Low Carb Taco Salad Recipe (2024)

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This low carb taco salad recipe is healthy, easy to make, and it’s ready in less than 30 minutes. It’s loaded with delicious southwest flavors!

Low Carb Taco Salad Recipe (1)

This low-carb beef taco salad recipe really hit the spot for me. It’s been ages since I’ve had a taco salad with ground beef. And guess what? I didn’t even miss the tortilla chips. There’s plenty of flavor and crunch in here without it.

The taco salad dressing is simply sour cream, the adobo sauce that comes in a can of chipotle chilis, and some fresh lime juice. It tastes amazing with the other ingredients!

Low Carb Taco Salad Recipe (2)

What’s in taco salad?

This easy taco salad recipe includes:

  • Romaine lettuce
  • Extra lean ground beef
  • Tomatoes
  • Red onions
  • Cheese (you can use just cheddar but I used a Mexican shredded cheese blend that includes cheddar, Monterey Jack, and queso quesadilla cheeses)
  • Avocado
  • A homemade sour-cream based chipotle dressing
  • An easy homemade spice blend similar to taco seasoning that you can buy

I left out the tortilla chips – this saves carbs and calories.

I think you’ll love this smoky chipotle taco salad recipe. I love how fast it comes together, and we’ve only got healthy real-food ingredients in here. Definitely one of my favorite comfort foods.

Low Carb Taco Salad Recipe (3)

How do you make taco salad low-carb?

You don’t really have to make too many changes to make a taco salad low-carb. I omitted the tortilla chips that are sometimes included in taco salad recipes. I actually don’t miss them at all, and I find that the onions and lettuce give it enough crunch.

I also left out beans, which you sometimes see in taco salad recipes.

I used a few spices to make my own homemade taco seasoning for this salad, but if you’re in a rush or don’t have the individual spices, you can use taco seasoning instead.

You may also like my low-carb taco bowls, these low-carb taco zucchini boats, mybeef taco soup, or to browse my other low-carb recipes. Don’t mind the carbs? Try my regular beef taco salad recipe.

Low Carb Taco Salad Recipe (4)

Hope you love this low-carb ground beef taco salad recipe!

Questions? Ask me in the comments below.

Low Carb Taco Salad Recipe (5)

5 from 3 votes

Low-Carb Taco Salad Recipe

By Natasha Bull

This low-carb taco salad recipe is healthy, easy to make, and it's ready in less than 30 minutes. It's packed with delicious southwest flavors!

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 10 minutes mins

Total: 25 minutes mins

Servings: 4

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Ingredients

  • 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound extra lean ground beef
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 medium red onion chopped
  • 1/2 cup Mexican shredded cheese blend
  • 1 avocado chopped
  • 1 cup little tomatoes (grape, cherry, etc.) halved
  • 1 small head romaine lettuce torn into bite-size pieces

Dressing:

  • 3/4 cup sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon adobo sauce (see note)
  • 1 teaspoon lime juice
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Add the olive oil, beef, and spices to a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, using a spoon to break the meat up into smaller pieces (and stir often), for around 7 minutes or until it's cooked through.

  • Meanwhile, prep your other salad ingredients and add them to a large salad bowl.

  • Add the dressing ingredients to a small bowl and whisk them together.

  • Once the ground beef is cooked, sprinkle it over the salad. Add dressing and toss. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • Adobo sauce is the sauce that's in those little cans of chipotle chilis with adobo sauce (find these in the Mexican aisle at the grocery store). The dressing was semi-spicy when I used 1 tbsp of the sauce. It gives the dressing a wonderful smoky flavor. Add more if you want it hotter. Chop up a pepper or two if you want it really spicy!
  • If you don't want to use the individual spices like I did, you can use pre-made taco seasoning if you prefer.
  • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/4 of recipe, Calories: 415kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 30g, Fat: 29g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Cholesterol: 106mg, Sodium: 995mg, Potassium: 863mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 1749IU, Vitamin C: 12mg, Calcium: 170mg, Iron: 4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

© Salt & Lavender Inc. Content and photographs are copyrighted. Sharing this blog post is much appreciated, but copying and pasting full recipes without authorization to social media is strictly prohibited.

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Hi! I’m Natasha.

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Low Carb Taco Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What kind of salad dressing has no carbs? ›

Olive Oil and Vinegar

Most olive oil-and-vinegar dressings have zero net carbs, which is why they're recommended for followers of the keto diet.

Are tacos low in carbs? ›

Today we're talking about one of everybody's favorite low carb meals: tacos! Whether you stuff them with beef, steak, pork, or just veggies, they're one of the easiest meals to keep keto friendly when you're eating out. Tacos, like all Mexican food, is so flavorful, you won't even miss the carbs!

Does taco salad have a lot of carbs? ›

Taco salad, with beef, fried tortilla, cheese, lettuce, tomato, beans, avocado, olives (1 cup) contains 18.7g total carbs, 16g net carbs, 14.2g fat, 7.9g protein, and 232 calories.

How many net carbs in a taco salad without shell? ›

Taco Bell Fiesta Beef Taco Salad, without shell (1 each) contains 41.5g total carbs, 35g net carbs, 19.9g fat, 24g protein, and 438 calories.

Is ranch dressing OK for low carb diet? ›

Since most people following the diet are restricted to between 20 and 50 grams of net carbs per day, and the average ranch dressing is between 2 to 3 grams of net carbs per serving, it can be easily paired with a variety of healthy foods while on a ketogenic diet.

Can you eat ranch dressing on low carb diet? ›

Ranch dressing is generally low in carbs, so it is keto generally speaking; however, many bottled dressings use vegetable oils and add sugars that some following a strict keto diet may be avoiding.

Are corn tortillas OK on a low-carb diet? ›

No flour or corn tortillas and chips – Although corn tortillas are gluten-free, they are definitely not carbohydrate-free. Flour and corn tortillas are both high in empty carbs, so it's best to avoid them (and tortilla chips) altogether or substitute them for healthier options.

Can you have mayo on a low-carb diet? ›

For instance, condiments like vinegar, mustard, hot sauce, garlic, chicken broth, and mayonnaise made with olive oil have virtually no carbs. If you're on a low-carb diet, you know you need to incorporate healthy fats into your cooking and recipes.

What can I eat at a Mexican restaurant that is low-carb? ›

List of keto Mexican dishes
  • Fajitas. Fajitas are a popular sizzling-hot dish that usually includes bell pepper and onion, along with a protein like chicken, beef, or shrimp. ...
  • Carne asada. Carne asada is a marinated, grilled steak dish. ...
  • Ceviche. ...
  • Guacamole. ...
  • Carnitas. ...
  • Camarones a la diabla. ...
  • Al pastor pork. ...
  • Chorizo.
Mar 16, 2022

What makes a taco salad unhealthy? ›

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.

How many carbs are in taco salad with no bowl? ›

Taco Bueno Beef Taco Salad Without Tortilla Bowl (1 serving) contains 15g total carbs, 13g net carbs, 45g fat, 28g protein, and 564 calories.

How many carbs are in a taco salad with ground beef? ›

Nutrition Facts
NutrientValue
Carbs56g
Net carbs46g
Fiber10g
Sugar
83 more rows

Is a taco salad without the shell healthy? ›

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.

What are keto taco shells made of? ›

Try this keto taco shells recipe made from baked Cheddar cheese and shaped into a taco. These are a great gluten-free, low-carb, and keto option.

What is the healthiest dressing for salad? ›

8 Simple and Healthy Salad Dressings
  1. Sesame ginger. This simple salad dressing doubles as an easy marinade for meat, poultry, or roasted veggies. ...
  2. Balsamic vinaigrette. ...
  3. Avocado lime. ...
  4. Lemon vinaigrette. ...
  5. Honey mustard. ...
  6. Greek yogurt ranch. ...
  7. Apple cider vinaigrette. ...
  8. Ginger turmeric.
Jul 27, 2023

What is keto-friendly dressing? ›

Vinaigrettes, or olive oil-based dressings, are the perfect keto-friendly option. This is because they're extremely low-carb and high-fat, thanks to their simple ingredients.

Can I eat as much salad as I want on keto? ›

Can you eat too much salad on keto? Vegetables do contain carbohydrates, so it is possible to eat too much salad and exceed your carb limit for the day. However, if you're careful about the greens and other veggies you include and don't overdo it, delicious salads can be a staple in your keto diet.

Does Hidden Valley Ranch dressing have carbs? ›

Hidden Valley Original Ranch Dressing - bottled (2 tablespoon) contains 1.1g total carbs, 1.1g net carbs, 13.9g fat, 0.5g protein, and 129 calories.

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