Homemade & Healthy Taco Salad
Have I told you all how much fun I’ve been having in the kitchen lately?! 🙂 What’s funny is that I am eating so much healthier than I used to AND I’m still enjoying, even more so now, everything I get to munch on. Really, healthy food does taste amazing! And here’s another recipe to prove that…
Oh and before sharing this recipe, I want to mention how much I LOVE sweet potato chips. And no, I haven’t tried making my own yet (that is coming up on my list of recipes I’m planning on trying soon). But I do love the Terra Sweet potato chips… the ingredient list on the bag isn’t scary either. Just sweet potatoes and oil.
Anyway, these babies make for a great snack if you are craving something crunchy and they are super tasty dipped in my homemade salsa and guacamole (recipes below). I am also gonna experiment with these and try to make Nachos! Yummy! And I also love bringing a bag along to the movie theater or even when I’m watching a movie at home. Yes, I have TO munch when I’m watching a movie. Isn’t that required?
Taco Salad
An easy Taco Salad recipe with lots of flavor, greens and guacamole!
Ingredients
Guacamole:
- 1 ripe avocado
- fresh lime juice – use about 1/2 lime
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic
Salsa:
- 1 14.5 oz can tomatoes and green chilies
- 1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes (don’t drain the juice)
- 1 fresh tomato
- 1 tablespoon jalapeno (more or less depending on how spicy you like your salsa)
- A handful of fresh Cilantro
- A squeeze of fresh lime juice
- 1/2 medium onion
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- A few drops of Stevia
Taco Meat:
- Use ground beef, turkey, or chicken
Salad:
- Lettuce or Spinach, any greens work
- Diced tomatoes
- Diced red onions
- Any other veggies you like
- Shredded cheese (if you eat dairy products)
- Guacamole
- Salsa
- Fresh limes
- Fresh cilantro
Directions
1
Guacamole: Smash all of the ingredients in a bowl with a fork. That’s it! Double or triple this recipe as needed.
2
Salsa: Throw all ingredients in a blender or Vitamix until everything is well blended. Store in fridge. It’s best to make this an hour or two before you make the taco salad, as this will help enrich the flavor.
3
Fully cook your taco meat on a skillet, grill, or oven.
4
Make a tossed salad with the greens and veggies. Add your vegettables and extra toppings.
5
Top with your choice of meat and garnish with lime and cilantro.
I LOVE taco salad! You just can’t go wrong with this meal… it really hits the spot. And no, this taco salad doesn’t need to have ranch or sour cream dumped all over it. Seriously, fresh cilantro, lime juice, guac and salsa make for an amazingly flavorful taco salad! 🙂
I am now off to bake chocolate Paleo chocolate cake. Wish me luck!
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Got2b coupons were in the 2/12 Red Plum.
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I don’t know how you do it all. 🙂
I love that you are eating Paleo and writing about it here! My husband and I have been eating Paleo for a couple of years now and feel wonderful. We own a CrossFit gym in NC and we just did a primal/paleo challenge at our gym and I even got my dad on board! I enjoy making my weekly paleo menu and trying new recipes. Thanks so much for sharing your ideas! Guaco makes everything better! We often have taco salad – I usually cook a couple of pounds so we have plenty left over for lunches during the week or late dinner, since we get home from the gym late some evenings. I’m super excited that more people are trying out paleo because of your blog – thanks for all that you do!! 🙂
Hi Kelly!
You are so right about guac making everything better – LOVE it! 😀
I just started CrossFit about 3 weeks ago. Wow is about all I can say. The workouts are definitely intense… to say the least. But I am feeling awesome!
Oh that’s so exciting to hear!! 🙂 I love love love CrossFit! They are intense but always scale-able. Glad to hear that you are feeling awesome with CF and paleo!
I love CrossFit too! I’ve been at it for a year and just got my first unassisted pull up – coincidence that I’m three weeks into Paleo??
– BTW, I made the taco salad – Yummy!
Congrats Jami!! I remember when I got my first pullup! I felt SO strong! Strong is beautiful 🙂
That’s awesome, Jami! You should be proud… I am not even close yet. Let’s just say the band I use for the pull-ups is on the thicker side. 😉
substitute plain greek yogurt for sour cream. Can’t tell the difference and it’s good for you!!
This is th first i heard of paleo, guess i will have to read on this. I have heen trying to get healthy to feel better
I think its basically no dairy, grains, sugar, prepackaged foods.. loads of fresh fruit, veggies, eggs, nuts, meat/seafood. I’m not full blown paleo, but have started to incorporate more scratch cooking, having more fruits/veggies for dinner vs starchy foods (but I’m Italian and loooove me some pasta! Switched to wheat b/c I can’t give it up!) Gave up soda, only drink water, milk, or unsweetened tea/green tea now.
I’d say since mid-Jan, I’ve lost about 10 lbs. I do moderate exercise. DH is doing P90X and I’ve done a few work outs with him and ohmygawd are they killer! I can do the abs one no problem, but the others…
Good Luck!
Hey Collin! Here is an idea for something crunchy and healthy. Kale chips! Preheat the oven to 350. Wash a bunch of kale and tear it into pieces removing the thick stems. Toss with some olive oil and spread in a single even layer on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. They are so yummy! I made a huge batch the other day and my 3 year old ate almost all of it by herself.
These sound amazing!
You’re right Megan! These are the BEST! 🙂 I make a batch with a little parmesan cheese and a batch with just salt… mmm! Smoked paprika is pretty good too.
Definitely trying these soon! THANKS Collin & Megan! Keep the ideas coming!! Love it!
Love, love, love the baked kale chips! They are amazing!
Megan-another veggie that’s quick and delish are roasted brussel sprouts.
You just toss those with some olive oil, s&p and roast in a 400 oven til crispy brown. The little leaves that fall off get caramelized and taste soooo good! A great side dish.
Perfect for vegetarians.
Roasted brussel sprouts are delicious! We usually put frozen ones on a pan and layer them with strips of bacon – yummy!! It’s not vegetarian but it is paleo 🙂
I 2nd what Kelly said…hopefully more people are trying out paleo because of your blog. My family also has been paleo for a few years. Taco salad was our dinner tonight, quick and healthy!
Also loving your Paleo recipes! Please keep sharing all you can, thank you!
Also love your super easy recipes – the meatballs are amazing! Thanks!
We’ve been eating taco salads every other week for 20 years. It is a great dinner meal because everyone can pick and choose what they want on it. I do also use rinsed kidney beans, and for some they bottom of the bag tortilla chips.
is there a link we can go to on your page, to see all the recipes youve posted so far or do we have to keep pushing older savings to find them?? I was wanting to write down everything b4 i go out for groceries! Thank you!
Hi!
If you click on the Orange “View All Categories” button on the upper right, you can then select “Cooking with Collin” and view all of the recipes. And here’s the link to all of them so far…
https://hip2save.com/category/cooking-with-collin/
Enjoy! 😀
Thank you soo much! excited to try these healthier recipes!!
Collin I have seen others ask, but could you please add a tab for finding your recipes so we can go back to them? It would be so appreciated. Thanks.
See my comment above…
Thanks!!
Ohh this looks yummy, I’m making this tomorrow!! Can’t wait to see the chocolate cake you’re going to make!!! Thanks for sharing!
a tiny dash of cumin in your guac will make the flavor really pop! just a tip from someone who loves to cook mexican food… 🙂 yum yum
I add a touch of cumin and some chopped fresh garlic to my guac – which I eat every week! YUMMY!
I could eat this great recipe all day long, but my kids and hubby may miss the chips (tortilla) typically involved with taco salad. Is there any way areound this in Paleo diet, or just let them eat chips with it and i’m good?
Use the sweet potato chips I mention above! 🙂
I wanted to drop a quick 6 lbs. I put on during the holidays.
I’m also a vegetarian-I just hopped on board South Beach Diet this past Saturday.
The first 2 wks you’d drastically reduce your carb intake-the weight begins to drop-FAST!
I just weighed myself this morning and need to loose 1 more lb!
This eating plan was developed by a heart dr. by the way. He wanted to improve the lives of his heart patients-you’d be amazed at what happened with some of his patients that followed his eating style.
Paleo would not work for me-haven’t eaten animal products in over 17 yrs now.
A guacamole tip…to make your dip light in texture and your avocados stretch, add shredded or finely chopped lettuce to it…great for parties when you need the dip to feed more people…it doesn’t change the taste at all.
Maybe Collin can be our H2S Pioneer Woman with her fab recipes!
Does your family eat the same things you’re eating or are you having to adjust the meals for others? or cook two seperate meals?
Lime and Cilantro, two of the best foods on earth!!
-throw them in with some black beans and add cumin and salt, and that is super delish too!
Thanks for the inspiring ideas!
Hi Collin
I am curious to know, are you eating paleo by yourself or are your husband and kids also eating a paleo diet. I’m sure I could swing it, but my hubby and kids, I’m not sure about. If they are, how did you switch everyone over. I’m mostly concerned about my hubby and 4 year old. We do eat lots of fruit but they are not big veggie eaters. Thanks
I would like to try the paleo diet. Can someone steer me in the right direction? Never heard of it until this week.
Hey Kelly 🙂 Glad you want to try paleo! Here are a couple of good links to get you started. This one (https://www.robbwolf.com/faq/#basics) is from Robb Wolf’s site, who wrote The Paleo Solution. Another good place is Mark Sisson’s webpage, Mark’s Daily Apple, where he talks about the primal/paleo diet (https://www.robbwolf.com/faq/#basics) Hope this helps!
Also, for those who have kids and want to get them on board with paleo and like quick, easy weekday meals check out Sarah Fragoso’s site, https://everydaypaleo.com/
Sorry that second link to Mark Sisson’s page was supposed to be this one: https://www.marksdailyapple.com/primal-blueprint-101/#axzz1mabXka8m
Thanks so much, Kelly!!
Thanks so much, Kelly! I really appreciate it!!
My family makes this all the time. So easy to put together. We love the house made taco seasoning as well. Thanks!