Taco Salad - quick and delicious weeknight healthy salad recipe (2024)

Taco Salad - quick and delicious weeknight healthy salad recipe (1)

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Healthy Taco Salad with Homemade Dressing loaded with fresh veggies, greens, and protein is healthy and very satisfying. The simple herb, olive oil, and garlic dressing adds incredible flavor to it.

Taco Salad Recipe

It’s a basic Taco Salad recipe. Simple ingredients easily tossed together to make a quick and delicious weeknight lunch or dinner. And what I like the most in it – is that you can add as little or as much to that as you want.

The salad is filled with all your favourite taco toppings – fresh lettuce, tomatoes, bell peppers, corn, kidney beans, creamy avocado, and pork for protein. I used leftover lean pulled pork in this salad recipe but you can swap it for beef, chicken, or leftover turkey – everything will go well.

This Taco Salad is fresh, healthy, has a great source of protein, carbs, fats, and fiber so it can be considered a nutritious meal.Taco Salad - quick and delicious weeknight healthy salad recipe (2)

Healthy Salad Dressing

I like simple homemade salad dressing made with olive oil, herbs, garlic powder, Dijon mustard, and a touch of honey and vinegar (or lemon juice) – all that gives it an amazing fresh flavor. This dressing pairs beautifully with Taco Salad and adds fragrant taste without tons of extra calories.

To make ahead, whisk dressing ingredients in a mason jar so you can shake it well just before serving in case it separates. Keep the dressing for days in the fridge and use it in other salad recipes as it has a simple, clean flavor that is so good in vegetable salads.

Taco Salad - quick and delicious weeknight healthy salad recipe (3)

Serving: Prep time: Cook Time:Total Time:
for 4 people15 min0 min15 min

Ingredients for Taco Salad

  • 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped (230 g)
  • 1/2 cup (90 g) canned kidney beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1/4 cup (40 g) frozen corn, defrosted
  • 1/2 large tomatoes, diced (120 g)
  • 1/2 large bell pepper, diced (100 g)
  • 1/2 avocado, diced (70 g)
  • 1 lime, quartered
  • 1 cup (100 g) lean pulled porkTaco Salad - quick and delicious weeknight healthy salad recipe (4)

For Salad Dressing:

  • 1/2 cup (100 g) olive oil
  • 1 tsp. (7 g) honey
  • 1 Tbsp. (15 g) Dijon mustard
  • 3 Tbs. white wine vinegar or lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. dried oregano and basil
  • 1/2 tsp. garlic powderTaco Salad - quick and delicious weeknight healthy salad recipe (5)

How to Make Taco Salad

  1. Place the chopped lettuce in a large bowl. Top with the kidney beans, corn, tomatoes, bell peppers, avocado, and pulled pork. Set aside.
  2. Make the salad dressing: into a mason jar add all dressing ingredients. Cover with the lid and shake to blend.
  3. Drizzle about 5-6 Tbsp. (50 g) of dressing over the top of the salad and gently toss.
  4. Enjoy!Taco Salad - quick and delicious weeknight healthy salad recipe (6)Taco Salad - quick and delicious weeknight healthy salad recipe (7)

How Many Calories in Taco Salad and Dressing

Calories (1 serve, 200 g): 200 calCalories (12 g, Dressing only ): 76 cal
Fat: 13.4 gFat: 7.7 g
Carbohydrates: 12.5 gCarbohydrates: 1.0 g
Protein: 7.6 gProtein: 0.05 g

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Taco Salad - quick and delicious weeknight healthy salad recipe (8)

Taco Salad with Light Dressing

Healthy Taco Salad with Homemade Dressing loaded with fresh veggies, greens, and protein is healthy and very satisfying. The simple herb, olive oil, and garlic dressing adds incredible flavor to it.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 0 mins

Total Time 15 mins

Course Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch, Side Dish

Servings 4 people

Calories 200 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 head romaine lettuce chopped (230 g)
  • 1/2 cup 90 g canned kidney beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1/4 cup 40 g frozen corn, defrosted
  • 1/2 large tomatoes diced (120 g)
  • 1/2 large bell pepper diced (100 g)
  • 1/2 avocado diced (70 g)
  • 1 lime quartered
  • 1 cup 100 g lean pulled pork
  • For Salad Dressing:
  • 1/2 cup 100 g olive oil
  • 1 tsp. 7 g honey
  • 1 Tbsp. 15 g Dijon mustard
  • 3 Tbs. white wine vinegar or lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/4 tsp. black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. dried oregano and basil
  • 1/2 tsp. garlic powder

Instructions

  • Place the chopped lettuce in a large bowl. Top with the kidney beans, corn, tomatoes, bell peppers, avocado, and pulled pork. Set aside.

  • Make the salad dressing: into a mason jar add all dressing ingredients. Cover with the lid and shake to blend.

  • Drizzle about 5-6 Tbsp. (50 g) of dressing over the top of the salad and gently toss.

  • Enjoy!

Notes

How Many Calories in Taco Salad and Dressing

Calories (1 serve, 200 g): 200 calCalories (12 g, Dressing only ): 76 cal
Fat: 13.4 gFat: 7.7 g
Carbohydrates: 12.5 gCarbohydrates: 1.0 g
Protein: 7.6 gProtein: 0.05 g

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May 18, 2020 Tina Recepies One comment

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Taco Salad - quick and delicious weeknight healthy salad recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is taco salad good for you? ›

Eating a taco salad with beans and meat can help to support muscle growth and repair and may also help to keep bones strong. However, if you're watching your food intake – selecting lean meat (like chicken) may be the better option.

What goes good with taco salad for dinner? ›

What Goes With Taco Salad As A Side Dish
  • Mexican Street Corn. ...
  • Guacamole And Chips. ...
  • Easy Spinach Rice. ...
  • Authentic Refried Beans. ...
  • Pico De Gallo. ...
  • Cheese Quesadilla. ...
  • Chicken Tortilla Soup. ...
  • Avocado Lime Dressing.
Sep 21, 2023

Why was the taco salad discontinued? ›

It's all about introducing new flavors and items to keep customers coming back for more. Another reason might be the move towards a menu that's easier and quicker to prepare. Taco salads, with their many ingredients and steps, might not have fit into this new, streamlined approach as well as other items.

Why are taco salad so high in calories? ›

Worst: Taco Salad

That's because they start with a deep-fried tortilla shell. That “bowl” alone can have nearly 400 calories and 22 grams of fat. Then it's filled with oversized portions of ground beef, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole. This salad can weigh in at 800 calories or more!

What to put in salad healthy? ›

leafy greens such as romaine, arugula, kale and spinach. whole grains such as quinoa, brown rice and bulgur. chopped or shredded vegetables such as cucumber, tomato, cabbage, and beets.

What is the healthiest salad to eat? ›

10 Nutrient-Dense Salad Recipes
  • Low-Carb Asian Chopped Salad.
  • Spicy Shrimp, Avocado, and Arugula Salad.
  • Tofu and Kale Salad.
  • Pear, Grape, and Feta Salad.
  • Mediterranean Chicken Salad.
  • Blood Orange and Quinoa Kale Salad.
  • Golden Beet and Pomegranate Salad.
  • Roasted Chickpea and Kale Salad.
Jul 20, 2021

What is the healthiest type of taco? ›

Tacos de Canasta

If you are looking for healthy tacos, this could be the one. It is prepared by steaming, filled with healthy and simple ingredients like potatoes and beans. Sometimes, they can be incredibly greasy. Hence, their other name is sweaty tacos.

What drink goes well with taco salad? ›

co*cktail Recipes That Complement Salads
  • Tom Collins co*cktail Recipe. Tom Collins is a refreshing and delightful gin co*cktail. ...
  • Margarita co*cktail Recipe. If you having a taco salad, then a Margarita is the perfect co*cktail pairing to try! ...
  • Negroni co*cktail Recipe. ...
  • Bloody Mary co*cktail Recipe. ...
  • Old-Fashioned co*cktail Recipe.

What goes with tacos healthy? ›

Fruit salads, corn, beans, and brown rice are all great healthy side dishes for tacos.

What is a good side for tacos? ›

10 Flavorful Sides to Go with a Taco Bar
  • Refried Beans. Refried beans, or "frijoles refritos," have been a staple in Mexican cuisine for centuries. ...
  • Traditional Mexican Rice. ...
  • Taco Slaw. ...
  • Seven-Layer Dip. ...
  • Mexican Street Corn Salad. ...
  • Zesty Black Bean Salad. ...
  • Grilled Corn on the Cob. ...
  • Jalapeño Poppers.
Jul 11, 2023

What fast food makes a taco salad? ›

The Taco John's Taco Salad gives you the best of both worlds with crisp lettuce, cheddar cheese, salsa, tomatoes, and sour cream. You get 100% American beef (or can upgrade to grilled chicken or crunchy chicken) and your choice of dressing. We throw them all together in a crunchy tortilla bowl.

What salad did Wendy's get rid of? ›

In addition to the changes to its burgers and Frosty offerings, Wendy's is also permanently removing its Caesar Side Salad and Spicy Chicken Caesar Side Salad from the menu.

Did Taco Bell stop selling taco salads? ›

The Fiesta Taco Salad wasn't the only bowl to get axed from the menu. Taco Bell's Zesty Chicken Bowl from the early 2000s also got the boot.

What are the most popular taco ingredients? ›

The most common toppings that you will find for crispy tacos are shredded lettuce (romaine or iceberg lettuce), finely shredded cabbage, sliced or chopped tomatoes, and onions (white onion is more popular than red onion). This list can go on for ages, but I will only mention the most popular fried tacos. Shredded Beef.

What are the main ingredients of a salad make up its body? ›

The BODY of the salad is the main ingredient. It may include vegetables, fruits, meats, or cheeses. The GARNISH of the salad adds color and appeal, and sometimes flavor. It must always be edible, and may be as simple as a sprinkling of crumbs or spice.

What are the ingredients in the body of a salad? ›

The base includes various types of lettuce, greens, romaine, etc. The body is usually a protein like chicken or ham. The dressing can be either a mayonnaise base or vinaigrette. The Garnish is often parsley, basil, chives or olives - something to compliment the colors in the salad.

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