
What makes this Recipe "Light"?
This Light Ground Beef Taco Salad recipe has simple ingredients that are better for you. The healthier ingredient choices of lean ground beef, reduced fat cheese, and lightly salted chips reduces the Fat and Sodium compared to most Taco recipes.
What is Taco Salad?
Would you be surprised to know that Taco Salad was originated in Texas? I know I was. By definition a Taco Salad is made with the same ingredients of a Taco, but served as a salad. The basic Taco formula is a protein (usually meat) + seasonings (cumin, coriander, chili powder) + toppings (cheese, lettuce, sour cream, onions, and many more) served in a corn or flour tortilla. The tortilla shell can also be fried, which of course adds more fat.

Recipe Highlights
- Low Sodium
- Low Saturated Fat
- High Protein
- Make Ahead Meal
Make Ahead Options
Light Ground Beef Taco Salad can be made ahead. Package salad components (lettuce, cheese, and olives) in one container, meat mixture in a 1-cup container, and the chips in a snack size baggie. All of it will fit in a 32-ounce round container.
Ingredients for Light Ground Beef Taco Salad
- 93% Lean Ground Beef – less fat is good thing
- Canned Bean Dip -Bush’s® Original Bean Dip is the lowest Sodium we have found so far
- Chili Powder – Look for No Salt added or the lowest sodium brand
- Diced Tomatoes – Any No Salt added brands will work including Rotel®
- Iceberg Lettuce – chopped or shredded
- Shredded Cheese – any reduced fat brand works such as Sargento® Reduce Fat 4 Cheese Mexican Shredded
- Sliced Olives – buy the smallest can, you only need 4 tablespoons
- Corn Chips – any brand that is “Lightly Salted” will work
The SMART Menu
What’s a SMART Menu? I call them smart because the Sodium and Fat (specifically Saturated Fat) are lower than most meals. Fast Carbs (FC) and Slow Carbs (SC) are balanced to keep blood sugars level. Plus, the Food Groups give the meal variety.
Side Swaps:
Swap the Yogurt Bar for
- any flavor Yasso® Frozen Yogurt Bar
- 2/3 cup any flavor Halo Top® Light Ice Cream
- 2/3 cup any flavor Bryers® CarbSmart™

Benefits of Homemade
Making the Taco Salad at home is not only cheaper than Eating Out, it’s also way more Healthier. I compared a similar Ground Beef Taco Salad with tortilla chips and was amazed at the difference. Granted, the portion size is probably bigger than Light Ground Beef Taco Salad, but not worth the 13 grams of Saturated Fat, 1,870 milligrams of Sodium, and 68 Carb grams. I think you will agree Homemade even tastes better.

Ground Beef Taco Salad
Tonia BloomIngredients
- 1 pound 93% Lean Ground Beef
- 1 (9½-ounce) can Bean Dip such as Bush's Original
- 2 teaspoons Salt Free Chili Powder
- 1 (14½-ounce) can No Salt Added Diced Tomatoes
- ½ head Iceberg Lettuce shredded or chopped
- 2 ounces Reduced Fat Mexican Style Four Cheese Blend
- 4 tablespoons Sliced Black Olives drained
- 2 ounces Lightly Salted Corn Chips
Instructions
- In a large nonstick skillet, cook ground beef over medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes, or until no longer pink. Drain fat. Stir in bean dip, chili powder, and tomatoes with juice. Remove from heat.
- Evenly divide lettuce between four bowls. Top evenly with beef mixture, olives, cheese, and corn chips. Garnish with green onions