30-Minute Easy Ground Beef Taco Salad

Name: 30-Minute Easy Ground Beef Taco Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 lb Ground Beef, 80/20 or 85/15 fat content; 1.5 Tablespoons Taco Seasoning; 0.25 cup Water; 1 tsp Olive Oil; 1 cup Corn Kernels, frozen or fresh; 0.25 tsp Salt; 0.125 tsp Pepper; 8 cups Romaine Lettuce, washed and cut into 1 inch pieces; 1.5 cups Cheddar Cheese, shredded; 1 cup Diced Tomatoes; 1 cup Black Beans, rinsed and drained; 0.25 cup Red Onions, chopped; 1 Avocado, diced; 2 cups Tortilla Strips, or crushed tortilla chips; 0.75 cup Ranch Dressing; 0.75 cup Salsa

A hearty Tex-Mex salad combining seasoned ground beef with fresh lettuce, black beans, corn, and cheddar cheese. The creamy ranch-salsa dressing blend adds tangy richness while crispy tortilla strips provide satisfying crunch. Perfect for weeknight dinners or casual gatherings when you want something filling yet fresh.

Prep: 15 min
Cook: 10 min
Yield: 6 servings
Level: medium
Cuisine: American

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Nut-Free

Ingredients

6 servings

1 lb Ground Beef, 80/20 or 85/15 fat content
Ground Turkey1:1healthy
Use 93/7 lean ground turkey
Full guide →
1 ½ Tablespoons Taco Seasoning
¼ cup Water
1 tsp Olive Oil
1 cup Corn Kernels, frozen or fresh
¼ tsp Salt
⅛ tsp Pepper
8 cups Romaine Lettuce, washed and cut into 1 inch pieces
1 ½ cups Cheddar Cheese, shredded
Mexican Cheese Blend1:1flavor
Adds more authentic Tex-Mex taste
Full guide →
1 cup Diced Tomatoes
1 cup Black Beans, rinsed and drained
¼ cup Red Onions, chopped
1 Avocado, diced
2 cups Tortilla Strips, or crushed tortilla chips
¾ cup Ranch Dressing
Greek Yogurt Ranch1:1healthyadds dairy
Mix Greek yogurt with ranch seasoning packet
Full guide →
¾ cup Salsa

Method

11 steps

1
Heat large skillet over medium heat, add ground beef, taco seasoning, and water
2
Cook until little pink remains, breaking up beef with wooden spoon
3
Remove beef from skillet and drain on paper towel lined plate
4
Heat separate pan over medium heat, add oil
5
Add corn and cook stirring frequently for about 5 minutes until lightly sauteed and warm
6
Remove corn from heat, season with salt and pepper, set aside to cool
7
Add chopped lettuce to large bowl
8
Layer cooked beef, sauteed corn, cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes, black beans, onions, and avocado over lettuce
9
Mix ranch dressing and salsa in small bowl until well combined
10
Drizzle dressing over taco salad
11
Top with tortilla strips before serving

Tips

Tip 1

Drain ground beef thoroughly on paper towels to prevent soggy salad from excess grease.

Tip 2

Let sauteed corn cool completely before adding to prevent wilting the lettuce.

Tip 3

Add avocado and tortilla strips just before serving to maintain their texture and prevent sogginess.

Good to Know

Storage

Refrigerate assembled salad up to 2 days. Store dressing separately and add tortilla strips just before serving.

Make Ahead

Cook beef and corn up to 2 days ahead. Prep vegetables 1 day ahead. Assemble just before serving.

Serve With

Serve immediately after assembling. Provide extra dressing and tortilla strips on the side.

See pairing guide →

Common Mistakes

Watch

Drain ground beef thoroughly to avoid greasy salad

Watch

Cool sauteed corn completely to prevent wilting lettuce

Watch

Add avocado last to prevent browning

Substitutions

Cheddar Cheese→

Mexican Cheese Blend1:1flavor

Adds more authentic Tex-Mex taste

Full guide →

Ground Beef→

Ground Turkey1:1healthy

Use 93/7 lean ground turkey

Full guide →

Ranch Dressing→

Greek Yogurt Ranch1:1healthyadds dairy

Mix Greek yogurt with ranch seasoning packet

Full guide →

Find more substitutions →

FAQ

Can I make this salad ahead of time?

Cook the beef and corn ahead, but assemble just before serving. Store components separately to maintain freshness and prevent soggy lettuce.

What if I don't have taco seasoning?

Mix 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, and 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder as substitute.

How long will leftovers keep?

Assembled salad keeps 1-2 days refrigerated, but lettuce will wilt. Store components separately for best quality up to 3 days.