Easy Taco Salad with Homemade Cilantro Lime Dressing

Taco salad is classic but this one comes with a homemade cilantro lime dressing with tomatillos!

Hello, readers! I apologize for the lack of regular posting lately - life has been wildly busy. Honestly, just throwing in work for me has eaten up any time I had to do anything at a leisurely pace. Add in also volunteering with the high school marching band on Friday nights and I'm straight exhausted every weekend but also trying to catch up on all the things I have not done during the week. I'll continue to keep posting but it is going to be much more sporadic. At the time, I plan to at least get a post up each Monday. If I'm able, I'll post more (keeping to MWF schedule), but no promises!

Now this recipe - taco salad is taco salad. It's kind of a no brainer really. However, this one sets itself apart with the homemade cilantro lime dressing. It really makes the whole dish. I want this dressing on everything forever.

What you need:

For the Cilantro Lime Dressing:

• 1/3 cup cilantro
• 2 tomatillos, husks removed and chopped
• 1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 cup Greek yogurt
• 1 1/2 tsp. lime juice
• 2 Tbsp. ranch seasoning mix
• 1/4 tsp. smoked paprika
• Milk, as needed
  

For the Salad:

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 Tbsp. chili powder
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp. onion powder
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 1/2 cup salsa
• 8 cups chopped romaine
• Halved grape or cherry tomatoes
• 1 cup black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can sweet corn, drained
• 1/4 cup chopped red onion
• 2 avocados, diced
• 1/3 cup roasted and salted sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cup shredded pepper jack cheese or sharp cheddar cheese
• Tortilla chips or Doritos, slightly crushed
  

Directions:

1. For the Cilantro Lime Dressing: Add all ingredients to a blender to puree. Add milk as needed to reach desired consistency. Chill at least 1 hour before serving. It lasts for 5 to 7 days in the fridge.
2. For the Salad: Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, crumbling as you go. Stir in all seasonings and 1/2 cup salsa. Simmer for 2 minutes.
3. Toss lettuce with tomatoes, beans, corn, onion, avocado, sunflower seeds, and cheese. Top with beef and crushed chips. Drizzle with cilantro lime dressing.
   

Recipe from Carlsbad Cravings

Easy Taco Salad with Homemade Cilantro Lime Dressing

Author: Sarah Ellis/Fantastical Sharing of Recipes

Ingredients

For the Cilantro Lime Dressing:

• 1/3 cup cilantro
• 2 tomatillos, husks removed and chopped
• 1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 cup Greek yogurt
• 1 1/2 tsp. lime juice
• 2 Tbsp. ranch seasoning mix
• 1/4 tsp. smoked paprika
• Milk, as needed

For the Salad:

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 Tbsp. chili powder
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp. onion powder
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 1/2 cup salsa
• 8 cups chopped romaine
• Halved grape or cherry tomatoes
• 1 cup black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can sweet corn, drained
• 1/4 cup chopped red onion
• 2 avocados, diced
• 1/3 cup roasted and salted sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cup shredded pepper jack cheese or sharp cheddar cheese
• Tortilla chips or Doritos, slightly crushed

Instructions

1. For the Cilantro Lime Dressing: Add all ingredients to a blender to puree. Add milk as needed to reach desired consistency. Chill at least 1 hour before serving. It lasts for 5 to 7 days in the fridge.
2. For the Salad: Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, crumbling as you go. Stir in all seasonings and 1/2 cup salsa. Simmer for 2 minutes.
3. Toss lettuce with tomatoes, beans, corn, onion, avocado, sunflower seeds, and cheese. Top with beef and crushed chips. Drizzle with cilantro lime dressing.

Notes:

Recipe from Carlsbad Cravings