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We’re probably smack in the middle of the hottest time of year right now. In my kitchen, that equals easy, one-pan dinners that avoid the oven and don’t require keeping the stove on for too long. Salads are perfect for checking those boxes, but of course you still need some protein in there to make it a full meal. That’s where this easy and healthy taco salad recipe comes in.
You’ve probably seen Mexican taco salad at restaurants before. In case you haven’t, it’s basically like an enormous Mexican taco in bowl form. No taco shell needed! Unlike most restaurant versions, my healthy taco salad is low carb and gluten-free.
Easy Taco Salad Ingredients
The way to make easy taco salad is to use simple ingredients. After browning the meat, all you have to do is mix everything together!
Store bought taco seasoning saves a lot of time and makes the process easier, but check labels to avoid sugar. It’s not hard to make your own if you have time, though.
Salsa and sour cream stand in lieu of a dressing here, which works out surprisingly well. Why spend time creating a complicated taco salad dressing, when these work just as well? When you mix it all up, it tastes like there’s dressing in there, anyway.
Possibly the best part is that the whole thing incorporates just ten ingredients from start to finish. And, it’s on the table in merely twenty minutes. The only cooking involved is browning the ground beef on the stove for ten minutes or less. So simple.
If you like super easy recipes, you’ll probably like this mason jar Greek salad too.
This easy taco salad recipe also makes a generous amount – six large servings to feed even a larger family. But if you don’t need that many, don’t worry. It’s also super easy to adjust it to fewer servings if you need to.
How To Make Taco Salad Healthy
The key to making taco salad healthy is using natural ingredients. You really don’t need any store bought dressings or chips in there. But, for those that do want a little crunch, you can try adding low carb tortilla chips.
If you have Mexican night (or Taco Tuesday!) at your house, this low carb taco salad will fit right in. When we do it, we often have the typical wraps and tacos (made low carb with my paleo low carb tortillas) or spicy chicken cheddar nachos.
An easy taco salad is even simpler than those, and it’s still packed with all your favorite Mexican flavors. The smoky seasoned browned beef, juicy grape tomatoes, creamy avocado and sour cream, crispy Romaine lettuce, sharp cheddar cheese, and spicy (or mild!) salsa are all combined to perfection. It’s pretty incredible what complex flavor you get, with multiple tastes in every bite, using so few ingredients. The pre-made taco seasoning and salsa definitely help in that department.
Any salsa variety you like will work great here. Choosing different kinds is an easy way to get creative without adding complexity. Use mild salsa if you want it mellow, spicy if you want a kick, or go outside the box with more unique flavors like green chile or peach. You can totally make your own, too, but salsa is one of those foods that actually has plenty of store bought options without weird ingredients. Just read those labels.
Customizing the Recipe for Taco Salad
You can easily customize this healthy taco salad recipe to your liking. Feel free to throw in any other veggies you have on hand, or omit anything you don’t like. That’s one of the great things about easy salad recipes – you don’t have to be that precise!
If you’re wondering what to serve with taco salad, one of my favorite things are 4-ingredient almond flour biscuits on the side. But, I actually think it’s delicious on its own. That’s one of the things I love about it. It’s an easy dinner all in one bowl!
To make it paleo, you can omit the cheddar cheese and replace the sour cream with coconut cream and a little sea salt. Either way, you can’t go wrong with a 20-minute all-in-one dinner. Make it tonight and dig in!
More Low Carb Recipes To Love
Easy Healthy Taco Salad Recipe with Ground Beef:
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RECIPE CARD
Easy Healthy Taco Salad Recipe with Ground Beef
How to make taco salad in just 20 minutes! This easy taco salad recipe is EASY, with common ingredients. And, the whole family will love healthy taco salad with ground beef.
PrintIngredients
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- 1 lb Ground beef
- 1 tsp Avocado oil (or any oil of choice)
- 2 tbsp Taco seasoning (store-bought or home-made)
- 8 oz Romaine lettuce (chopped)
- 1 1/3 cup Grape tomatoes (halved)
- 3/4 cup Cheddar cheese (shredded)
- 1 medium Avocado (cubed)
- 1/2 cup Scallions (chopped)
- 1/3 cup Tomato salsa
- 1/3 cup Sour cream
Instructions
More TIPS about this recipe in the post above!
VIDEO + NUTRITION INFO + RECIPE NOTES below!
Heat oil in a skillet over high heat. Add ground beef. Stir fry, breaking up the pieces with a spatula, for about 7-10 minutes, until the beef is browned and moisture has evaporated.
- Stir taco seasoning into the ground beef until well combined.
- Meanwhile, combine all remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Add the ground beef. Toss everything together.
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Recipe Notes
Nutrition information is estimated based on 85/15 ground beef and typical tomato salsa.
Serving size: 1/6 of entire recipe
Video Showing How To Make Taco Salad:
Click or tap on the image below to play the video. It's the easiest way to learn how to make Taco Salad!
NUTRITION INFORMATION PER SERVING
Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database. You can find individual ingredient carb counts we use in the Low Carb & Keto Food List. Carb count excludes sugar alcohols. Net carb count excludes both fiber and sugar alcohols, because these do not affect blood sugar in most people. We try to be accurate, but feel free to make your own calculations.
More Low Carb & Keto Support!
If you want to know more about how to start a low carb diet, want to substitute sweeteners, need a food list, or need support, check these guides:
Low Carb & Keto Diet Plan
Starter Guide 
Sweetener Conversion Calculator 
Keto Low Carb Macro Calculator 
Low Carb Keto Food List + Printable PDF
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72 Comments
Kellsi Nichols
Hi, I am looking to meal prep this recipe. With the salsa, and oil, would it be okay to meal prep it or will it be soggy after sitting like that?
Wholesome Yum
Hi Kellsi, I wouldn’t recommend mixing all the salad components together if you meal prep it. If you do make it ahead of time, you’ll want to pack the “wet” ingredients like the tomatoes and sour cream separately.
Elizabeth Black
I loved this taco salad and I added some color hope you like it: diced -jalapenos, red onions, waxy yellow bell peppers and sliced skinned cucumbers with lemon wedges.
Tom
This taco salad is the better then any restaurant by far.
Regina Knight
I made this Taco Salad and it was delicious!
I plan on making it again.
🙂
Beth
Salads are my favorite food group & this one is a fast favorite!! Delicious!
Patricia
How many servings is this recipe?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Patricia, It’s 6 servings for the nutrition info as listed. Or you could divide it into 4 servings instead to make larger meals.
Diana
That’s a wonderful idea to just throw together a taco salad. I looove tacos!
Sabrina
I love this option during the summer. Such a great twist to keeping it healthy while getting my taco fix.
Andrea Metlika
This was easy and delicious, my favorite things.
Eric
I will be making this tonight. Just one suggestion for those of you wishing a bit of crunch with tortillas. Why not make some cheddar crisps on the stove, in the oven or microwave. Personally I nuke small rounds of cheddar in the microwave for about 1 1/2 minutes on some parchment paper. These are a nice snack all by themselves too. Nice added crunch.
Amy
This is so fresh and tasty!
Pam
So simple, but so good. Perfect for a summer supper.
Shana
I just started on the Keto Diet and this was so yummy!! 🙂 I never thought I would be eating tomatoes and avocados, but here I am. Thank you for sharing your recipe!
Pat
You don’t list how much sodium per serving. Is that because it’s VERY high?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Pat, I only have the macronutrient information available for my recipes, and provide it as a courtesy. This is across the entire site, not because it’s very high. You are welcome to enter the ingredients you use into an online calculator if you need other information.
Andrea Zurbrick
I LOVE this recipe. I make it all of the time. I use Classic Taco Skillet Sauce Starter from La Tortilla Factory, Gluten-Free. (Found at Walmart Neighborhood Market) For 1/2 tbsp, the sauce is 35 cal, 1 g of carbs, 3.5 g fat, and 0.5 g of protein, 0 fiber. I also add a dill pickle for a little extra punch. DELICIOUS!
Andrea
And, my other go-to for this salad instead of the salsa is Marie’s Creamy Avocado Poblano salad dressing.
2 Tbsp = 80 cal, 8 g of fat, 1 g of carb, 0g protein.
Jo
One of my go-to recipes. I use my own taco seasoning – which is super simple to make in bulk and keep on hand.
Tara
I LOVE a good taco salad! We used to add Fritos to them when I was little — of course, that would destroy the low carb factor, LOL…
Tayler Ross
You had me at taco! This is totally my kind of salad!
Diane Smith
The taste was great, but the texture was gummy.
What is missing here is the water mixed with the taco seasoning mix (pkg. instructions), which would make a nice creamy sauce without adding any carbs or calories.
Tina
Where do you buy low carb tortillas and what is the brand, never seen any at any of our stores?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Tina, You can make them like this.
Rhonda
Made this today for the 1st time and it’s a keeper!!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy to hear that, Rhonda! Have a great day!
Riya Panday
I really need to try this! It looks wonderful!
Tamika
Hello I am going to try the Keto diet. I am afraid because I don’t eat avocados or tomatoes. Can I substitute with something? Or add more salsa or butter? This recipe looks great and I will make this weekend. Thank you for explaining everything about the Keto diet. It helped me alot! The macro part still has me nervous I don’t want to gain!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
You can easily leave the avocado and tomato out of this recipes, Tamika! Thanks for stopping by!
Donna M Shelton
Yum, Yum! I added a little cilantro to our Pace Salsa and a little to the meat when cooking. I down loaded the recipe for the Taco seasoning, but when I looked at my Chili powder it had all the ingredients except salt and onion powder so it was 0 carbs. I highly recommend this salad.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy you liked the taco salad, Donna!
Susan Eddy
Do you have Sodium and Sat Fat nutritionals on this recipe. I would like to try it for my school lunch program.
Love the presentation… I may borrow that idea! 🙂
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Susan, The only info I have off hand is on the recipe card. If you need other information, the best way to find out is to enter the ingredients into an online calculator.
RC
Absolutely LOVED THIS!! Made it last night after a day at work and then working out- great simple yet healthy and exciting meal! LOVED IT! Sent the recipe to many friends/family.
Brandon
This was a great, and very easy, recipe! Thanks! We added chopped cilantro and a squeeze of lime to the salad to give it the street-taco flavor and it was perfect!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I love that you added cilantro and lime, Brandon! Have a great day!
Randy
The ingredients of your recipe list 1 lb Ground beef and 1 tbsp Taco seasoning (store-bought or home-made), but when I click on your Taco seasoning link, it states: “use 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning mix per pound of meat. All the premade packets recommend this, and it’s actually the same for homemade taco seasoning, too.”
So should it be 1 tbsp or 2 tbsp for this recipe? Thanks!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Randy, You’re absolutely right! I had originally tested this with 1 tablespoon but have been making it with two for a long time since. I updated the recipe card to say 2 tbsp. Ultimately you can choose to your liking though!
Jack Smith
I love this salads! Such a great childhood memory for me. This looks delish!
And your site…this is the first time I’m seeing it on my big 27″ iMac and omg it’s so beautiful
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you so much, Jack! Thanks for stopping by!
Ella may Dillard
I like all the recipes
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Ella! Thanks for stopping by!
Anita
Just double checking – 8 oz. of chopped romaine for 6 servings?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Anita, Yes. 8 oz of romaine is approximately 3 cups, so it’s 1/2 cup romaine per serving but there are lots of other ingredients in a serving so the romaine is just a small part of it. You can definitely add more romaine if you want to, though!
Marie
I made this and it was AWESOME! I loved it!! 🙂
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Marie! I am so happy you liked the salad!
Whitney
Made this tonight after finding it on Pinterest! I absolutely loved it and especially LOVED how simple it was! Definitely something I will continue to make. 🙂
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Whitney!
Natalie
I’m really craving for a salad now. The combination between sour cream and taco salad is always delish. xD
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Natalie!
Rhonda O'Neill-Duran
It turned out great. I just use ground turkey instead.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Rhonda!
Chris
Love everything about this recipe!! Very yum. Love that it’s easy to make.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Chris!
Heather
Can’t wait to try this. I will leave out avocado so what would that do to the nutritional breakdown?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Heather, if you leave out the avocado there will be less fat, carbs, and protein. You can find out exactly what the nutrition facts would be by putting only the ingredients you use into a nutrition fact calculator. Hope this helps!
John
Love this salad.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, John!
JD
Very good! The whole family enjoyed it.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, JD!
Hannah
You made this look so easy to do! I love the way it looks when it’s ready too. Thank you for sharing how to put this together.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Hanna!
A
I left out the cheese and this was still delicious. I didn’t have sour cream so I mixed Paul Newman pineapple salsa with Marzetti light coleslaw dressing–it was sweet and delicious, like a cross between thousand island and the sauce on a Big Mac. I can’t think why fast food restaurants don’t just make hamburger salads with a quarter pound of beef–it would beat the tasteless salads they have, and you don’t have to eat the godawful bun…
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you! Totally agree 🙂
Sarah
This taco salad recipe has become a regular in our house! We love it because it’s filling AND healthy. Thanks so much!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Sarah!
Jen
Love the black bean idea. The only thing with ground turkey is that it has very very high instances of salmonella. Ground bison is very lean though!
Denise DeRose
Using ground turkey would be healthier! I also add black beans, not from a can. I make a big pot and then freeze them in containers so they are ready when I want to put one of these salads together.
Brittany
I could eat three servings in not put a dent in my carb intake. Thanks.
Kim | Low Carb Maven
Mmmm. We love taco salads at my house and this one looks like a winner! You’re right! Perfect for those hot kitchen days. Lol.
Karly
A low carb way to Taco Tuesday! This is cause for fiesta!!! Love everything about this recipe!