Loaded Beef Nacho Salad 🥗🔥
A vibrant, crunchy, cheesy salad layered with seasoned beef, fresh veggies, and crispy tortilla chips. Perfect for parties, gatherings, or a fun family meal!
🌮 Ingredients
For the Beef
1 lb (450 g) ground beef
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, finely diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon taco seasoning (or homemade mix)
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
¼ cup water
For the Salad Base
4 cups chopped lettuce (romaine or iceberg)
1 bag tortilla chips (plain or lightly salted)
Fresh Toppings
1 cup diced tomatoes
1 cup diced cucumber
½ cup diced green bell pepper
½ cup red onion, finely chopped
½ cup sliced black olives
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Cheese
1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
Optional Extras
Sour cream
Salsa
Guacamole
Jalapeño slices
Lime wedges
👩🍳 Instructions
- Cook the Beef
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add the diced onion and cook for 2–3 minutes until soft.
- Add garlic and stir for 30 seconds.
- Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon.
- Drain any excess fat.
- Add taco seasoning, salt, pepper, and ¼ cup water.
- Let it simmer for 3–4 minutes until the beef absorbs the seasoning.
- Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.
- Prepare the Salad Base
- In a large serving bowl or platter, spread the chopped lettuce into an even layer.
- Add a generous handful of tortilla chips on top.
- Layer the Toppings
- Spoon the seasoned beef over the chips.
- Add the diced tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, and red onion.
- Sprinkle sliced black olives over everything.
- Add the shredded cheddar cheese evenly across the salad.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro.
- Serve
Serve immediately while the chips are still crispy.
Add sour cream, salsa, or guacamole on the side for dipping—or drizzle on top!
✨ Tips
If you want a warm dish, melt the cheese in the oven for 5 minutes before adding the fresh toppings.
Add jalapeños for extra heat.
For a lighter version, use ground turkey instead of beef.