This Ground Beef Taco Salad is easy and delicious!  This classic recipe is ready in just 15 minutes…as long as you don't eat all of the Fritos first!

This Ground Beef Taco Salad is easy and delicious!  This classic recipe is ready in just 15 minutes...just don't eat all of the Fritos first!This recipe showed up in our kitchen thanks to Laura's stop at a gas station in Pennsylvania.  You see, Laura grew up in Altoona, PA.  If you live anywhere near Altoona, then you are well aware of the gas station/convenience store Sheetz.  When I first met Laura, we were living in Atlanta, and she kept telling me about Sheetz.  I remember thinking to myself, "What's so great about a gas station!?"  Then I finally went into a Sheetz.

This Ground Beef Taco Salad is easy and delicious!  This classic recipe is ready in just 15 minutes...just don't eat all of the Fritos first!To call Sheetz a gas station is an understatement.  To call Sheetz a convenience store is an understatement.  Sure, they sell gas along with all of the things you might expect from a convenience store (candy bars, soda, etc.).  But the part that puts Sheetz over the top is the Made-To-Order counter.  Think tasty fast food made to order.  And the food actually tastes good.  That sure beats the heck out of the gas stations with hot dogs rolling on that rack for the last 10 hours…or longer!

Ground Beef Taco Salad

Laura stopped at a Sheetz to fill up her gas tank, and they had an ad for taco salad.  And that's when the craving started.  After she got back home, she suggested that we make a Ground Beef Taco Salad for dinner.  It didn't take long for me to agree – after all, taco salads are amazing!  Not only is there yummy beef, cheese and other toppings…but Ground Beef Taco Salads are a perfect excuse to dump Fritos on top of your salad.  Talk about my kinda meal!

This Ground Beef Taco Salad is easy and delicious!  This classic recipe is ready in just 15 minutes...just don't eat all of the Fritos first!Another bonus for taco salads?  They are SO easy to make.  You can have dinner on the table in about 15 minutes or so – and it won't taste like a dinner that took 15 minutes to make!  While the ground beef is cooking in the skillet, you can chop the lettuce, tomatoes and green onions that will go on top.  Add in some shredded cheddar cheese, a spoonful or four of salsa, a bit of sour cream and a handful of chopped cilantro, and you've got a tasty meal.  And since this Ground Beef Taco Salad comes together so quickly, you won't have time to eat the entire bag of Fritos while you're cooking!

This Ground Beef Taco Salad is easy and delicious!  This classic recipe is ready in just 15 minutes...just don't eat all of the Fritos first!One other quick note about the ingredients for these salads.  Lean ground beef.  I feel like lean ground beef (90/10 or 93/7) gets a bad rap sometimes.  After all, fat is flavor, right?  Well that is 100% true!  If we're talking burgers in the summer, give me 75/25 or 80/20.  However, in this case, the beef gets simmered in taco seasoning mixed with water.  The taco seasoning packs a huge flavor punch, so you can go with lean ground beef.  That means this Ground Beef Taco Salad can be quite healthy – as long as you don't pour the entire bag of Fritos on top!

This Ground Beef Taco Salad is easy and delicious!  This classic recipe is ready in just 15 minutes...just don't eat all of the Fritos first!I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we did.  This one cured Laura's craving, but I'm sure one of us will be craving these salads again soon.  Cheers!

Did you make this Ground Beef Taco Salad at home?  Leave a comment or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog).  I'd love to see how many Fritos you pile on your version!

This Ground Beef Taco Salad is easy and delicious!  This classic recipe is ready in just 15 minutes...just don't eat all of the Fritos first!

  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 16 oz. lean ground beef I used 90/10
  • ¼ cup water
  • 2 Tbsp taco seasoning
  • 1 head iceberg lettuce chopped
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
  • 15 oz. black beans drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • ½ cup chopped green onions
  • 1 cup Fritos corn chips
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • ½ cup salsa
  • 2 Tbsp chopped cilantro
  • {optional} lime slices

  • Using a large skillet, add olive oil and place over medium-high heat. Once hot, add ground beef. Cook, stirring occasionally, until beef has browned. If needed, drain excess fat from skillet.

  • Add water and taco seasoning; stir until well combined. Reduce heat to medium and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, for 1-2 minutes, or until water has mostly evaporated. Remove skillet from heat and set aside.

  • Place chopped iceberg lettuce in a large bowl. Add cherry tomatoes, black beans and cooked beef. Top with cheese, green onions, corn chips, sour cream, salsa and chopped cilantro.

  • {Optional} Squeeze fresh lime juice on top of taco salad before serving.

This Ground Beef Taco Salad is easy and delicious!  This classic recipe is ready in just 15 minutes...just don't eat all of the Fritos first!

Looking for more tasty taco recipes?  Check out these other favorites, too:

Smoked Brisket Tacos are one of the best things about summer!  Learn some brisket-smoking tricks, and grab the recipe for these tasty tacos!Smoked Brisket Tacos

These Crispy Baja Fish Tacos are not only quick and easy, but packed with delicious flavor, too!  They're the perfect way to celebrate the arrival of warmer days!Crispy Baja Fish Tacos

This Taco Casserole recipe is easy and delicious...perfect for weeknight cooking!Taco Casserole