5 Ingredient Classic Taco Salad Recipe

The classic taco salad recipe can be traced back to Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine. It evolved as a creative spin on traditional tacos. While the exact origin is debated, taco salad gained popularity in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s. This recipe is an easy 5 ingredient or less recipe that's adaptable to a variety of diets.

This salad pairs so well with some mango sno cones or some Taco Bell cinnamon twists! For another variation try this delicious 5 ingredient mango chicken salad.

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• Ingredients
• Substitutions
• FAQ
• Five Ingredient Taco Salad

Ingredients

You only need 5 ingredients to make this classic taco salad recipe! You will need:

• Shredded lettuce
• Cooked taco meat
• Crushed tortilla chips
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Toppings, optional

Taco Salad Toppings

There are so many different toppings you can use on your taco salad! It's seriously endless!! Here is a list of possible taco salad toppings:

• Shredded cheese--cheddar, mexican cheese blend, cotija cheese, feta, etc.
• Diced tomatoes
• Olives
• Beans--refried beans or black, pinto, etc.
• Mexican rice or cilantro lime rice
• Salsa
• Guacamole
• Chopped cilantro
• Avocados
• Sour Cream
• Roasted corn or other vegetables (we found frozen bags of precooked roasted vegetables at Trader Joes)
• Pineapple or mango slices
• Dressing: ranch, cilantro ranch, or other dressing
• Chips--corn chips or tortilla chips

You can choose any (or all!) of these but we often rotate and just choose a few of the above topping ideas each time we make taco salad to add some variety.

Substitutions

To make a vegetarian taco salad, omit the meat and add plant-based protein alternatives such as seasoned tofu, black beans, or chickpeas. For a vegan version, ensure that the meat, cheese, sour cream, and salsa are free from animal products.

FAQ