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Taco Salad for a Large Crowd

Name: Taco Salad for a Large Crowd
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 26 servings (1-1/3 cups each).
Cuisine: North America, Mexican
Ingredients: 1-1/2 pounds ground beef; 2 envelopes taco seasoning, divided; 1 medium head iceberg lettuce; 1 package (10 ounces) nacho-flavored tortilla chips, coarsely crushed; 2 pints grape tomatoes, halved; 2 cans (16 ounces each) kidney beans, rinsed and drained; 3 cans (2-1/4 ounces each) sliced ripe olives, drained; 1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese; 1 large sweet onion, chopped; 2 cans (4 ounces each) chopped green chiles; 1-1/2 cups Thousand Island salad dressing; 1-1/3 cups salsa; 1/3 cup sugar

58 reviews

Test Kitchen Approved

Total Time

Prep: 25 min. Cook: 10 min.

Makes

26 servings (1-1/3 cups each)

Updated: Dec. 20, 2022

I made this huge taco salad to bring to a party and people were scrambling to figure out who made it. Needless to say I only brought home an empty bowl and the guests went home with a full stomach! Everyone loves this taco salad recipe. —Lisa Homer, Avon, New York

Ingredients

1-1/2 pounds ground beef
2 envelopes taco seasoning, divided
1 medium head iceberg lettuce
1 package (10 ounces) nacho-flavored tortilla chips, coarsely crushed
2 pints grape tomatoes, halved
2 cans (16 ounces each) kidney beans, rinsed and drained
3 cans (2-1/4 ounces each) sliced ripe olives, drained
1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 large sweet onion, chopped
2 cans (4 ounces each) chopped green chiles
1-1/2 cups Thousand Island salad dressing
1-1/3 cups salsa
1/3 cup sugar

Directions

In a Dutch oven over medium heat, cook beef with 1 envelope plus 2 tablespoons taco seasoning until no longer pink; drain.
In a very large serving bowl, combine the lettuce, chips, tomatoes, beans, olives, cheese, onion, chiles and beef mixture.
In a small bowl, combine the salad dressing, salsa, sugar and remaining taco seasoning; pour over salad and toss to coat.

Test Kitchen Tips

Using lean ground beef in the meat loaf instead of beef that’s 80% lean saves 45 calories per 4-ounce serving of beef. Lean ground beef is also 29% lower in saturated fat.

Sharp cheddar cheese has been aged longer than regular cheddar. As cheese ages, its flavor becomes more pronounced. Using aged cheese in a recipe can add complexity and rich flavor, even to humble favorites like mac ’n’ cheese.

Check out our best taco salad recipes ever!

Nutrition Facts

1-1/3 cups: 262 calories, 15g fat (4g saturated fat), 24mg cholesterol, 696mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 3g fiber), 10g protein.

Taco Salad for a Large Crowd

Ingredients

Directions

Nutrition Facts

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