Easy Taco Salad

This recipe makes an easy variation on serving tacos. You end up eating more lettuce with a taco salad so you get the Mexican flavors you love but is healthier for you. We like to have it in the summer, but it's fine for any time of the year.

We don't bother with refried beans or Spanish rice with this Tex-Mex meal. The taco salad fills the plate and fills your tummy just fine. No side dishes are needed with it.

Get out your frying pan and cook the pound of hamburger meat with chopped onions. Stir it regularly to get the hamburger to cook thoroughly and get it crumbly. Add in the taco seasoning mix plus any liquid that it calls for.

Stir in a can of red kidney beans and cook some more. Below is a picture showing what the combination looks like.

We love Tex-Mex foods, so we keep a big container of the taco seasoning spice on hand. You can get it in individual packets if you don't use it often.

McCormicks has it in packets for making a single meal. That way, you don't have to worry about it getting old before you use it up. Even Trader Joe's has their own brand of taco seasoning in packets.

This goes on the center of the plate, then arrange the tortilla chips around the edge of the plate. You can use your favorite kind of lettuce (iceburg or romaine will work fine).

The baby greens are not suitable for this as they wilt when you put the hot hamburger mix on them.

You can use any brand of tortilla chip that you like. I just put a ring of these around the edge of the plate. We use them to scoop up the hamburger, tomatoes, etc. They give a very nice crunch to the meal.

Fill the center area with your greens. Here I've used romaine lettuce but iceburg lettuce works fine too. Avoid using the baby greens mix here as the heat of the hamburger makes it wilt.

This chef uses a variation on the taco salad recipe. He adds corn to it.

Making your own taco salad bowls from tortillas looks pretty easy in this video. I really should try it sometime as the results look great.

Now that I have Amazon Prime (free shipping), I often find it more convenient to order even food. Just plan ahead a few days so you will get it in time. Sure saves me a lot of gas running to the grocery store.

This can be done while the meat is simmering on the stove. I just slice them in half or into thirds.

I get the 6 ounces can of Lindsay California Ripe Pitted Large Olives and we can get it in a 6-pack at Sam's Club. They are great for the taco salad, other salads and pasta salads too. We use them up in no time.

Choose one at the store or farmer's market that gives a little when you press it. You can get one ahead of time and let it ripen, but it is tricky to have it ripe at the right time.

Remove the outer covering and the seed, then cut it into pieces for adding to the salad. You can make pretty slices or I like to cut it into chunks.

I save the seed to plant in the garden or a pot. It makes a nice plant.

for the Taco Salad

Everyone can add their favorites. You see here sliced black olives, fresh tomatoes, shredded Mexican cheese blend, fresh cilantro, salsa, and avocado.

This lets them put on just the toppings they like. It's a fun meal for the family and they can help prepare it too.