Description
This Taco Salad Flag is a colorful and flavorful Mexican-inspired dish featuring seasoned ground beef, fresh vegetables, black beans, and crunchy tortilla chips. Perfect for a quick and easy meal, this salad combines savory, tangy, and creamy elements for a satisfying and festive dish that can be served immediately to maintain its crunch.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Seasoning
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning
Salad
- 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup sliced black olives
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
Toppings
- 1 cup crushed tortilla chips
- 1/2 cup salsa
- 1/4 cup sour cream (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the ground beef: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned, making sure to break it apart as it cooks. Once cooked through, drain any excess fat from the skillet to avoid grease in the salad.
- Season the beef: Add the taco seasoning packet and water as directed on the seasoning package to the cooked ground beef. Stir well and let it simmer until the sauce thickens and the beef is fully coated with the seasoning.
- Prepare the salad base: In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped romaine lettuce, drained black beans, halved cherry tomatoes, shredded cheddar cheese, sliced black olives, and diced red onion. Toss gently to mix all ingredients evenly.
- Add seasoned beef: Add the cooked, seasoned ground beef to the salad bowl and toss everything together to ensure an even distribution of flavors throughout the salad.
- Add the toppings: Top the combined salad with crushed tortilla chips, salsa, and, if using, a dollop of sour cream. These add delicious texture and flavor contrasts.
- Serve immediately: For the best texture and crunch, serve the salad immediately after assembling to prevent the tortilla chips from becoming soggy.
Notes
- You can customize the salad with avocado slices or jalapeño for extra heat and creaminess.
- For a healthier version, use lean ground turkey or chicken instead of beef.
- To make it vegetarian, substitute the ground beef with seasoned cooked lentils or plant-based crumbles.
- Use gluten-free taco seasoning and tortilla chips for a gluten-free option.
- If sour cream is not desired, a dollop of guacamole or Greek yogurt can be an alternative.
