Taco Salad (Build Your Own)

By joeyanne

Ingredients

• TACO MEAT:
• Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 8 servings
• Recipe adapted from MyDearMom
• 2 pounds ground beef (I used 9% lean)
• 1/2 C onion, chopped
• 1 Tb garlic, chopped
• 2 (14.5 ounce) cans Mexican Stewed Tomatoes
• 2 Tb taco seasoning
• 1/4 ts sugar
• SALAD TOPPINGS:
• 1 head romaine lettuce
• 1 bag tortilla chips (Fritos or Cool Ranch Tortilla Chips are also fabulous)
• Mexican cheese blend
• black beans
• red kidney beans
• grape tomatoes
• red or green onion
• olives
• avocado
• sour cream
• salsa
• Cilantro Lime Dressing or Ranch Dressing
• Yield: 3-4 cups
• 1 package Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix
• 1 C Best Foods Mayonnaise (I use Light, on occasion)
• 1 C milk
• 2 tomatillos
• 1/2 bunch cilantro
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 lime, juiced
• pinch red pepper flakes
• 1 T sugar

Details

Servings 8
Adapted from jamiecooksitup.net

Preparation

Step 1

Yield: 8 servings

1. To make your taco meat, heat a skillet up over medium high heat. Add 2 pounds ground beef and 1/2 cup chopped onion.

Add 1 tablespoon chopped garlic and hit the whole thing with a bit of salt and pepper.

2. Cook until the meat has browned and the onions are soft (should take about 10 minutes). Drain the grease from the pan. If you are using super lean ground beef you most likely won’t need to drain it.

3. Grab a couple of cans Mexican Style Stewed Tomatoes. If you have diced tomatoes that would be fabulous.

If not, just put some scissors into the can and give everything nice chopping. Add the entire contents of the can into the pan.

4. Add 2 tablespoons of Taco Seasoning and 1/4 teaspoon sugar.

Give everything a nice stir to incorporate.

5. Cover the pan, with lid on sideways so some of the steam can escape. Allow it to simmer on medium low heat for 15 minutes. Longer, if you have the time.

6. Gather your topping ingredients while the meat is simmering on the stove top. You’ll want some great looking tortilla chips. Yes, I see that the chips before you are Fritos. I couldn’t find a single tortilla chip in my entire house, dad blast it. I wanted to show you some fabulous tortilla chips, but the thought of running back to the store for the second time in the same 60 minutes made me break out in a cold sweat.

Don’t be like me. Make a better plan, won’t you!

7. Add some hearty, flavorful meat to your chips…

sprinkle on a bit of cheese. Top it with some chopped romaine lettuce...and whatever else your little heart desires. Tomatoes, black beans, red kidney beans, red onion, salsa, avocado and sour cream are all good choices.

Pour some Cilantro Lime Dressing over the top or use regular Ranch Dressing. Whatever you like best.

Enjoy!

Cilantro Lime Dressing
Yield: 3-4 cups
1 package Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix
1 C Best Foods Mayonnaise (I use Light, on occasion)
1 C milk
2 tomatillos
1/2 bunch cilantro
1 clove garlic
1 lime, juiced
pinch red pepper flakes
1 T sugar