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!
Taco Salad with Creamy Cilantro Dressing
Ingredients
Instructions
Dressing recipe adapted from here.
The Irish Lady
You’ve convinced me to make the extra effort to stop using what we call “bag ‘o salad” with all the preservatives. This looks so fresh and yummy. I bet the dressing is good as a dip, too.
Sandra
It really doesn’t take a lot of extra time to cut up your own salad, plus you are sure to have all your favorites! I put the Cilantro Dressing on flank steak like a sauce. So good!
Norma Chang
The greens in my garden are coming in and this recipe is timely, thanks for sharing.
Sandra
Nice job on growing your own fresh garden greens! Homemade dressing will be a scrumptious addition to your salads!
Heather @ SugarDish(Me)
Did you know that cilantro is one of my favorite things ever ever ever? Well it is. And I have some growing! Saw this on Amazing Recipes and knew I needed it right away! Hope you’re seeing some traffic from there! I love your recipes!
Sandra
I seriously don’t understand cilantro haters. They exist, you know! Yes, happy to share with Amazing Recipes!! Thank you 🙂
Shelby
I absolutely love anything with cilantro in it – so I cannot wait to try this dressing!
Sandra Shaffer
I started to put it on everything! Love it so much 🙂
Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts
Oh that dressing!!!!!!! It sounds divine! I love anything cilantro based!!!
I am also supper happy it is in the dressing as my hubby can’t stand cilantro. He says it tastes of soap!!! Apparently it is an actual thing and some people have a different receptor/taste bud. So they don’t taste the freshness just a soapy sour note! POOR THEM!!!!
But he would happily scoff the rest of this salad down, without even noticing it was a salad. Ground meat and cheese…WINNING SALAD COMBO!!!
Molly Kumar
Oh soooo Yummmm!!! This is what a call a great transition recipe, that would make a healthy n light lunch and then combined with some fresh tortilla, would make an excellent dinner.
Deb
My favorite Taco Salad dressing is Thousand Island mixed with a spoonful of sour cream, but I think I should definitely give your creamy cilantro dressing a try!
debi at Life Currents
My mom always made a taco salad when I was growing up. It was delicious. Of course, she tossed in Doritos, so I loved it. But not as healthy that way. Your dressing looks super yummy too.
Sandra Shaffer
Oh yeah, definitely brings back memories for me too with those Doritos. Sometimes we add plain tortilla chips, not cheesy, but definitely yummy.
Julie
What a beautiful salad. I’m crazy about a good salad especially taco salads. This one looks like lunch tomorrow!