Mexicali Taco Salad
A flavorful and hearty Mexican-inspired taco salad featuring seasoned ground beef, fresh vegetables, cheesy toppings, and crunchy tortilla chips, perfect for casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Brown the hamburger in a skillet.
- Add chopped onion and red kidney beans to the browned hamburger and cook until vegetables are tender.
- Season the hamburger mixture with taco sauce.
- Chop tomatoes and green pepper.
- Wash and chop lettuce.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked hamburger mixture, chopped tomatoes, chopped green pepper, lettuce, shredded Cheddar cheese, and crushed Doritos.
- Drizzle Thousand Island dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine just before serving.
Tips & Substitutions
For added flavor, consider using ground turkey or chicken instead of hamburger. You can also substitute the Thousand Island dressing with ranch or a homemade vinaigrette for a different taste. Spicy elements like jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce can enhance the dish. For a vegetarian version, replace meat with black beans or lentils. Don't skip on the crushed Doritos; they add a delightful crunch!
Serving Suggestions
Serve this Mexicali Taco Salad as a main dish, or as a side for grilled meats. It pairs beautifully with Peach Pork Picante for a festive meal. For something extra, offer guacamole or salsa on the side. This salad also makes for a great potluck dish, where guests can customize their servings with additional toppings.
Storage & Reheating
Store any leftover Mexicali Taco Salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To maintain the crunch of the Doritos, store them separately and add them just before serving. Reheat the hamburger mixture gently in a skillet over low heat, or enjoy it cold as part of a salad.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Mexicali Taco Salad contains roughly 608 calories, with 28g protein, 33g carbohydrates, and 41g fat. It is an excellent source of protein (56% of the Daily Value), calcium (54% of the Daily Value), and vitamin C (54% of the Daily Value), and a good source of dietary fiber and iron. Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 934mg per serving (41% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this salad ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the hamburger mixture and chop the vegetables a few hours in advance. However, it's best to combine everything and add the dressing just before serving to keep the lettuce crisp and the Doritos crunchy.
What can I substitute for kidney beans?
If you don't have red kidney beans on hand, black beans or pinto beans work well as substitutes. They will still provide protein and a hearty texture to the salad while complementing the other flavors.
Is this salad gluten-free?
The salad can easily be made gluten-free by using gluten-free tortilla chips instead of regular Doritos. Always check the labels on the dressing and other packaged ingredients to ensure they meet gluten-free standards.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).