Taco Salad in Crispy Tortilla Bowl (Printer-Friendly)

A vibrant salad in crispy tortilla bowls with seasoned beef, beans, cheese, and fresh toppings.

# What You Need:

→ For the Tortilla Bowls

01 - 4 large flour tortillas (10-inch)
02 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

→ For the Beef Mixture

03 - 14 oz ground beef
04 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 teaspoons chili powder
07 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
08 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ For the Salad

11 - 1 can (14 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
12 - 5 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
13 - 1 small head romaine lettuce, shredded
14 - 3.5 oz shredded cheddar cheese
15 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
16 - 1 avocado, diced
17 - 1/2 cup corn kernels

→ For the Toppings

18 - 1/2 cup salsa
19 - 1/2 cup sour cream
20 - Fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish
21 - Lime wedges, for serving

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Brush both sides of each tortilla with vegetable oil. Drape each tortilla over an upside-down oven-safe bowl or ramekin on a baking sheet to form a bowl shape.
02 - Bake for 8–10 minutes until golden and crisp. Let cool and carefully remove from molds.
03 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain excess fat.
04 - Add chopped onion and garlic; sauté for 2–3 minutes until softened. Stir in chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 more minute. Remove from heat.
05 - In a large mixing bowl, combine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, black beans, corn, red onion, and avocado.
06 - Place each tortilla bowl on a plate. Fill with salad mixture, then top with warm beef mixture. Sprinkle with shredded cheddar.
07 - Add salsa and sour cream. Garnish with cilantro and serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The combination of warm seasoned beef against cool crisp lettuce creates that perfect temperature contrast restaurant dishes always nail
  • Everything gets tucked into edible bowls, which means fewer dishes to wash and more fun crunch in every bite
02 -
  • The tortilla bowls must be completely cooled before filling, or they will become soggy and lose their crunch
  • Draining the excess fat from the beef prevents the bottom of your salad from becoming greasy
03 -
  • Grate your own cheddar cheese instead of buying pre-shredded for better melting and fresher flavor
  • Let the seasoned beef rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the spices to fully develop
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