Easy Taco Salad‍

Taco salad is a quick and easy weeknight or party dish that is both satisfying and refreshing. It’s also a wonderfully versatile dish. Lean ground beef and black beans are great sources of protein but you can swap the beef with chicken, shrimp or any other protein you prefer. You can also use pinto beans instead of black beans. Both provide similar amounts of protein, fiber and antioxidants, although black beans are slightly lower in carbohydrates and fat. Romaine lettuce is surprisingly nutritious, with one cup providing 40% of your daily value for vitamin K, 22% for vitamin A and 16% for folate. But you can easily mix in baby spinach and colorful bell peppers to supercharge the salad’s nutritional value.

Makes: 8 servings
Time to Cook: 30 minutes

Ingredients

Taco Salad

· 1 pound lean ground beef

· 1 package taco seasoning or homemade (recipe below)

· 1 cup black beans drained and rinsed

· 6 romaine or iceberg lettuce, chopped

· 1 cup tomatoes chopped

· 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded

· 1 avocado diced

· 1 cup tortilla chips (optional)

· ½ cup salsa

· ½ cup light sour cream

· Toppings: sliced back olives, jalapenos, diced red onion

Taco Seasoning

· 1 tablespoon chili powder

· ½ tablespoon cumin

· 1 teaspoon black pepper

· ½ teaspoon onion powder

· ½ teaspoon dried oregano

· ½ teaspoon salt

· ½ teaspoon garlic powder

· ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Cooking Instructions

1. Brown beef over medium heat until mostly cooked, about 5-7minutes. Drain any fat.

2. If making homemade taco seasoning, combine all ingredients and mix well to combine. Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place.

3. Add taco seasoning and ½ cup water. Simmer 4-5 minutes or until thickened. Stir in beans.

4. Place lettuce in a large bowl and top with meat, tomatoes, avocado, black olives, jalapenos, red onion.

5. Top with salsa, a dollop of sour cream and chips if desired.

Nutrition per serving
360 calories; 19 grams protein; 23 grams fat; 9 grams saturated fat; 8 grams monounsaturated fat; 6 grams polyunsaturated fat; 20 grams carbohydrates; 6 grams dietary fiber; 2 grams sugar; 328 milligrams sodium; 608 milligrams potassium

Recipe from Spend with Pennies

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