Best Store Bought Dressing For Taco Salad

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Kraft Taco Bell Salsa Con Queso Dip

Grilled Chicken Taco Salad with Creamy Chipotle Dressing

If you like the salsa con queso from Taco Bell, this is the dip for youand its even better in this creamy form!

This creamy avocado dressing tastes amazing on salads or tacos when paired with fresh vegetables like tomatoes and cucumbers!

Try it today if you havent alreadyyoull love it!

This vinaigrette has just enough Italian seasoning notes to bring out all of the flavors in your taco salad without being overbearing on its own.

The best part? Its only 30 calories per serving!

Taco Salad Done Right

Maybe youre thinking, taco salad? Meh. Id rather have tacos.

I get it, tortillas are tough to beat. But Im telling you, when you use the right ingredients and commit to making your own dressing, you will have a change of heart. You will go from thinking of taco salad as a second class healthy substitute to real tacos, to thinking mid-salad-chomp, Dang. This is legit amazing. And suddenly salad is no longer substandard.

Here are my secrets to get yourself to the BEST taco salad situation:

  • you must make a dressing, even if its an easy one
  • avocados are required, either fresh or in guac form
  • Taco meat must be beef. Sorry turkey, but no, you are not the best.
  • Mix herbs in with your lettuce. Chop your lettuce into small easy-to-bite pieces.
  • Dont skimp on the cheese! Cheese is everything!
  • You must use Juanitas or Fritos. The end. Forever and ever amen.

The Surprising Runner Up: Litehouse Homestyle Ranch

Litehouse Homestyle Ranch almost usurped Hidden Valley as our house salad dressing, because it is super flavorful without much sweetness. This refrigerator-section ranch really does taste fresh and has a very herb-forward flavor and appearance. Dare I say, this tastes like everything you wish that homemade ranch would be.Buy: Litehouse Homestyle Ranch, $3.89 for 12-ounces at Target

Read Also: How Do You Layer A Taco Salad

Variations: Use Greek Yogurt Sour Cream Or Mayo

Can you make this taco salad dressing without Greek yogurt? Can you substitute for the sour cream? Here are a few notes:

  • The Greek yogurt plus sour cream combo is ideal. The Greek yogurt yogurt lightens the calories, and adds protein and live probiotics.
  • Dont want yogurt? Use ½ cup salsa and ½ cup sour cream. Or for a vegan variation, see below!
  • Dont have sour cream? Use mayonnaise instead of sour cream! You definitely need some richness to give it body and help it adhere to the salad. We dont recommend 100% Greek yogurt, though you could do it in a pinch.

Tips For The Best Dorito Taco Salad Recipe

Taco Salad
  • If using a homemade taco seasoning blend instead of a store-bought packet of seasoning mix, omit the water called for in the recipe. Water is necessary with the store-bought seasoning mix because the seasoning packet includes thickening agents that you don’t typically find in a homemade spice blend.
  • Add any of your other favorite taco toppings, such as diced avocado, fresh cilantro, sour cream, or sliced black olives.
  • The chips and lettuce will get soggy as the salad sits in the dressing, so wait to stir everything together until right before serving.
  • Cooking for a smaller family? Cut all of the ingredients in half! The rest of the cooking instructions remain the same. If you prefer to cook a full 1-lb. of taco meat, you can save half of the cooked taco meat in the freezer for another meal.

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What Goes With Taco Salad

Taco salad is so full of protein and veggies, its a pretty complete meal all on its ownyet another thing to love about taco salad! But you can definitely round it out into a full Tex-Mex meal! Because our taco salad recipe is not served in a taco shell bowl, its definitely a good idea to serve some chips on the side for those whod like them and margaritas are always a good idea. Heres our dream menu for taco salad night:

The Best Taco Salad Dressing Recipe

Classic, crunchy, flavor-packed taco salad requires the most delicious Taco Salad Dressing. This one combines tangy citrus juice with honey and paprika for the perfect sweet and sour balance.

I love a good crunchy taco salad recipe, dont you? It is a celebration of textures: creamy black beans, crunchy tortilla chips, sharp red onion, rich taco meat. But you need a good taco salad dressing to bring it all together.

Ive seen a lot of recipes for taco salad with Catalina dressing, which if you are unfamiliar is a sweet, tangy dressing made from vinegar, oil, ketchup, sugar, and spices.

I like the idea of a sweet-tangy dressing recipe but wanted to utilize the bounty of citrus that is in season in California right now. My neighbor dropped off two huge bags of blood oranges and Meyer lemons yesterday and Im determined to use them.

I hope you enjoy this dressing for taco salad or any Mexican salad recipe. Leave me a comment below and let me know what you think!

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How To Make Beef Taco Salad

  • Brown the beef. Cook it in a skillet with the spices for 8-10 minutes or until its cooked through. If theres excess fat, drain it.
  • Prep your salad ingredients and add them to a large salad bowl.
  • Make the dressing. Mix the salsa and sour cream together until smooth.
  • Toss the salad. Add the Doritos last so they retain their crunch!
  • You can use pre-made taco seasoning in this Doritos taco salad if you like I just like to make my own with spices I have on-hand.

    How To Serve Taco Salad

    16 Store-Bought Ranch Dressings, Ranked Worst To Best
    • Taco Bar you can arrange all of the ingredients in separate bowls and let your guests build their own custom taco salads. We love this option when there are gluten-free or keto dinner guests. P.S. You can get gluten-free taco seasoning.
    • Layered Salad if you want to serve this as one large salad for a party, you can assemble it in a 9×13 glass casserole as a layered taco salad starting with the lettuce then beef, and sprinkle remaining toppings evenly over the top.
    • Taco Salad Bowls serve this as a side salad or as a main course. Divide lettuce between bowls, add ground beef, and desired toppings.

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    /4 Cup Nonfat Plain Greek Yogurt

    Thousand island.you won’t ever feel the need to by store bought again. All the best ingredients, plus two taco salad dressing recipes! I don’t have any here right now. You really don’t need any store bought dressings or chips in there. It is premade at the store with the other dressings. (i think when we bought the gear years ago we were too lazy to figure . It has a big western across the label. Top each serving with tortilla chips, salsa and sour cream. 1/4 cup nonfat plain greek yogurt . What makes this the best taco salad recipe is simple ingredients and minimal prep. One of the best things about a quick taco salad is that you can top. While we use sour cream and salsa as dressing, catalina or thousand . Grcanned pinto beans instead of black beans.

    It has a big western across the label. I always use store bought seasoning for this recipe and always always use lawry’s. Ground chuck is better i also make my own dressing, i call it spicy french dressing mayo, . It is premade at the store with the other dressings. For the salsa yogurt dressing:

    Sweet And Sour Dressing

    This is a perfect dressing for you if your taste buds crave a sweet and sour taste. It is a delicious salad dressing. Its made with vinegar, red wine, sugar, and garlic, and its one of the most addictive flavor combinations if done correctly. The flavor balance in this dish is quite difficult to achieve, but it is well worth the effort.

    Ingredients

    A quarter teaspoon of black peppercorns

    3/4 teaspoon rosemary leaves, chopped

    3 tbsp olive oil

    2 teaspoons lime juice, freshly squeezed

    Table salt

    Method

    • In a small saucepan, dissolve 3 tablespoons of sugar. Dont stir, just shake the pan over high heat.
    • Do this for 3 minutes, or until the sugar liquefies and turns a different color .
    • Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the balsamic vinegar and dry red wine. The sugar will harden at this point. Return the pan to the flame.
    • Combine the garlic, black peppercorns, rosemary leaves, and salt in a mixing bowl.
    • Stir for 5 minutes, or until the sugar has melted and the mixture has been reduced to about 3/4 cup.
    • Remove the pan from the heat and set it aside for about 2 hours.
    • Using a fine strainer, pour it into a small bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the olive oil and lime juice.
    • Serve immediately. yummm!

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    The Best Ingredient Ratio For Creamy Salsa Dressing

    The sweet spot for the perfect healthy taco salad dressing depends upon the brand and type of salsa and yogurt that you use.

    Start with a 1-to-1 ratio to make the dressing. That’s what we use. Give it a taste and add a little more yogurt if the salsa taste is too strong.

    Another consideration is the thickness of the salsa. If the dressing doesn’t spoon out of the container with a thin enough consistency, then adjust it by adding a little more salsa. You can also add a squeeze of lemon or lime juice.

    Taco Salad Dressing Recipe

    Catalina Salad

    Lets talk dressings, one of my required ingredients. You really can go wild when it comes to dressings for your taco salad, there are so many good options. Buttermilk Ranch and Thousand Island come to mind. But I love to make my own of course! Im including two dressing options that are both delicious, one is stupid simple, one is a little more involved but to DIE for.

    Creamy Salsa Dressing: this is simple. Take the sour cream and the salsa that you were already planning to put on your taco salad, and mix them up beforehand. Add in a little taco seasoning and the juice from one lime to give it that acidic kick. I prefer to use Restaurant Style Salsa, either this homemade version or one from the store. Restaurant style just means that its blended rather than super chunky.

    Creamy Tomatillo Cilantro Ranch: this is the dressing that I put on these Cafe Rio Burritos. Its made with mayonnaise, sour cream, serrano pepper, tomatillos, cilantro, and a dry packet of buttermilk Ranch. Its so incredibly tasty!! Definitely make this one if you have the time, it is well worth a quick process in the blender.

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    Things To Keep In Mind While Preparing Taco Salad Dressing

    Everything can be completed in advance.

    Tomatoes will be the most difficult to work with. Overnight is fine, but if youre planning to eat it for the entire week, chop your tomatoes and put them in your veggie container the night before you plan to eat it.

    Last but not least, toss in the chips, dressing, salsa, and sour cream. The ideal healthy meal to last you the entire week!

    Chop your lettuce and mix in the green onions and cilantro, making sure they are completely dry. Place in a ziplock bag after wrapping in a paper towel.

    Place all of your meat or beans in a single microwave-safe container. Then, in a separate container, combine all of your other vegetable toppings.

    For lettuce forget about fancy microgreens or even a spring mix here. Theyll be trampled by the rest of the salad toppings. To withstand all of that, youll need tougher lettuce. Choose romaine lettuce, romaine hearts, leaf lettuce, or plain iceberg lettuce.

    The Best Italian Dressing: Kraft Tuscan House Italian Dressing

    This dressing scored high marks in every category: taste, consistency, and appearance. Its bold and punchy. And a splash of balsamic adds just a hint of sweetness, while a mix of spices and the addition of two cheeses makes it decidedly savory. Even after sitting for a while, it doesnt noticeably separate, and it instantly perks up lettuce. In fact, I could easily eat a side salad with just lettuce and this dressing it packs enough punch to hold its own, no mix-ins needed.Buy: Kraft Tuscan House Italian Dressing, $1.99 for 16-ounces at Target

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    The Best Caesar Dressing: Kens Steak House Creamy Caesar

    The bottle says This dressing is everything a great Creamy Caesar should be, and the bottle is totally right! The texture is spot-on and the flavor has a brilliant brightness to it. My husband and I could taste the grated Parmesan and flecks of pepper. I actually had to check the ingredient list because I thought for sure the anchovies would have been listed higher up. If you went to an actual steakhouse and got a salad with this stuff, you would not be disappointed. Ditto for a salad at home. Additionally, I can say from experience that this Kens option is also great in this 3-Ingredient Baked Caesar Chicken.Buy: Kens Steak House Creamy Caesar, $12.85 for two 16-ounce bottles

    Easy Taco Salad Ingredients

    Easy Ground Beef and Doritos Taco Salad | Best Taco Salad

    This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for taco salad recipes, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

    You can easily customize this healthy taco salad recipe to your liking. Feel free to throw in any other veggies you have on hand, or omit anything you dont like. Thats one of the great things about easy salad recipes you dont have to be that precise!

    Ultimately, what goes in a taco salad is very much up to you, but no matter what combo you choose, the key to making taco salad healthy is using natural ingredients.

    You really dont need any store bought dressings or chips in there. But, for those that do want a little crunch, you can try adding tortilla chips .

    Also Check: Different Kinds Of Salad Dressing

    How To Make A Dorito Taco Salad

    This easy entree salad comes together with just a few simple steps, making it perfect for those evenings when you don’t feel like doing much cooking!

  • Cook the Taco Meat. Brown the ground beef in a large skillet, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, and then drain off the excess grease.
  • Season the Meat. Add the taco seasoning mix and the water, bring to a boil, and then reduce heat to low and simmer until thickened. Set the meat mixture aside to cool while you work on the rest of the salad.
  • Assemble the Salad. Chop up a head of iceberg lettuce and place it in a large serving bowl. Add onion, corn, kidney beans, diced tomatoes, and grated cheese to the bowl with the lettuce. Toss to combine.
  • Add the Meat and Chips. Gently fold in the cooled taco meat, the crushed Doritos, and the dressing. That’s it! So simple, right?!
  • How Do You Make Taco Salad

    • Heat olive oil in a 12-inch non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
    • Crumble in beef in chunks. Let sear until browned on bottom, about 3 minutes then turn and break up beef and continue to cookie until cooked through.
    • Drain fat from beef then stir in salsa, chili powder and cumin. Season with salt and pepper to taste and heat through, about 1 minute.*
    • Layer lettuce among individual plates. Top with chips, beef mixture, cheese, tomatoes, avocado and sour cream. Serve immediately.

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    Taco Salad Dressing Yes Please

    My sister serves her taco salad with a variety of bottled dressings, taco sauces, and sour cream.

    I do as well, but I also like to offer this Easy, Creamy Taco Salad Dressing. My friend Bobbi Jo shared the recipe with me many, many years ago. Its super duper easy to make and always a hit.

    If you like this salad recipe, also be sure to check out these!

    Ingredients To Make This Taco Salad Dressing Recipe

    Taco Salad Recipe

    Because the meat mixture in most taco salads has a kind of Tex Mex thing going on, were going to use those same spices in the dressing. If you have a favorite taco seasoning, you can use that instead or try the Magic Spice Mix recipe in my cookbook, Plant Powered Mexican. Heres a run down of the ingredients:

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    Chopped Sesame Asian Salad Kit

    Its only fitting that the largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world offers tasty salad kits and mixes. If youve got a favorite plant-based dressing in mind, opt for the Garden Salad or Very Veggie varieties. If youre looking for a quick all-inclusive side dish, go for the Chopped Sesame Asian Salad Kit from Dole.

    Did You Make This Recipe

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    The Best Blue Cheese Dressing

    Our Features Director, Arie Knutson, took on the wildly divisive blue cheese dressing category. Who knew that blue cheese was such a provocative ingredient? The real question, though, is if blue cheese dressing is a salad dressing or a wing dip. Of the seven bottles Arie tried, these were her winners.

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