Put a new spin on taco night with this Taco Salad with Catalina Dressing. It's ideal for casual get-togethers or busy weeknight meals. Customize with your favorite toppings for a satisfying meal the whole family will love.
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This post was originally published in September 2019 and has been updated with recipe refinements, new photos, tips, and FAQs.
Taco night is a family favorite in our house. From Chicken Taco Salad Bowls to Baked Big Mac Tacos, we love everything tacos!
This taco salad brings classic flavors to a hearty and satisfying salad. From the boldly seasoned meat to zesty Catalina dressing and all of the fresh, flavorful toppings in between, this salad is always a dinner winner!
For a finishing touch, Doritos add crunch and cheesy flavor. I love adding them to Tex-Mex-inspired dishes like Doritos Nachos, Doritos Taco Casserole, and Doritos Cheese Ball.
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Why This Recipe Works
- Loaded with flavors the whole family loves.
- Customizable for any palette.
- Simplifies weeknight dinner as a meal-in-one dish.
- Add ease by prepping some of the components in advance.
Ingredients and Notes
- Lettuce: Crisp is best, such as romaine or iceberg.
- Taco Meat: Ground beef, turkey, and chicken all work great in this recipe. Skip the taco seasoning packet and use my homemade chicken taco seasoning, which contains chili powder, cumin, onion and garlic powders, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Toppings: The best part of any taco situation! My favorite fixings include olives, Colby Jack cheese, avocado, tomatoes, pickled red onions, and cilantro.
- Doritos provide wonderful crunch and cheesy flavor. Grab your favorite variety.
- Catalina dressing is slightly sweet and tangy with a bold tomato flavor and will liven up any salad. If Catalina dressing is not available, French dressing can be used.
See the recipe card for complete instructions and ingredient amounts.
Variations and Substitutions
- Swap the protein: If you don't want to go with ground meat, try sliced steak or chicken breast.
- Skip the cilantro: Parsley or chives can be used if you're not a fan of cilantro.
- Add more veggies: Add corn, black beans, or jalapeños.
- Lighten it up: Opt for ground turkey or chicken, low-fat cheese, and omit the Doritos.
- Swap the dressing: Try Ranch, Lime Crema, or mix salsa and sour cream together for an easy dressing.
How to Make Taco Salad with Catalina Dressing
Step 1: Add the ground meat to a large skillet over medium heat. Add the spices and cook the meat until it is no longer pink, breaking it apart as it cooks. Cool the meat slightly.
Step 2: Add the lettuce to a large serving bowl. Top with the taco meat, tomatoes, olives, onions, avocado, cilantro, and cheese. Toss and top with crushed Doritos. Serve with the dressing on the side.
Expert Tips
- Allow the taco meat to cool slightly before building the salad to keep the other ingredients fresh.
- Dice the avocado and toss it with lime juice right before assembling the salad.
- I love to plate the salad in a large bowl with the ingredients grouped together. It's a stunning presentation, and the salad can be tossed together as it's served.
- Serve the dressing on the side to keep the salad from getting soggy. This is especially helpful if you have leftovers.
- Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container and eat within one day.
Recipe FAQs
It's best to assemble the salad when ready to serve for the freshest texture; however, some of the ingredients can be prepared in advance. Cook the taco meat, shred the cheese, and wash the lettuce. Then, refrigerate these items separately until ready to use.
While Catalina and French are similar, Catalina contains a greater amount of ketchup, thus giving it a bold tomato flavor and a vivid red color.
Catalina dressing is made with tomato puree (typically ketchup), vinegar (usually red wine vinegar), oil, honey for sweetness, Worcestershire sauce, and other seasonings. To make your own, try this homemade Catalina dressing recipe.
Have you tried this recipe? I'd love to hear it! Please leave a comment and rating below. You can also follow along on Facebook and Pinterest or sign up for my Newsletter for more recipe inspiration.
📖 Recipe Card
Taco Salad with Catalina Dressing
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Ingredients
Taco meat
- 16 ounces ground beef (or ground turkey or chicken)
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika (sweet or smoked)
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Taco Salad
- 1 whole Romaine heart (washed, dried, and chopped)
- 1 cup small cherry tomatoes (halved)
- ⅓ cup sliced black olives
- ⅓ cup pickled red onions
- 1-1¼ cups shredded Colby Jack cheese
- 1 avocado (diced and tossed in lime juice)
- ¼ cup cilantro leaves (or parsley or chives)
- 2 cups Nacho cheese Doritos (crushed, plus extra for serving)
- ½ cup Catalina dressing (plus more as needed)
- sour cream (or Mexican Crema for serving)
Instructions
- Add the beef and seasonings to a large skillet set over medium heat. Cook the meat until it is no longer pink, breaking it apart as it cooks. (Ground beef should be cooked to 160℉; ground turkey and chicken should be cooked to 165℉.) Cool the meat slightly before adding it to the salad.16 ounces ground beef, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon cumin, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon dried oregano, ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Add the lettuce to a large serving bowl. Top it with the beef, tomatoes, olives, onions, cheese, avocado, and cilantro. Toss together and top with crushed Doritos. Serve with dressing and sour cream on the side.1 whole Romaine heart, 1 cup small cherry tomatoes, ⅓ cup sliced black olives, ⅓ cup pickled red onions, 1-1¼ cups shredded Colby Jack cheese, 1 avocado, ¼ cup cilantro leaves, 2 cups Nacho cheese Doritos, ½ cup Catalina dressing, sour cream
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact amounts and specific ingredients used.
Abbey McDermott says
I love the bold, zesty flavor that Catalina dressing adds to this salad. It's a weekday lunch and dinner favorite!