Summertime Taco Salad

Salads are one of my favorite meals to eat. I love how light they are and it’s a great way to get in lots of vegetables. My salad craving is especially strong  during the summer when there’s gobs of produce everywhere.

But my husband isn’t a fan of salads. We’ve tried a few different things, but it’s usually a no-go.

So you can imagine my excitement when I discovered that he will eat taco salad.

Needless to say, almost every week or so over the past month, we’ve been having taco salad for dinner. Not only is it tasty, but it’s very simple to put together.

This salad can be easily tailored to fit what you like. I like a big bowl with lots of greens, a variety of vegetables, meat, and a simple homemade dressing (actually it’s usually just olive oil and lemon juice) sprinkled on top. Josh likes a plate with some lettuce, a few select vegetables, meat and cheese on top with no dressing. So make it your own. I’ve included an outline below that can be easily adjusted to fit any and all preferences.

Doesn’t it just make your mouth water?

Enjoy!

Summertime Taco Salad
(3-4 servings)

• 1 lb ground meat (I like beef or turkey)
• Homemade taco seasoning (I like this recipe)
• Romaine lettuce, chopped
• Diced tomato
• Diced avocado

Optional:

• Diced bell pepper
• Green onion
• Black olives
• Shredded zucchini
• Salsa
• Guacamole (in place of avocado)
• Refried beans (omit for Paleo and GAPS)
• Shredded cheese (omit for dairy-free)
• Sour cream (omit for dairy-free)
• Favorite homemade dressing (I usually just add extra-virgin olive oil and a splash of lemon juice—the seasonings flavor it so well that it doesn’t need much).

Cook ground meat in skillet over medium heat. Once thoroughly cooked, drain and place back in the skillet. Add taco seasoning and filtered water (somewhere between 1/2 to 1 cup) and simmer over low heat to warm mixture. Meanwhile, wash romaine lettuce and chop or tear into bite-size pieces. Place desired amount of lettuce in each dish and add diced tomatoes and avocado (and any other toppings). Top with warm meat mixture (and dressing, optional).

Have a favorite salad? Please share!

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