During a busy work week, I need meals that are quick and easy to throw together, and having leftovers for the next day is an added bonus. This taco salad recipe checks both of those boxes, and it’s super delicious too! Before I started transitioning to a more whole foods lifestyle, I would often buy those “taco kits” in the grocery store for weeknight dinners. They would come with all the processed, fake food ingredients you needed to make your taco night a success. I use to buy these on the regular and I use to really like them. That was until I discovered that making the taco seasoning yourself was an option, and that changed my whole taco night experience forever.
I love making my own taco seasoning now because 1) I know exactly what’s in it, 2) I make it in bulk and can use it on all sorts of other recipes and 3) it’s ridiculously delicious! ΓΒ Once you have a batch of this seasoning mixed up you can put a taco spin on just about anything you want! Taco burgers? Taco roasted cauliflower? Taco roasted nuts? Taco pasta sauce? Taco pancakes? … Ok too far. But you get the point, just start adding taco seasoning to whatever you’re making and experiment with it yourself.
Making your own taco seasoning from scratch is a breeze, and you’ll have peace of mind knowing you’re eliminating all the additives found in the store bought seasoning packs!
In the picture above I used romaine lettuce, which has actually taken a bit of a backseat now that kale, swiss chard, arugula and collard greens are in the spotlight. However romaine still contains it’s own nutrient profile of vitamin C, vitamin K, Folate and a variety of minerals including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium. So no need to skip the romaine the next time you’re shopping for some leafy greens. Try to buy organic whenever you can though, since lettuce can be heavily sprayed with pesticides and fertilizers.
Simple Taco Salad
Mix up a batch or two of this taco seasoning and use it on all of your favourite dishes for a punch of taco flavour! Or simply add 2 or 3 teaspoons to a pound of grass-fed ground beef and top with your favourite taco toppings for a delicious quick and easy taco salad.
- 1 lb grass-fed ground beef
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1/2 green or red bell pepper diced
- 2-3 tsp taco seasoning
- 1/2 cup organic tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 head romaine lettuce
- 1/2 cup black beans
- 1 cup organic cherry tomatoes
- 1 handful organic corn chips ((optional but reccommended))
Bulk Batch Taco Seasoning
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tbsp sea salt
- 1/2 tbsp black pepper
- 1/2 tbsp oregano
Brown ground beef in a medium skillet over medium heat.
Add diced onions and bell peppers and saute until soft. You may want to drain the ground beef if there is a lot of extra fat in your skillet.
Add 2-3 teaspoons of your pre-made taco seasoning to the cooked beef and mix well.
Add the tomato sauce and water and continue to stir until well incorporated. You can really play with the consistency here and add more tomato sauce or water depending on how “saucy” you like it. I like to keep mine fairly saucy so it acts as a dressing for the salad. The longer you let the mixture simmer the thicker it will get.
Chop the romain lettuce and divide into individual portions. Top with ground beef mixture and the rest of your favourite taco toppings!
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