Taco Salad with Catalina Dressing Recipe
A vibrant and flavorful Taco Salad featuring seasoned ground beef, fresh vegetables, crunchy Doritos, and shredded cheddar cheese, all tossed in a tangy Catalina dressing. Perfect for a quick and satisfying meal with a delightful combination of textures and tastes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Ingredients
Scale
For the Taco Salad
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 ounce taco seasoning
- ¼ cup water
- ½ cup red onion, diced
- 4 cups Doritos (half of a bag), broken into bite-size pieces
- 1 head iceberg lettuce, chopped
- 1 (2.25 ounce) can sliced black olives, drained
- 1 cup cucumbers, diced
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup Catalina dressing (adjust to taste)
Instructions
- Prep the Vegetables and Chips: Chop the iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, red onions, and cucumbers into bite-sized pieces. Break the Doritos into smaller, bite-size pieces for easy eating.
- Cook the Ground Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks. Once fully browned, drain any excess grease. Stir in the diced red onions, water, and taco seasoning, cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes until well combined and aromatic.
- Assemble the Salad Base: Place the chopped lettuce in a large mixing bowl and evenly top it with the cooked seasoned ground beef.
- Add Fresh Vegetables and Cheese: Layer the shredded cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes, diced cucumbers, and sliced black olives over the beef and lettuce mixture.
- Incorporate the Doritos: Sprinkle the broken Doritos chips on top, adding a satisfying crunch to the salad’s texture.
- Dress the Salad: Pour the Catalina dressing evenly over the salad and gently toss all ingredients together, ensuring an even coating without crushing the Doritos.
- Serve Immediately: Once tossed, serve the taco salad right away to enjoy the freshness and crunch at their best.
Notes
- You can use your preferred brand of taco seasoning or make your own blend for customization.
- For extra flavor, consider adding sliced jalapeños or avocado.
- Substitute Doritos with any seasoned tortilla chips if desired.
- To keep the salad crunchy, add the Doritos right before serving.
- This salad is best enjoyed fresh; leftovers may become soggy.
Keywords: taco salad, ground beef salad, Catalina dressing salad, Doritos salad, Tex-Mex salad, quick dinner, easy salad recipe
