Spiced Beef Taco Salad with Pickled Onion, Avocado Dressing & Lime Crema

Get ready for a taco salad that’s bursting with texture and flavor! Crisp lettuce, seasoned ground beef, juicy tomatoes, and tangy pickled onions come together in a bowl, topped with a creamy avocado dressing and a zesty lime crema. Crunchy blue corn tortilla chips add the perfect finishing touch.

This isn’t your average salad—it’s a full-on fiesta. The pickled onions bring a bright, tangy kick, while the avocado dressing adds richness. Whether you scoop, dip, or crush the chips over the top, every bite is a delight. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner that feels special.

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Ingredients

1 clove GarlicView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Red OnionView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit LimeView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Baby LettuceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Roma TomatoView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1.5 ounce Blue Corn Tortilla ChipsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 tablespoon GuacamoleView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon Sour CreamView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

10 ounce Ground BeefView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon Southwest Spice BlendView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 teaspoon Hot SauceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 teaspoon SugarView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon Olive OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon Cooking OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

SaltView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Wash and dry all produce. Halve, peel, and thinly slice half the red onion; finely chop the remaining half. Zest the lime, then quarter it. Peel and mince the garlic. Trim the root end from the lettuce, halve lengthwise, then chop crosswise into 1-inch ribbons. Dice the Roma tomato into ½-inch pieces. Gently crush the tortilla chips in their bag into small pieces.
2. In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine the sliced onion, juice from two lime wedges, ½ teaspoon sugar, 1 tablespoon water, and a pinch of salt. Microwave until the onion is softened, about 30 seconds. Set aside to pickle, stirring occasionally.
3. In a large bowl, combine the guacamole, half the lime zest, juice from one lime wedge, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and a pinch of garlic. Add water 1 teaspoon at a time until the mixture reaches a thick drizzling consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. In a second small bowl, combine the sour cream and remaining lime zest. Add water 1 teaspoon at a time until the mixture reaches a drizzling consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Heat a drizzle of cooking oil in a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring, until slightly softened, 2-3 minutes. Add the ground beef, Southwest Spice blend, remaining garlic, ¾ teaspoon salt, and a pinch of pepper. Cook, breaking the meat into pieces, until almost cooked through, 3-5 minutes. Add the hot sauce and ¼ cup water. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until the liquid is absorbed and the beef is fully cooked, 1-2 minutes. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed.
6. Add the chopped lettuce to the bowl with the avocado dressing and toss until thoroughly coated. Divide the salad between serving bowls. Top with the cooked beef (drain excess grease if necessary), diced tomato, pickled onion (drained), and crushed tortilla chips. Drizzle the lime crema over the top and serve immediately.

Useful Cookware

A few helpful kitchen tools for this recipe, with relevant Amazon picks for each item.

Zester

Deiss PRO Lemon Zester & Heavy Duty Cheese Grater & Vegetable Grater - Parmesan Cheese Lemon, Garlic, Nutmeg, Chocolate, Fruits, Vegetables, Ginger Grater - Cheese Shredder & Stainless Steel GraterView on AmazonMicroplane Premium Classic Series Zester 18/8, Black - Lemon Zester & Cheese Grater & Vegetable Grater - Citrus, Parmesan Cheese, Garlic, Ginger, Nutmeg, Chocolate - Stainless Steel GraterView on AmazonOXO Good Grips Etched Zester and GraterView on Amazon

Small Bowl

Kaytee Stoneware Ceramic Pet Hamster Bowl, Brown, 3-InchView on AmazonDipping Bowls, Soy Sauce Dish Ceramic, 3 OZ Small Serving Bowls for Side Dishes Vintage Blue Stylish Design, Set of 6 Mini Appetizer Plates for Condiment Sushi Ketchup BBQ Party, 4 InchView on AmazonFarielyn-X 3.5in 4oz Small Glass Bowls, Mini Glass Containers, Ramekins, Prep, Pinch Bowl, Stackable Condiment Containers, for Prep, Dips, Nuts, Snacks, Candy Meal Prep Bowls, Dessert BowlsView on Amazon

Large Bowl

Winco , 8-Quart, Stainless Steel (MXB-800Q)View on AmazonFox Run Brands 2.75-Quart Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl, 9 x 9 x 4 inches, MetallicView on AmazonMfacoy 2 Pack Salad Bowl, 8 inch 60 oz Large Serving Bowl Set, Deep Bowl for Kitchen, White Ceramic Bowl Set for Soup, Cereal, Ramen, Pasta, Salad, Dishwasher & Microwave Safe, Easy CleanView on Amazon

Large Pan

SENSARTE Nonstick Frying Pan Skillet with Lid, 12 Inch Large Deep Frying Pan, 5 Qt Non Stick Saute Pan with Cover, Induction Pan, Healthy Non Toxic Cooking Pan with Helper Handle, PFOA PFOS FreeView on AmazonFarberware Dishwasher Safe Nonstick Jumbo Cooker Chef's Pan with Lid and Helper Handle, Kitchen Cookware, 6-Quart, BlackView on AmazonSNOWCLAD Frying Pans Nonstick with Lid,Hybrid Non Stick 5 Quart Saute pan,PFOA Free Cookware,Stainless Steel skillet,12 inch Deep Saute Pan,Dishwasher&Oven Safe,Works on All CooktopsView on Amazon

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I make this taco salad ahead of time?

You can prep the components ahead: pickle the onion, make the dressings, and cook the beef. Store them separately in the fridge. Assemble the salad just before serving to keep the lettuce crisp.

What can I use instead of blue corn tortilla chips?

Regular tortilla chips or even crushed tortilla strips work well. For a lighter option, try baked tortilla chips.

Is this recipe gluten-free?

Yes, all ingredients are naturally gluten-free. Check labels on spice blends and hot sauce to ensure no gluten-containing additives.