Go Back

Layered Beef Taco Salad

A colorful and impressive layered salad that delivers all the delicious flavors of tacos without the mess of shells.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Course, Salad
Cuisine: Mexican
Calories: 480

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon Olive oil
  • 1 pound Lean ground beef (85%)
  • 1 Red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 can (15 ounces) Refried beans
  • 1 packet (1 ounce) Taco seasoning, reduced sodium
  • 15 whole chips Tortilla chips
  • 2.5 cups Shredded Mexican cheese blend, divided
  • 3 cups Romaine lettuce, chopped
  • 0.5 cup Crushed tortilla chips
  • 1 Roma tomato, diced

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers slightly.
  2. Add the ground beef and diced red bell pepper directly into the pan together and cook for about five minutes, breaking up the beef as it browns.
  3. Once the beef is fully cooked, add the refried beans straight into the skillet and stir thoroughly until the beans blend completely into the meat mixture.
  4. Sprinkle the taco seasoning evenly across the beef and bean mixture, stirring well so every bit picks up flavor. Let it cook for another minute.
  5. Grab a large casserole dish and arrange about fifteen whole tortilla chips across the bottom, overlapping slightly.
  6. Scoop the warm beef and bean mixture onto the tortilla chip base and spread it evenly.
  7. Sprinkle half of the shredded cheese across the beef layer, add chopped romaine lettuce, and top with remaining cheese.
  8. Finally, sprinkle crushed tortilla chips and diced Roma tomato on top for garnish. Serve immediately.

Notes

For the best flavor, brown the beef fully before adding beans. Assemble the salad right before serving to keep the chips crunchy. Let everyone build their own bowl for a fun, interactive dinner.