The best Layered Taco Salad Recipe starts with seasoned ground beef and crisp lettuce with loads of tasty toppings like fiesta corn, black beans, fresh avocado, chopped tomatoes and so much more! You'll love this easy taco salad recipe.
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Layered Taco Salad is one of my go-to dishes for gatherings, potlucks, picnics, and parties. The layers of flavorful ingredients make it visually appealing and it is easy to serve.
While this makes an awesome game day snack, it's also a great meal for family taco night! You'll love how easy it is to make our layered taco salad recipe.
If you have leftover Ground Beef Taco Meat, this taco salad is the perfect way to use it up! You're going to love this extraordinary jumble of textures, colors, and flavors.
Ingredients
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- Ground Beef: I like to use lean ground beef. However, you could try ground turkey or ground chicken, too.
- Seasoning: store-bought or homemade Taco Seasoning Mix
- Lettuce: Either romaine lettuce or iceberg lettuce, thinly sliced, will work.
- Tomatoes: I like to use chopped plum tomatoes.
- Fiesta Corn: You can find this in the canned vegetable aisle of your grocery store. Plain canned or frozen corn that's been thawed will also work.
- Refried Beans: These add an earthy flavor, and lots of creaminess. However, if you're not a fan, you can easily skip the refried beans.
- Black Beans: Rinsed and drained.
- Cheese: Shredded cheddar cheese is delicious, but you could also use a Mexican cheese blend if you like.
- Black Olives: I like to use sliced olives, rinsed and drained.
- Green Pepper: Thinly sliced. You could also use other colored peppers if you like.
- Jalapeno Pepper: Remove the seeds and membranes before slicing for a milder flavor.
- Green Onions: For a little extra color and flavor.
- Avocado: Toss the avocado with lime juice to keep it from turning brown.
- Salsa: Store-bought salsa works just fine. Choose mild, medium, or hot to suit your tastes.
- Cream Cheese and Sour Cream: These add creaminess and a little tang to the dip. You can substitute plain Greek yogurt for sour cream for a lighter dip.
- Corn Chips: For Dorito taco salad, replace the corn chips with your favorite flavor of Doritos.
- Fresh Cilantro: You could also use chopped parsley. FResh herbs are optional.
I use my homemade blend of taco seasoning, however, go ahead and use the store-bought variety if that's what you have on hand
Variations
It's so easy to customize this layered taco salad recipe! Love sliced red onion? Throw it in! Add some in-season sweet corn in the summertime. Use pinto beans instead of black beans. Top with slices of ripe avocados or homemade guacamole. The options are limitless!!
Make layered chicken taco salad using shredded chicken and taco seasoning. You can also omit the meat altogether if you prefer.
Ang's Tips
This beef taco salad can be made in a trifle dish or glass bowl, which means you can see all the pretty layers. You can also make them in individual bowls if you prefer.
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Serving Suggestions
For parties, I like to serve this easy taco dip with tortilla chips or corn chips for dipping. For meals, serve with corn or flour tortillas or crispy taco shells.
More Mexican Recipes
Next time, try one of these other great recipes for game day, Cinco de Mayo, or Taco Tuesday!
- Hot Corn Dip - Make a double batch of this dip because you'll need it!
- Cream Cheese Bean Dip - Just six ingredients make this delicious, creamy bean dip.
- Beef Queso Dip - Seasoned beef, two cheeses, and peppers make this delicious cheesy dip!
- Cream Cheese Salsa Dip - the perfect dip for your next party. Just two simple ingredients!
- Pico de Gallo - quick, easy, and delicious with chips or on top of Mexican dishes!
Related: Best Dips for a Party
Not ready to make this easy recipe yet? Don’t forget to pin the recipe for later! When you do make it, please be sure to tag me on Instagram @jugglingactmama or #jugglingactmama – I’d love to see your pictures! And finally, if you get a chance, please comment and leave me a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below!
Layered Taco Salad
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Ingredients
Dip Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 4 tablespoons taco seasoning or 2 envelopes - divided in half
- 16 oz refried beans
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cloves garlic minced
Toppings
- 1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese - or your favorite cheese
- 2 tomatoes diced - about 2 cups
- 3 greens onions with tops diced finely
- 2.25 oz black olives sliced, optional
- 2 tablespoons cilantro snipped, optional
- Jalapeno slices optional
- Avocado diced, optional
Instructions
- Brown ground beef until no pink remains, drain if necessary.1 pound ground beef
- Return to pan and add 2 tablespoons (or 1 envelope) taco seasoning and ½ cup water.4 tablespoons taco seasoning or 2 envelopes - divided in half
- Cook until all liquid is absorbed.
- In a medium bowl, combine taco meat and refried beans until well combined.16 oz refried beans
- Transfer to 13x9 glass dish.
- In a medium bowl, mix together cream cheese, sour cream, garlic and 2 tablespoons (or 1 envelope) taco seasoning until smooth and creamy.8 oz cream cheese, 1 cup sour cream, 2 cloves garlic, 4 tablespoons taco seasoning or 2 envelopes - divided in half
- Spread evenly over bean mixture.
- Top with cheeses, tomatoes and any other toppings you like.1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese, 1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese - or your favorite cheese, 2 tomatoes, 3 greens onions with tops, 2.25 oz black olives, 2 tablespoons cilantro, Jalapeno slices, Avocado
- This is best if you chill it before serving. I recommend covering the dish with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and chilling for 30-45 minutes. This gives all the flavors a chance to meld together.
- Serve with additional sour cream and tortilla chips.
Notes
Place in 350-degree F oven for 15-20 minutes BEFORE adding any additional toppings
The meat can be omitted for a vegetarian option.
Lashika says
Love It !!!