Searching for a scrumptious and straightforward meal that may please the entire household? Do that tasty Frito Taco Salad with Catalina Dressing! This flavorful salad combines all of your favourite taco elements with the satisfying crunch of Fritos corn chips, and the tangy sweetness of Catalina dressing. It’s good for busy weeknights or a enjoyable potluck gathering.

Taco Salad with Fritos Corn Chips
Frito Taco Salad has been a recipe that has been on my thoughts for some time now. The primary time I had this recipe I once I was six years outdated. I had this Taco Salad with Fritos corn chips at Lady Scout Day Camp, in Pueblo, Colorado.
I discovered this Taco Salad nearly magical, my Mother by no means fastened something like this at dwelling. It might scare some folks, however I may put together this recipe myself on the age of 6.
Whereas this model of Taco Salad isn’t a recipe that I’d make too usually anymore, I used to be craving the nuttiness of Fritos mixed with lettuce, cheese, and a candy and barely spicy salad dressing.
Whereas this taco salad could also be a kind of responsible pleasures that I’ve, and actually it isn’t what I’d name a dish I’d make for firm, I’ll admit that I nonetheless get pleasure from this salad. For me, some dishes are utterly nostalgic and the nostalgia is what makes a specific dish style so good.
What Makes the Traditional Frito Taco Salad So Good?
Taco Salad will not be very refined, however this can be a go-to recipe for taco followers craving one thing a bit completely different. Through the years, the mixture of flavors, textures, and temperatures has made this salad an actual crowd-pleaser.
Whereas most eating places serve Taco Salads in edible corn chip bowls, this model makes use of Fritos as a substitute to make preparation simpler however retains the salad each bit as scrumptious.
Why You Ought to Attempt This Recipe
In case you grew up throughout a sure period (from concerning the 60s to the 80s), nostalgia alone needs to be sufficient to need to attempt making a Taco Salad recipe at dwelling.
Even if you happen to don’t bear in mind being thrilled on the times your college cafeterias or summer season camp served Taco Salad, you need to nonetheless give this dish a shot. It’s simple, low-cost, and has all the things you like about tacos packed right into a salad bowl.
Taco Frito Salad Components
For taco salad with Frito chips, you’ll want:
- Floor beef
- Taco seasoning combine
- Water
- Shredded lettuce
- Fritos corn chips
- Cheddar cheese, shredded
- Tomatoes
- Purple onions
- Olives, sliced
- Kraft Catalina Dressing or Kraft French Dressing
- Salsa

Ingredient Notes
You should utilize a can of pre-sliced black olives, however jarred complete olives in brine are way more flavorful. In case you don’t like olives, you possibly can go away them out.
For the shredded lettuce, you should use iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, or a mixture of them.
Catalina and vinaigrette are comparable in taste however not the identical. Catalina dressing tends to be candy with a skinny consistency, whereas vinaigrette has extra of a chunk. Select whichever you like or have available.
Word: This recipe will be made Gluten Free if you happen to use this taco seasoning combine recipe.
How you can Make Taco Salad With Frito Chips
To cook dinner the bottom beef:
- Heat a big skillet over medium warmth.
- Prepare dinner the bottom beef within the skillet till it’s now not pink. Drain any extra liquid.
- Stir the taco season into the bottom beef and comply with the directions on the packet for a way a lot water so as to add and easy methods to end cooking the taco meat.
- Cowl the cooked and seasoned floor beef and set to the aspect.

To prep the greens for the Frito Taco Salad recipe:
- Peel off the primary few outer leaves of the pinnacle of lettuce and lower it in half. Finely shred half, and save the opposite half of the lettuce for one thing else. Place the shredded lettuce in a colander and rinse properly. Use a salad spinner to dry the lettuce properly.
- Slice the tomatoes in half and use a spoon to scoop out all of the seeds. Discard the seeds and chop the tomatoes into small cube. Reserve diced tomatoes for later.
- Cube the pink onions into small items. Place them in a small bowl.
- If utilizing complete olives, drain and slice them into skinny rounds. Save for later.
To assemble a Taco Salad:
- When the meat is cooked, drain any extra liquid from the skillet.
- Use a fork to combine the salsa and salad dressing in a small bowl.
- In a big bowl, toss the shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, onions, sliced olives, and the ready dressing and salsa combination.

- Proper earlier than plating, toss the salad with the nice and cozy floor beef.
- Plate and garnish the taco salad with Fritos and shredded cheddar cheese.

Recipe Variations
Be at liberty to swap out the bottom beef for one thing else. Floor turkey is an effective various if you’re making an attempt to keep away from pink meat. It’s also possible to attempt making Frito Taco Salad with rooster strips for extra of a fajita vibe.
Make this salad vegetarian utilizing vegetable crumble or canned beans as a substitute of meat.
What to Serve With Taco Frito Salad
You may go slightly wild when including toppings to this salad. Listed here are a couple of that will be a scrumptious addition to Frito Taco Salad with Catalina dressing:
- Guacamole or slices of avocado would add a whole lot of creaminess to this recipe.
- Bitter cream or Mexican Crema provides the salad slightly extra zing.
- Swap the cheddar for queso fresco or one other sort of cheese.
- Black beans are tasty and add a whole lot of further protein.
- Corn salsa provides a whole lot of sweetness with a contact of warmth.
- Pickled jalapenos actually kick up the warmth stage for people who prefer it scorching.
How you can Retailer the Leftovers
Preserve every salad element separated into hermetic containers within the fridge to increase how lengthy they are going to final. Consuming a blended and dressed Taco Salad as quickly as doable is greatest.

Extra Recipes that Convey Again Reminiscences
- Karo Pecan Pie – That is my Grandmother’s Pecan Pie recipe
- Marbled Brownies – these have cream cheese inside that remind you of cheesecake
- Cheeseburger Casserole – this identify doesn’t do my Grandmother’s casserole justice, provolone and cheddar cheese, bacon, macaroni and extra!
Favourite Taco Recipes
Common Mexican Salad Recipes
Try extra of my simple salad recipes and the perfect household favourite recipes on CopyKat!
Frito Taco Salad
Make this Frito Taco Salad, it is really easy to organize.
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Price
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Servings: 8
Energy: 266kcal
Components
- 1 pound floor beef
- 1 package deal taco seasoning combine
- 1/2 head shredded lettuce
- 1 cups Fritos corn chips
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
- 1/4 cup diced pink onions
- 1/4 cup sliced olives (non-obligatory)
- 1/4 cup Kraft Catalina Dressing you may additionally use a vinaigrette
- 1/4 cup salsa
Directions
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In a skillet over medium warmth brown floor beef, when nearly performed drain fats, and add taco seasoning combine. In case you are utilizing a package deal of taco seasoning combine add the quantity of water really helpful on that package deal and let the meat simmer till absolutely cooked.
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As soon as meat is absolutely cooked, flip off the warmth, and permit the meat to chill barely. Put together salad toss collectively lettuce, tomatoes, pink onions, shredded cheese, and corn chips. In a small bowl put together salad dressing by mixing collectively catalina salad dressing and the salsa, combine properly.
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Toss collectively the seasoned beef, salad dressing together with the lettuce. Garnish with sliced black olives if you happen to want. Serve instantly. This salad doesn’t maintain properly, so be ready to eat in a single sitting.
Vitamin
Energy: 266kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 12g | Fats: 18g | Saturated Fats: 6g | Ldl cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 649mg | Potassium: 287mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 705IU | Vitamin C: 4.9mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 1.9mg
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