Everyone can make their taco salad just as they like itand that’s a dinner winner in our book.

Then let everyone build their own plate.

Here is a brief outline of the recipe; full instructions are further below:

Customize it!

Southern Living Taco Salad on a platter to serve

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This also keeps the chips from getting soggy.

Dinner Salad Recipes

Need more salad inspiration?

Like Taco Salad, these salads are hearty enough to be a main dish.

Southern Living Taco Salad ingredients

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Ingredients

1tsp.olive oil

1lb.lean ground beef

1(1 oz.

)envelope taco seasoning

1/4cuptap water

1(15.5 oz.

)can mild or hot chili beans

1(8 oz.

Southern Living Taco Salad browning the ground beef

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

)can tomato sauce

1/3cupsour cream

1Tbsp.freshlime juice

1/4tsp.kosher salt

6cupscoarsely choppedromaine lettuce(from 2 7 oz.

Add ground beef and cook until brown and crumbly, about 6-8 minutes.

Drain, if needed, and return to pan.

Southern Living Taco Salad beef mixture after adding beans and seasonings

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Add seasoning, beans, and taco sauce:

Sprinkle with taco seasoning and stir in water.

Beef mixture can be served warm or room temperature over the salad.

Layer over beef mixture and tortilla chips.

Southern Living Taco Salad stirring together the sour cream mixture

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

If desired, toss to combine.

Drizzle with sour cream mixture and sprinkle with scallions.

Southern Living Taco Salad combining the vegetables for the salad

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Southern Living Taco Salad on a platter to serve topped with sour cream and scallions

Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox