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

How many carbs are in a taco salad without the 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.

Can you eat salad on low carb diet? ›

You can eat a variety of salads on keto, as long as they contain healthy fats and proteins and are low in carbs. Egg salad, grilled chicken salad, shrimp salad, cauliflower salad, arugula salad, cucumber salad, antipasto salad, Greek salad, Caprese salad, and spinach salad are just a few keto-friendly salads to enjoy.

Is a taco salad healthier than a taco? ›

If you eat a taco salad plain and without any taco sauce or guacamole or other items, then it can be healthier for you than a taco.

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.

Can you eat Taco Shells on a low carb diet? ›

There are a few different options for keto taco shells – both crispy taco shells (made of cheese) and soft taco shells. Here are my favorite ways to enjoy tacos on keto: Keto Almond Flour Tortillas – It's hard to tell that these soft tortillas aren't made from flour!

How many carbs per day to lose weight? ›

Losing weight requires you to burn more calories than you consume. Experts say you should aim to burn 500 calories more than what you eat each day. As far as how many carbohydrates to eat, Pratt says 100 to 150 grams of carbohydrates is safe for most people who are trying to lose weight.

Which lettuce has least carbs? ›

There are various types of lettuce available; however, iceberg lettuce has the lowest number of carbs among them. Romaine lettuce can also be considered a low carbohydrate leafy vegetable because the carb content is 3.29 grams per 100 grams. This green vegetable serves many health benefits.

Can you eat too much cheese on a low-carb diet? ›

Consuming too much cheese on a keto diet can lead to an excessive intake of saturated fat and calories, which may hinder weight loss efforts. It's essential to maintain balance and moderation in food choices to achieve optimal results.

What are the ingredients of taco salad? ›

Ingredients
  • 1 pound ground beef.
  • 1 envelope reduced-sodium taco seasoning.
  • 3/4 cup water.
  • 1 medium head iceberg lettuce, torn (about 8 cups)
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese.
  • 2 cups broken nacho-flavored tortilla chips.
  • 1/4 cup Catalina salad dressing.
Jan 9, 2024

Why is taco salad good for you? ›

Enjoying a taco salad can provide various health benefits. This includes increased vegetable intake, protein for muscle growth and repair, low-calorie and high fiber to help feel full, and various flavors that can help prevent boredom with your diet.

What is one serving of taco salad? ›

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 2 cups (401g)6 servings per container
Total Carbohydrate 30g11%
Dietary Fiber 8g29%
Total Sugars 8g
14 more rows
Dec 2, 2019

What is the most unhealthy Mexican food? ›

What Is the Unhealthiest Dish You Can Order at a Mexican Restaurant? The unhealthiest dish you can order at a Mexican restaurant is… the chimichangas. A chimichanga is essentially a deep-fried burrito. It is a Tex-Mex dish made with a large tortilla stuffed with multiple servings of rice, beans, cheese and meat.

How many carbs are in a taco salad with shells? ›

Amount/Serving%DV*Amount/Serving
Total Fat 28.5g44%Tot. Carb. 63.2g
Sat. Fat 13g65%Dietary Fiber 6.7g
Trans Fat 0.2gSugars 6.9g
Cholesterol 69.8mg23%Protein 28.6g
2 more rows

What is the unhealthiest salad dressing? ›

Caesar dressing. Made up of mayonnaise, cheese, salt and oil (and all too often, anchovies), Caesar tends to be one of the least healthy options out there. Those ingredients cause it to be high in both saturated fats and sodium.

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.

How many carbs are in a taco salad with shell? ›

Amount/Serving%DV*Amount/Serving
Total Fat 28.5g44%Tot. Carb. 63.2g
Sat. Fat 13g65%Dietary Fiber 6.7g
Trans Fat 0.2gSugars 6.9g
Cholesterol 69.8mg23%Protein 28.6g
2 more rows

How many carbs are in 1 Taco Shell? ›

Corn Taco Shell (1 large (6-1/2 in. dia)) contains 13.2g total carbs, 12.2g net carbs, 4.4g fat, 1.5g protein, and 98 calories.

How many carbs in a restaurant taco salad? ›

Other Popular Types of Taco Salad
Net Carbs(g)Total Carbs(g)
Taco Salad with Beef, Beans and Cheese in Fried Flour Tortilla11.4014.70
Taco Salad with Beef, Cheese and Corn Chips10.3811.98
Taco Salad with Cheese in Fried Flour Tortilla10.6613.26
Taco Salad with Chili Con Carne17.7117.71

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