Clean Eating Skillet Taco Salad Recipe (2024)

Author: Tiffany McCauley

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This skillet taco salad is a wonderful Taco Tuesday meal!

By now, most of you know that Mexican food is my all-time favorite. I just cannot get enough of it. While I wouldn’t call my recipes “authentic” in the finest sense of the word, I will say that using fresh ingredients will get you about as close to authentic as you can get without going to Mexico. And fresh ingredients are what this blog is all about!

Clean Eating Skillet Taco Salad Recipe (1)

One of the things I love about this salad is that it’s basically a “one-pot” meal. Or maybe, “one-pan” would be a better term here. Either way, you won’t have a ton of dishes to wash, and I don’t know anybody who would argue with that!

Taco salad is wonderful stuff, and all the toppings are adjustable to your needs and wants. In fact, if you are making this for a few people who all want different things, divide the cooked meat between a few smaller, single-serving skillets or bowls and let everyone top their own. It’s the easiest way to ensure that everyone is happy with dinner!You can work a taco salad to fit nearly any eating style. Simply add and subtract ingredients as needed to suit your tastes and dietary needs. And if you try this, I’d love to hear what you did to make this recipe just right for you. Leave me a comment below!

P.S. – Check out the end of the recipe directions to see different ways you can accommodate different eating styles with this recipe. It’s easy, I promise! And no matter how you make it, it will be super tasty. You’ll see!

MORE HEALTHY MEXICAN RECIPES:

  • Guacamole Recipe
  • Taco Salad Recipe

Clean Eating Skillet Taco Salad Recipe (3)

Skillet Taco Salad

A delicious, versatile dish for Taco Tuesdays!

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 214kcal

Author: Tiffany McCauley

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. ground turkey
  • 1 tbsp. oil
  • 1 cup chopped, yellow onion
  • 1 ½ cups chopped, red bell pepper
  • 6 medium garlic cloves (minced)
  • 1 tbsp. ground cumin
  • 1 tsp. chili powder
  • 2 tbsp. minced jalapeño pepper (optional)
  • OPTIONAL HOT TOPPINGS (add before putting in oven)
  • refried beans
  • shredded cheese (if you want it melted)
  • OPTIONAL FRESH/COLD TOPPINGS (add after cooking in the oven)
  • tomatoes (chopped)
  • lettuce (chopped)
  • spinach (chopped)
  • shredded cheese (if you prefer it not melted)
  • guacamole (see link above
  • greek yogurt
  • olives (sliced)
  • fresh cilantro (chopped)

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • In a large skillet, brown the turkey meat in the oil.

  • Add the onion, peppers, garlic and spices and cook until the meat is cooked through.

  • Top with optional ingredients, leaving the cheese to be the very top layer and place the entire skillet in the oven at 350 F for about 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is fully melted.

  • Top with fresh optional ingredients, and serve.

  • Diary free? I didn’t use cheese on mine and it still turned out great. So if you’re dairy free, just skip the cheese and use the fresh toppings.

  • Paleo? Skip the beans and cheese.

  • Low Carb? Skip the beans and yogurt.

Notes

Please note that the nutrition data given here is a ballpark figure. Exact data is not possible. Data is for the meat mixture only and does not include any toppings.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25the recipe | Calories: 214kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 88mg | Potassium: 619mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2270IU | Vitamin C: 83.8mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 3.9mg

This recipe from the Gracious Pantry archives, originally posted 6/10/14.

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Author: Tiffany McCauley

Title: Journalist

Expertise: Food, cooking, travel

Bio:

Tiffany McCauley is a nationally syndicated journalist and an award-winning cookbook author. She is also a food blogger. She has been featured on MSN, Huffington Post, Country Living Magazine, HealthLine, Redbook, and many more. She has helped thousands of people learn to cook simple, clean, and healthy foods in their own home kitchens. She lives in Maine and loves Elvis, sunflowers, and a good seafood chowder, as well as travel writing.

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  1. That looks awesome! Love how healthy it is, I am a big fan of taco salad but sometimes it isn’t too good for you. 😀

    Reply

    1. How to – Exactly. It’s one of those foods that can go either way!

      Reply

  2. I’ll be trying this one for sure! I love Mexican food too…..your clean eating chicken fajitas is my favourite fajita recipe, so I have complete faith in your Mexican recipes!!

    Reply

    1. Jane – Haha!! Why thank you!!! 😀

      Reply

  3. what kind of cheese did you or could you use? I don’t see cheese listed in the ingredients list. thank you!

    Reply

    1. Sallie – Sorry, just added it. You can pick any type you like. I think I mixed cheddar and jack together for this one.

      Reply

  4. I will definitely be making this soon. Thank you for posting this.

    Reply

    1. Alicia – My pleasure! I hope you enjoy it!

      Reply

  5. I love how versatile this is – it will work perfectly for the various picky eaters in my house as they can add the toppings to their particular servings and customize to their heart’s delight!

    Reply

    1. Kate – Exactly!

      Reply

  6. I made this the other night and it was very, very good! Yum! I will have to add more ingredients next time for our bigger family!

    Reply

    1. Kelly – So glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  7. I love Mexican food it is my all time favorite also. So I love a new way to have taco salad.
    I have been eating Clean Eating for a year now and I am 3 pounds away from my goal weight. That will be a total of 65 pounds. So thank you for your help with all your wonderful recipes.

    Reply

    1. Janis – Wow! That’s amazing!! Congratulations!!! 😀

      Reply

  8. I make your other taco salad often. Kids eat it as tacos. This looks good going to try it.

    Reply

    1. Angela – Awesome! I hope you enjoy this one just as much! 😀

      Reply

  9. I like (almost) anything that is made in a skillet. I will be adding this to my list of recipes to try.

    Reply

    1. Nanc – I hope you enjoy it!

      Reply

Clean Eating Skillet Taco Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why was the taco salad discontinued? ›

The Short and Sweet Answer

Another reason might be the move towards a menu that's easier and quicker to prepare. Taco salads, with their many ingredients and steps, might not have fit into this new, streamlined approach as well as other items.

Is taco salad good for you? ›

Although you may think of taco salad as a healthy option, it's often loaded with calories and fat. But if you leave out the tortilla chips or taco shell, use fat-free cheese, and swap in plain yogurt for the traditional sour cream, taco salad can become a healthy, filling, low-carb, and flavorful meal.

Why are taco salad so high in calories? ›

Worst: Taco Salad

That's because they start with a deep-fried tortilla shell. That “bowl” alone can have nearly 400 calories and 22 grams of fat. Then it's filled with oversized portions of ground beef, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole. This salad can weigh in at 800 calories or more!

What can I put in salad instead of meat? ›

Here are some ideas:
  1. Legumes: Add beans like chickpeas, black beans, kidney beans, or lentils to your salad. ...
  2. Nuts and seeds: Sprinkle some nuts and seeds like almonds, walnuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds on your salad. ...
  3. Tofu: Grilled or pan-fried tofu can be a great addition to any salad.
Apr 25, 2023

What fast food makes a taco salad? ›

The Taco John's Taco Salad gives you the best of both worlds with crisp lettuce, cheddar cheese, salsa, tomatoes, and sour cream. You get 100% American beef (or can upgrade to grilled chicken or crunchy chicken) and your choice of dressing. We throw them all together in a crunchy tortilla bowl.

What happened to Taco Bell's taco salad? ›

The beloved taco salad is no longer part of Taco Bell's menu. This decision was part of Taco Bell's effort to streamline their menu and introduce new and exciting items. This move left many fans missing the crunchy, savory, and delicious taco salad that had been a staple for years.

Did Taco Bell stop selling taco salads? ›

The Fiesta Taco Salad wasn't the only bowl to get axed from the menu. Taco Bell's Zesty Chicken Bowl from the early 2000s also got the boot.

What is the healthiest type of taco? ›

Best: Tacos

Order the grilled chicken, lean steak, or grilled fish on a baked corn tortilla. Those have 70% more fiber and less than half the fat of their white flour counterparts. Skip the chorizo, fried fish, and carnitas (fried pork or beef), which are higher in unhealthy saturated fat.

What can you use instead of chips for taco salad? ›

You can take your favourite low carb tortillas and cut them into tortilla strips and use those instead of chips. Serve them as-is, or toast them.

What is the healthiest taco? ›

Tacos de carnitas

One of the healthiest versions of an authentic Mexican taco is the tacos de carnitas. The meat for this taco is prepared by seasoning it with a little spice and then slowly cooking it in its own fat until it literally falls apart, making this the ultimately pulled pork taco.

What are different names for taco salad? ›

This meal goes by many names. You may have heard it called Taco Salad, River Chicken Salad, Train Wreck, or any combination of those things. Don't worry, the ingredients are always the same.

What can I eat with tacos besides rice and beans? ›

Whether it's Taco Tuesday (or Wednesday or Thursday or Friday), these are the best taco side dishes to complete the meal.
  1. 01 of 20. Charro Beans. ...
  2. 02 of 20. Black Bean And Corn Salsa. ...
  3. 03 of 20. Arroz Verde. ...
  4. 04 of 20. Mango-Black Bean Salsa. ...
  5. 05 of 20. Tejano Red Rice. ...
  6. 06 of 20. Corn Salad. ...
  7. 07 of 20. Guacamole. ...
  8. 08 of 20. Mexican Corn.
Jan 21, 2024

What is eaten with tacos? ›

What to Serve With Tacos (25 Must-Try Recipes)
  • Mexican Rice.
  • Refried Beans.
  • Guacamole.
  • Salsa.
  • Queso Dip.
  • Mexican Sweet Corn (Elote)
  • Cilantro Lime Rice.
  • Black Bean Salad.
Nov 19, 2023

What is the main ingredient of a salad? ›

Pieces of vegetables, fruits, eggs, or grains mixed with a sauce. Garden salads use a base of leafy greens such as lettuce, arugula or rocket, kale or spinach; they are common enough that the word salad alone often refers specifically to garden salads.

What are the most popular taco ingredients? ›

The most common toppings that you will find for crispy tacos are shredded lettuce (romaine or iceberg lettuce), finely shredded cabbage, sliced or chopped tomatoes, and onions (white onion is more popular than red onion). This list can go on for ages, but I will only mention the most popular fried tacos. Shredded Beef.

What are the main ingredients of a salad make up its body? ›

The BODY of the salad is the main ingredient. It may include vegetables, fruits, meats, or cheeses. The GARNISH of the salad adds color and appeal, and sometimes flavor. It must always be edible, and may be as simple as a sprinkling of crumbs or spice.

What are the ingredients in the body of a salad? ›

The base includes various types of lettuce, greens, romaine, etc. The body is usually a protein like chicken or ham. The dressing can be either a mayonnaise base or vinaigrette. The Garnish is often parsley, basil, chives or olives - something to compliment the colors in the salad.

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