Layered Taco Salad is a gorgeous layered salad of romaine, black beans, corn, seasoned beef, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, black olives, green onions, and jalapenos with a simple sour cream and salsa dressing.
This Layered Taco Salad is as beautiful as it is delicious! I love to serve it for a luncheon or a Saturday night dinner complete with spicy Bloody Marys. You can use ground beef or ground turkey. I use ground turkey just because it is a little leaner. You can substitute different items if you really dislike something. A lot of people don’t like black olives. For goodness sake sub some avocado. Just remember chunks of avocado will turn brown if you don’t brush them with lemon juice.
How do you make Layered Taco Salad?
First, in a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef. When completely browned, drain any excess fat. Now add the water and the taco seasoning and simmer for about fifteen minutes. Then in a small bowl, stir together the sour cream and salsa. Set it aside while you layer the salad.
Place one-half of the lettuce in the trifle bowl. Now top in order with black beans and corn. Add the rest of the lettuce. Then top in order with the taco meat and cheddar. Smooth over with the sour cream/salsa mixture. Add a ring of tomatoes on the outside, followed by a ring of black olives. Now add the green onions to the center and run the rim of the bowl with jalapenos on their sides. If desired, serve with ranch dressing on the side.
Recipe notes and helpful tips
- Purchase lean ground beef or ground turkey, and be sure to cool it a little bit, so it does not wilt the lettuce.
- Use good quality taco seasoning. A lot of your flavoring is going to come from the taco seasoning. I buy the Spice Islands brand from Costco, and I love it.
- If fresh garden corn or tomatoes are available, please use them. They are flavor packed and full of nature’s goodness.
- Any dressing can be substituted, but I really love a simple dressing of sour cream and salsa.
- Experiment with other cheeses like Asadero cheese, Monterey Jack, and even Pepper Jack.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
The flavors in this delectable Layered Taco Salad meld together like a fine-tuned instrument. Rarely does something so pretty taste so darn good. Now, if you like, you can add a little ranch dressing, but it really tastes better without it. A little salt and pepper and I am happy as a lark. This beautiful Taco Layered Salad is fancy enough for company yet easy enough for you and the family for a Sunday afternoon lunch.
More taco recipes
Layered Taco Salad
A beautiful layered taco salad recipe made with seasoned ground beef or turkey, romaine and iceberg lettuce, shredded cheddar, sweet tomatoes, black olives, crisp green onions and spicy jalapenos. This layered salad is party perfect and can be modified to suit to your individual taste.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: salad main meal
- Method: stove top
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 lbs ground beef or ground turkey
- 3/4 cup water
- 4 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup salsa
- 1 small head iceberg lettuce washed and chopped
- 4 cups romaine lettuce torn into bite size pieces
- 1 can black beans (15.25 ounce) rinsed and drained
- 1 can corn (15.25 ounce) drained
- 2 cups cheddar shredded
- 1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes halved
- 3/4 cup slice black olives
- 1/2 cup chopped green onions
- 2 jalapenos thinly sliced
Instructions
- In skillet over medium heat brown ground beef (or turkey); drain fat. Add water and taco seasoning and simmer for 15 minutes.
- In small bowl combine sour cream and salsa. Set aside.
- Place 1/2 of lettuce in the trifle bowl. Top in order with black beans and corn. Add the rest of the lettuce. Top in order with taco meat and cheddar. Smooth over with the sour cream/salsa mixture. Add ring of tomatoes on the outside, followed by a ring of black olives. Add the green onions to the center and run the rim with jalapenos on their sides. If desired serve with ranch dressing on the side.
Notes
- Purchase lean ground beef or ground turkey and be sure to cool it a little bit so it does not wilt the lettuce.
- Use good quality taco seasoning. A lot of your flavoring is going to come from the taco seasoning. I buy Spice Islands brand from Costco and I love it.
- If fresh garden corn or tomatoes are available please use them. They are flavor packed and full of natures goodness.
- Any dressing can be substituted but I really love a simple dressing of sour cream and salsa.
- Experiment with other cheeses like Asadero cheese, Monterey Jack and even Pepper Jack.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Keywords: how to make a layered taco salad, taco layer salad, layered taco salad recipe
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Prajakta
I loved this recipe and would love to try it for the next get-together.
★★★★★
Nish
Tacos are my favorite food, but they are not so healthy. Maybe taco salads would be a healthier option for me.
Julie
I can’t wait to make this for our next family picnic! Thanks for the great recipe.
★★★★★
Julie
This layered taco salad sounds like a delicious and colorful meal that is sure to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters! I love how the recipe accommodates for various dietary preferences, making it easily customizable with different proteins and toppings. The suggestion to use avocado instead of black olives is also a great idea. All in all, this looks like an amazing meal that would make an excellent dinner or luncheon option!
★★★★★
Nyxie
I love taco salad and would honestly kill for that right now!
MELANIE E
Oh wow, I love the way you’ve presented this. The glass dish lets you see all the yummy layers. This sounds sooooooo good!!!
★★★★★
Barbie
Holy yumminess. What a delicious salad! My boyfriend really enjoyed it too.
★★★★★
Luna S
I love that you added fresh corn & tomatoes to this, it looks and sounds so delicious.
Tweenselmom
taco salads for the win. I can’t wait to make this again, so much flavor. Next time I am going to add a little chopped avocado.
★★★★★
Olga
I always order taco salad in Mexican restaurants. Thank you for this recipe. I’m going to make this colorful salad for myself and the kids.
★★★★★
Debbie
Yum! I’m always searching for a good Layered Taco Salad. This recipe looks perfect and the instructions are fabulous, too!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Debbie! Enjoy!
Bryan Carey
I have eaten my share of taco salads, but I must say that this is one of the more attractive! Taste is what matters most, but visual appeal does make food better.
★★★★★
Stephanie
I love taco salad! This looks like something great to meal prep for a day or two of lunch at work this week. I’ll just omit the jalapenos since I don’t like those.
★★★★★
Julie Maloney
This is great! We really enjoyed it. What a delicious salad.
★★★★★
Christine Weis
WOW! This looks delicious! The presentation in the photos itself is amazing! I want to try this NOW! Thank you for the recipe!
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome! Enjoy!
Laura Reese
This is a stunning way to serve taco salad! Best of all it was delicious! Thanks.
★★★★★
Kimberly
This is beautiful and a big hit wherever I take it – visually stunning and thoroughly delicious!
★★★★★
Valentina
I love this delicious taco salad recipe! Great for lunch or even for parties!
★★★★★
Trang
I have always loved Taco Salad but have never seen it made this pretty!
★★★★★
Julie Blanner
I am always a fan of taco salads! This is delicious and was perfect for an easy dinner.
★★★★★
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Julie! I am glad that you enjoyed it!
Katie
Absolutely love the layers in this. The whole family did too!
★★★★★
Katie
This would be such a hit for game day parties!
★★★★★
Jennifer
Oh, this looks AMAZING! Perfect for game days!
★★★★★
Tamatha Burrus
WoW…I was just putting together a shopping list to get the ingredients to make taco salad for the family tomorrow…and ran across your recipe on Facebook! Yummy…you reminded me how much I LOVE black beans and corn in a taco salad…but I always fo!rget to pick them up to add to it! Thank You
FYI…the Layered Taco Salad you made looks Divine!
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much and I am glad that I reminded you about the black beans and corn. I love this salad. I am going to have to make it again soon!
Megan
This is such a gorgeous salad! It looks delicious! It would be a great summer party food.
bpierce
Thanks so much! It is compliments like yours that keep me going! 🙂
Brenda
This looks beautiful! I’m going to make it for a ladies luncheon I’m doing on Cinco DeMayo.You are my hero! All of your recipes that I’ve made I’d give 5 out of 5 stars. Thank you once again.
bpierce
So sweet!!! You made my day!! 🙂