Best 5 Midwest Taco Salad Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

Are you craving a delicious and wholesome meal that combines the flavors of Mexican and American cuisine? Look no further than the Midwest taco salad, a culinary gem that tantalizes taste buds with its unique blend of crispy tortilla chips, seasoned ground beef, fresh vegetables, and a tangy dressing. This Midwestern specialty offers a satisfying crunch with every bite, making it a perfect choice for a quick and easy lunch or dinner. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or a beginner looking to explore new culinary horizons, this article will guide you through the steps of creating the perfect Midwest taco salad, ensuring a culinary experience that leaves you craving more.

Let's cook with our recipes!

TACO HOTDISH



Taco Hotdish image

Provided by Molly Yeh

Categories     main-dish

Time 50m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
Kosher salt
One 1-ounce packet taco seasoning
2 pounds ground beef
One 14-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
9 ounces corn kernels (frozen, canned or fresh)
3 cups mild salsa
One 9-ounce bag corn chips, such as Fritos
5 ounces queso fresco, crumbled
Chopped fresh cilantro, for serving
Sliced radishes, for serving
Lime wedges, for serving
Salsa verde, for serving

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
  • In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the bell pepper, jalapeno, onion and a pinch of salt and cook until softened, 7 to 10 minutes. Add the taco seasoning and cook for another minute. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon or spatula, until browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the beans, corn and mild salsa. Transfer to a casserole dish and cover with the corn chips.
  • Bake until the casserole is heated through and the corn chips are lightly toasted, about 20 minutes. Top with the queso fresco, cilantro, radishes and a squeeze of lime. Serve with salsa verde.

SOUTHWESTERN TACO SALAD RECIPE BY TASTY



Southwestern Taco Salad Recipe by Tasty image

Here's what you need: avocado, cilantro, lime juice, low-fat greek yogurt, water, salt, garlic, cumin, olive oil, chicken breast, taco seasoning, romaine lettuce, cheddar jack, black beans, avocado, corn, cherry tomatoes, tortilla strips

Provided by Tasty

Categories     Lunch

Yield 1 serving

Number Of Ingredients 18

½ avocado
½ cup cilantro, chopped
1 tablespoon lime juice
½ cup low-fat greek yogurt, plain
⅓ cup water
½ teaspoon salt
½ tablespoon garlic
½ tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 chicken breast, diced
½ packet taco seasoning
1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
1 cup cheddar jack
1 cup black beans
1 avocado, diced
1 cup corn
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup tortilla strips

Steps:

  • To make the avocado cilantro lime salad dressing, combine all the ingredients for the dressing (avocado, cilantro, lime juice, greek yogurt, water, salt, garlic, and cumin) in a blender or food processor until smooth. Set aside.
  • Pour 1 tbsp of oil into a pan and bring up to medium heat. Add the diced chicken breast and taco seasoning, stirring until all pieces are well-coated with the seasoning. Cook through and set aside.
  • Assemble your salad with a bed of chopped romaine lettuce on the bottom. Then, lay out each topping (chicken, cheddar jack cheese, black beans, avocado, corn, cherry tomatoes, and tortilla strips) in rows or blend it all together.
  • Top off with the avocado salad dressing and cilantro then serve immediately.
  • Enjoy!

MIDWESTERN TACO SALAD



Midwestern Taco Salad image

This taco salad recipe is different from the ones that are on Recipezaar because it doesn't use Catalina dressing, you make the dressing for this salad. It also contains Doritos, kidney beans and colby or cheddar cheese. I haven't had a chance to try this recipe yet, so I am placing it here for safekeeping. Please Note: Time does not include cooling time for ground beef.

Provided by Crafty Lady 13

Categories     < 30 Mins

Time 30m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 lb ground beef
1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
1/2 cup water
1 head lettuce, chopped
2 tomatoes, diced
1 small onion, diced
1 lb colby or 1 lb cheddar cheese, grated
1 (12 ounce) bag Doritos, crushed
1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup oil
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup vinegar
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Steps:

  • Brown and drain ground beef. Add taco mix and water to ground beef; simmer until thick. Cool. In a large bowl, layer lettuce, tomatoes, onion, cheese, crushed Doritos and ground beef. Drain and rinse kidney beans; add to salad. Mix remaining ingredients and pour over salad just before serving.

AL PASTOR TACO SALAD WITH SPICY SALSA VERDE RANCH



Al Pastor Taco Salad with Spicy Salsa Verde Ranch image

This is the combination of classic taco salad "in the delicious, deep-fried tortilla bowl" and my favorite taco filling. Al pastor is smoky pork with pineapple, and it brings so much flavor to this salad. It gets covered in ranch because we're in the Midwest and that's how we stay warm in winter. Traditionally, al pastor is cooked on a spit, but this is an at-home version that mimics the flavors and crispy, juicy texture.

Provided by Molly Yeh

Categories     main-dish

Time 5h10m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 45

1 gallon neutral oil
4 large flour tortillas (burrito size), at room temperature
Kosher salt
1/2 cup store-bought ranch dressing
1/2 cup store-bought salsa verde (or homemade, see recipe below)
2 romaine hearts, shredded
1 bunch fresh cilantro, leaves and tender stems, roughly chopped
2 cups Al Pastor, recipe follows
4 radishes, thinly sliced
Pickled Red Onions, recipe follows
1/2 cup crumbled queso fresco (from a 10-ounce wheel)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
10 ounces tomatillos, husked, rinsed and stems removed
1/2 white onion, peeled, root kept intact and cut into 8 wedges
1 poblano chile
4 large cloves garlic, skin intact
1 jalapeño, stem removed, halved and seeded (optional, keep seeds for spicy)
1/2 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems
1 lime, juiced
1 green onion, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
Half a 3.5-ounce package achiote paste
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 pounds boneless pork shoulder, trimmed of excess fat and cut into 2- to 3-inch chunks
Two 20-ounce cans crushed pineapple
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
6 large cloves garlic, smashed
2 fresh bay leaves
1 red Fresno or green jalapeño chile, stemmed and sliced
1 white onion, cut into 4 wedges, root kept intact
1 handful fresh oregano
1 handful fresh sage
1 red onion, sliced
1 1/2 cups red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 fresh bay leaf

Steps:

  • For the tortilla bowls: Heat the oil in a large, heavy, deep pot to 350 degrees F.
  • Gently press a tortilla into the center of 7-inch spider to form a bowl. Using a 5-inch spider, gently press down into the tortilla to hold its shape. Carefully submerge the spiders into the hot oil and fry the tortilla until puffed, crispy and golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove and gently place upside down on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet to drain of excess oil. Season with salt. Repeat with the remaining 3 tortillas.
  • To make the spicy salsa verde ranch: Mix together the ranch dressing and salsa verde in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
  • To assemble the salad: In a large mixing bowl, add the shredded lettuce, cilantro and about 1/3 cup of the salad dressing, adding more if desired. Divide the salad among the 4 tortilla bowls. Top each with 1/2 cup Al Pastor, radishes, Pickled Red Onions and 2 tablespoons queso fresco. Drizzle some dressing on top. Serve immediately.
  • Heat the oil in a 12-inch cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Add the tomatillos, onion, poblano, garlic and jalapeño. Cook, flipping the veggies as needed to evenly char and soften, about 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Carefully remove the stem from the poblano chile, so as to not let the juices spill out (we want that yummy pepper juice!) and add to the carafe of a high-speed blender. Squeeze the garlic from the skins into the blender. Add the remaining roasted veggies and any juices from the bottom of the pan. Add the cilantro, lime juice, green onion and salt. Blend on high speed until pureed and smooth.
  • In a large bowl, add the achiote paste, red wine vinegar, brown sugar, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, cloves, black pepper and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to fully combine into a paste. Add the pork and rub the paste all over to completely coat. Set aside.
  • In the bowl of a pressure cooker, mix together the crushed pineapple, chicken broth, garlic, bay leaves, chile, onion, oregano and sage. Add the achiote-rubbed pork. Pressure cook on low for 4 hours or high for 1 hour until the pork is fork-tender. Carefully release the steam away from your face. Remove the pork to a plate or baking sheet and shred using 2 forks.
  • Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Add the pork and spoon some of the braising liquid over to moisten, as needed. Season with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until crispy, 4 to 6 minutes. Set aside.
  • Place the onions in a food storage container and set aside while you prepare the pickling liquid.
  • In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, add the vinegar, granulated sugar, salt, cumin seeds, bay leaf and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil and cook until the sugar and salt are dissolved, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool completely. Pour the cooled pickling liquid over the onions and allow to pickle for at least 30 minutes. At this point, you can either strain the onions to prevent from further pickling and use immediately, or put the lid on top and store in the refrigerator to further pickle until ready to use.

SOUTHWESTERN TACO SALAD



Southwestern Taco Salad image

Categories     Salad     Pepper     Poultry     turkey     No-Cook     Avocado     Bell Pepper     Hot Pepper     Summer     Bon Appétit

Yield Makes 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon minced canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
3 cups roasted turkey, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 large avocado, halved, seeded, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 large red bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 cup diced sweet onion
4 tostada crowns (bowls) or 8 taco shells

Steps:

  • Whisk together olive oil, lime juice, cilantro, and chipotle chiles in large bowl. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper. Add turkey, avocado, bell pepper, and onion to dressing. Toss to coat. Divide mixture among 4 tostada crowns or 8 taco shells and serve.

Tips:

  • Choose Fresh Ingredients: Use fresh, ripe tomatoes, onions, and lettuce for the best flavor and texture.
  • Make Your Own Seasoning: Use a homemade taco seasoning blend for a more flavorful and customizable taco salad.
  • Don't Overcrowd the Pan: When cooking the ground beef, don't overcrowd the pan or the meat will steam instead of brown.
  • Use a Variety of Toppings: Include a variety of toppings such as shredded cheese, sour cream, salsa, and guacamole for a more flavorful and customizable taco salad.
  • Serve Immediately: Taco salad is best served immediately after it is made so that the chips stay crispy and the salad doesn't get soggy.

Conclusion:

Midwest taco salad is a fun and easy recipe that is perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal. With its combination of fresh ingredients, flavorful seasonings, and variety of toppings, it is a dish that everyone will enjoy. Whether you are looking for a healthy and satisfying lunch or a fun and festive party dish, Midwest taco salad is a great option. So next time you are looking for a delicious and easy recipe, give Midwest taco salad a try.

Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »

    #30-minutes-or-less     #time-to-make     #course     #main-ingredient     #cuisine     #preparation     #occasion     #north-american     #main-dish     #salads     #beef     #american     #southwestern-united-states     #tex-mex     #easy     #spicy     #one-dish-meal     #comfort-food     #midwestern     #inexpensive     #ground-beef     #meat     #taste-mood     #3-steps-or-less

Related Topics