Southwest Taco Salad

Bring bold flavor and fresh ingredients to the table with this Southwest Taco Salad — a colorful, satisfying dish loaded with seasoned ground beef, creamy avocado, crisp veggies, black beans, corn and crunchy tortilla chips, all topped with a zesty ranch dressing.

Ready in just 25 minutes, it’s a perfect weeknight dinner or hearty lunch that the whole family will love. One of our favorite Salad Recipes!

Topped with shredded cheddar, crispy tortilla chips, and a drizzle of tangy ranch, it delivers bold Tex-Mex flavor in every bite.

Customizable and quick to prep, this salad adds a festive twist to your usual taco night.

Southwest Breakfast Casserole, Slow Cooker Taco Pasta or Southwest Muffin Pan Quiche will complete your southwest cravings!

Learn How To Make Your Own Taco Bar and How to Make Your Own Taco Bar for a Party for fun gatherings.

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How to Make Taco Bowls in the Oven

It’s easy to make taco bowls in your oven! Here’s how:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Warm flour tortillas (10-inch works best) for 10–15 seconds in the microwave to make them pliable.
3. Lightly coat both sides of each tortilla with cooking spray or a bit of oil.
4. Place the tortilla inside an oven-safe bowl or over an upside-down muffin tin or mason jar to create the shell shape.
5. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden and crispy.
6. Cool completely before filling with your favorite taco salad ingredients.

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Southwest Taco Salad Ingredients

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Total time: 25 minutes
Servings: Approximately 4

A special thanks to Newmans Own for this yummy recipe.

To make this yummy Southwest taco salad, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• romaine lettuce
• cherry tomatoes
• avocados
• extra-virgin olive oil
• ground beef
• Newman’s Own Mild Taco Seasoning
• water
• black beans
• canned corn
• sharp cheddar cheese
• fresh cilantro
• Newman’s Own Southwest Ranch Dressing
• tortilla chips

Kitchen Tools You’ll Need

You’ll need the following kitchen tools for this Southwest Ranch Taco Salad recipe:

• Cutting board and knife: To chop lettuce, halve tomatoes and prep avocados and cilantro.
• Large frying pan: To brown and season the ground beef.
• Measuring spoons and cups: For oil, seasoning, water, cheese, cilantro and dressing.
• Can opener: For black beans and corn.
• Colander: To drain and rinse black beans.
• Mixing spoon or spatula: For cooking the beef.
• Serving bowls or plates: To assemble the salad.
• Oven mitts: Optional, if you plan to warm the beans or corn.

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Enjoy this flavorful and satisfying taco salad that’s quick to make and bursting with Southwest flair!

How to Make Southwest Taco Salad

Roughly chop lettuce, halve cherry tomatoes, and slice peeled, pitted avocados; set aside.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef in olive oil 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned. Add taco seasoning and water; cook 5–8 minutes more, or until fully cooked.

Rinse and drain black beans.

Divide lettuce among bowls or plates.

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Top with ground beef, tomatoes, avocados, black beans, corn, cheese and 2 tablespoons of cilantro. Add tortilla chips on the side.

Drizzle with southwest ranch dressing and sprinkle with extra cilantro, if desired.

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