The Secret to the Best Vegetarian Taco Salad You’ve Ever Tasted (with Video)

vegetarian-taco-salad-recipe

Tacos are one of my favorite foods. They’re quick to make, filling and easy enough to turn into a vegetarian meal with a few swaps or eliminations. The one thing I don’t like is the mess! No matter how careful I am, I end up with a half-empty shell and filling all over the place. That’s where this taco salad recipe comes in so handy. It’s everything you love about tacos without all the mess.

A few weeks ago, we shared a yummy taco skillet recipe that also makes a great alternative. While that recipe relied more heavily on rice to bulk it up (making it the perfect cheap meal for a large family), this one is more like a traditional taco, sans meat and shell (but with all the yummy crunch you crave). Check out the video, then print the recipe card for later!

Easy Vegetarian Dinner: Taco Salad Recipe

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Ingredients:

vegetarian-taco-salad-recipe

  • Desired amount of mixed greens
  • ½ can black beans
  • ½ cup whole kernel corn
  • ½ cup cooked rice
  • ⅓ cup diced red onions
  • ⅓ cup diced red pepper
  • ⅓ cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup salsa
  • Pico de gallo
  • Crushed tortilla chips

How to make it:

 

  1. Combine black beans, corn, cooked rice, red onions, red pepper, and your salsa in a skillet. Cook on medium until heated throughout.
  2. Build your salad: Lay greens in a bowl, top with rice/bean mixture (around ½ cup), cheese, pico, and tortilla chips.
  3. Add more salsa if you would like.

vegetarian-taco-salad-recipe

So easy, yet so incredibly tasty! I love when dinner time is made easy. This recipe tastes great hot off the skillet or cold the next day, so you can easily pack leftovers into your lunchbox for work.

Print this recipe for later:

The Best Vegetarian Taco Salad You've Ever Tasted

  • Desired amount of mixed greens
  • ½ can black beans
  • ½ cup whole kernel corn
  • ½ cup cooked rice
  • ⅓ cup diced red onions
  • ⅓ cup diced red pepper
  • ⅓ cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup salsa
  • Pico de gallo
  • Crushed tortilla chips
  1. Combine black beans, corn, cooked rice, red onions, red pepper, and your salsa in a skillet. Cook on medium until heated throughout.
  2. Build your salad: Lay greens in a bowl, top with rice/bean mixture (around ½ cup), cheese, pico, and tortilla chips.
  3. Add more salsa if you would like.

Secrets to make this the best taco salad recipe ever

So what’s the big secret? Actually, there are a few. First, make sure you’re using the best salsa possible. The amount of heat is up to you, but a great salsa can make or break a taco salad. You can go generic on the beans, corn, and even the tortilla chips as long as you have the right salsa. I’ve had salsa so perfect that it only takes a tiny amount to really bring out the flavors of the rest of the filling.

vegetarian-taco-salad-recipe

Another secret: don’t add the tortilla chips until you’re ready to serve or eat. Add only enough for the servings that you’ll be enjoying right away. If you’re packing this for lunch the next day, bring along a baggie of crushed chips to sprinkle in. Otherwise they can get a bit soggy.

Do you have any secrets to making the perfect taco salad recipe? What are some of your favorite vegetarian recipes? Share below!

19 thoughts on “The Secret to the Best Vegetarian Taco Salad You’ve Ever Tasted (with Video)”

  1. Shannon Graham

    I have been trying to eat more vegetarian. I love having some of my favorites in vegetarian version!

  2. Melissa Chapman

    Tacos are always a favorite and with salsa and pico I love the vegetarian idea. The taco salad is a great idea to avoid the crunchy pieces all over. Adding the taco when serving will make it always feel fresh.

  3. Jeanine @ sixtimemommy.com

    Yum. We love tacos so why not try a taco salad? Sounds really great to me and looks incredible!

  4. Taco bowls are such a great way to personalize the Mexican night dinner experience. I agree with the mess when you eat them out of a shell. A bowl is much more practical keeping everything together.

  5. I love anything Mexican and this recipe is no exception! I will definitely be trying this taco salad out.

  6. I would have never thought to make a taco salad without meat but this sounds like something I would really like. I’ll have to try this!

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