (black or pinto)
• Chopped onion (red or yellow)
• Chunky avocado dip
• Corn
• Sour Cream
• Jalapeños
• Mexican cheese like Cotija
• Tortilla chips
• Tortilla taco shells

There is no wrong way to make this salad! Once you have the basic ingredients, then mix in whatever tickles your tastebuds!  Enjoy!

Yield: 4-6

Taco Salad with Creamy Cilantro Dressing

Print

Ingredients

• for dressing:
• 1 bunch fresh cilantro leaves
• 3 Tablespoons pepitas (pumpkin seeds) toasted
• 6 ounce 0% fat Greek Yogurt
• Juice of two limes
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 - 1 jalapeño (add to taste), seeds add more heat, so adjust to your preference.
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup buttermilk
• SALAD
• 1 pound ground meat (turkey, beef or chicken), browned with taco seasoning
• 1 pint tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 head iceberg lettuce, chopped
• 3 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
• 1 cup mixed greens
• 2-3 scallions, sliced
• 3/4 cup cheddar/monterey jack mixed cheese, shredded
• sliced olives
• Tortilla chips (optional)

Instructions

DRESSING

Blend all ingredients together with a food processor or blender, pulsing until ingredients are combined.

Adjust to taste by adding more Jalapeño pepper or salt. Makes about 1 cup of dressing.

SALAD

Toss gently all ingredients together. Add dressing to individual plated salad.

Dressing recipe adapted from here.