WHAT’S FOR DINNER?
Taco Salad (The Midwest Way)
Array/5
COOK TIME
15 min
TOTAL TIME
20 min
SERVINGS
2-3 servings
The classic Taco Salad but made the Midwestern way. Okay, I really don’t know if the Midwest way is that much different, but this is the way we’ve always made it. Gotta have all the layers: lettuce, beans, meat, tomatoes, avocado, cheese, Doritos and the dressing. The one thing I do know that is different, is the dressing.
The Midwestern Dressing
Let’s talk about the dressing for this Taco Salad made the Midwestern way. It makes all the difference. Yes, is a ranch on a Taco Salad delicious? Yes. Is salsa a good choice? For sure. But, I can’t do a Taco Salad without my Dorothy Lynch dressing. You probably haven’t heard of it unless you live in Nebraska. It’s made in Nebraska and I have no idea if you can find it anywhere else in the world. Oh wait, you can get it on Amazon! If you do, grab it. It’s a little sweet, a little bit of kick, thick and creamy. It’s just simply good.
The Layers of my Midwest Taco Salad
This salad is simple. I cook the ground beef along with some black beans, add my own taco seasoning (you can use the premade packs too) and then add all the goodies in one bowl. Lettuce, ground beef, beans, cheese, tomatoes, avocados, Doritos and Dorothy Lynch. If you don’t have Doritos (I highly suggest you use Doritos though) you can throw some crushed tortilla chips on top. If you don’t have Dorothy Lynch, a French Dressing is close too. (But I would definitely suggest trying out some Dorothy Lynch).
Mix everything together in a big bowl and enjoy all the flavors and textures. Love a Taco Salad the Midwestern Way.
Check out the video and recipe below and let me know what you think!
Be sure to check out these other Mexican recipes, too!
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Taco Salad (the Midwest way)
A simple Taco Salad layered with texture and flavor plus a Midwest dressing that makes this a special Midwest tradition.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 can black beans, drained
3 Tablespoons Taco Seasoning (recipe below) or 1 packet Taco Seasoning
1/4 cup water
Lettuce (any kind, I love a simple iceberg or romaine mix)
tomatoes, chopped
avocado, chopped
shredded cheese
Doritos
Dorothy Lynch Dressing (or your favorite dressing)
Homemade Taco Seasoning:
3 Tablespoons chili powder
2 Tablespoons ground cumin
1 Tablespoon garlic powder
1 Tablespoon onion powder
1 Tablespoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
1. In a large skillet on medium high heat, cook the ground beef through. Add the black beans and then cook with the ground beef for another 2 minutes. Turn heat to medium low and add the Taco Seasoning plus 1/3 cup water. Mix together and let simmer on low heat until the water has absorbed into the ground beef mixture.
2. Assemble the salad. In a large bowl, layer the lettuce then the ground beef and shredded cheese. Then top with the tomatoes, avocados and the crushed Doritos. Finally drizzle the Dorothy Lynch or your dressing of choice all over the top.
3. Combine everything so all those flavors and textures get mixed up then enjoy!
Notes
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6 Responses
I guess I’m not Midwest because I had to Google Dorothy Lynch dressing. 🙂
Rhonda (from Oregon)
It might just be a Nebraska thing, it’s SO good!
I live in South Dakota and my grandma made this receptor growing up. I can’t believe it’s only a Midwest thing!
It was always the Dorothy Lynch dressing that made this one so good!
Western dressing is the best!
Totally agree!