This taco salad is a winner! It’s light and flavorful, making it perfect for a low-carb dinner. But the real beauty? It’s fantastic for meal prep too!
I took my trusty turkey taco recipe and transformed it into this easy salad. It’s ready in under 30 minutes, and you can use ground turkey, lean beef, or even chicken.
Here’s why this taco salad rocks:
- Meal Prep Champ: Perfect for grabbing and going for lunch all week.
- Protein Powerhouse: It’s a main dish salad that keeps you satisfied.
- Versatile: Enjoy it hot off the pan or chilled for a refreshing lunch.
- Dietary Friendly: Gluten-free, low-carb, and keto-approved. Want to keep it Whole30 compliant? Skip the cheese and add some creamy avocado instead.
Fun Variations:
- Boost the Protein: Add black beans or pinto beans for extra protein and fiber.
- Crunchy Delight: Sprinkle some crushed tortilla chips on top for a satisfying textural contrast.
- Dairy-Free Fix: Swap the cheese for avocado for a delicious dairy-free option.
- Protein Choice: Feel free to use ground turkey, lean ground beef, or ground chicken, whichever you prefer.
Meal Prep Tips:
The key to packing this salad for lunch is to keep the greens separate from the rest. This way, you can heat up the turkey without wilting the lettuce. Just refrigerate everything in separate containers, and you’ll have a grab-and-go lunch ready for the whole week!
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Taco Salad Recipe
This taco salad is a winner! It’s light and flavorful, making it perfect for a low-carb dinner. But the real beauty? It’s fantastic for meal prep too!
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
For the Meat:
- 1 lb ground turkey (or lean ground beef/chicken)
- 1 tsp each: garlic powder, cumin, kosher salt, chili powder, paprika, oregano
- ½ small onion, minced
- 2 tbsp bell pepper, minced
- ½ cup water
- ½ can (4 oz) tomato sauce
For the Salad:
- 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 cup pico de gallo
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Lime wedges, for serving
- Optional toppings: Greek yogurt/sour cream, guacamole
Dressing:
- ½ cup jarred mild salsa
- 4 tsp extra virgin olive oil
- Juice of ½ lime
Instructions
- Cook the Meat: Brown the turkey in a large skillet, breaking it up. Add seasonings (garlic powder, cumin, salt, chili powder, paprika, oregano), onion, pepper, water, and tomato sauce. Cover and simmer on low for 20 minutes. Divide meat into 4 meal prep containers.
- Make the Dressing: While the meat simmers, combine salsa, olive oil, and lime juice in a separate bowl. Divide dressing into 4 small containers. For Immediate Serving:
- Divide lettuce into 4 bowls. Top with meat, pico de gallo, cheese, and dressing. Enjoy! For Meal Prep:
- Divide lettuce into 4 ziplock bags. Store pico de gallo, cheese, and optional yogurt/sour cream in separate containers. Refrigerate. To Serve Later:
- Take out lettuce, meat (heat in a pan), pico de gallo, cheese, and dressing. Assemble salad with lettuce, meat, toppings, and dressing.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 20
- Cuisine: american
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 313 kcal
- Sugar: 5.5 g
- Sodium: 917.5 mg
- Fat: 17.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 5.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 28.5 g
- Cholesterol: 92.5 mg
