Home » 30 Minute Meals » Frito Taco Salad

Frito Taco Salad

This retro Frito Taco Salad is packed with flavor and vibrant colors. Serve it as an appetizer, kicked-up side dish or as a delicious entrée any night of the week.

Frito Taco Salad

Easy Frito Taco Salad Recipe

Back in the day, this vintage salad was all the rave at potluck gatherings. The original frito salad was more simple and basically consisted of lettuce, tomatoes, taco meat, cheese and fritos dressed with Catalina. Even so, the unexpected combination of taco salad flavors with sweet and tangy Catalina dressing somehow worked. This recipe brings it forward just a bit, while keeping those original flavors intact. How to make simple Frito Taco Salad: (Scroll down for full printable recipe.)

  • Ground Beef – Cook ground beef with onion in a few drizzles of olive oil. Cook until no pink remains. Drain fat from pan.
  • Season – To the skillet add taco seasoning and garlic, simmer for another 5-8 minutes. Taste and adjust the salt, if needed. Set aside.
  • Salad Ingredients – In a large bowl. Toss together lettuce, beans, tomatoes, onion, pepper, olives and cheese. You can reserve some cheese for the top, if desired.
  • Combine – Add beef and 1/2 cup dressing. Mix well. Toss 1/2 fritos and avocado into salad.
  • Serve – Serve immediately with remaining dressing and fritos on the side garnished with green onion, if desired. (If making in advance, toss with dressing, fritos and diced avocado just before serving.)
Frito Taco Salad

How to Make the BEST Frito Taco Salad Recipe

This salad is super simple to make. I just wanted to give you a few hints for the best way to prepare it.

  • Ingredients you’ll need to make homemade Frito Taco Salad: Fritos, ground beef, taco seasoning, onion, olive oil, minced garlic, iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, salt to taste, sliced black olives, corn, shredded cheddar or colby jack cheese, Catalina salad dressing, jalapeno, green onions, red onion and pinto beans.
  • Kitchen tools you’ll need: Skillet, sharp knife and chopping board, measuring cups and spoons, cheese grater, large spoon and tongs for serving.
  • I make this salad with iceberg lettuce, as it holds up to being dressed in advance better than other varieties. You can certainly use romaine or a mix of romaine and iceberg, if preferred.
  • To save time, prep everything in advance. Package in separate storage bags and assemble shortly before serving.
  • Along the same lines, you can also prepare the taco meat in advance. Simply reheat in the microwave before adding to the salad. It shouldn’t be piping hot, just warmed.
  • If you prefer less heat, swap out the jalapeno pepper for bell pepper.
  • I recommend dressing the salad with 1/2 cup salad dressing then serving the remaining on the side. This way people can adjust the amount to their own taste.
  • Likewise, do the same with the fritos. They won’t become soggy immediately but, I wouldn’t recommend adding them to the salad hours in advance of serving. Serve the remaining fritos on the side and people can add more to their serving, if desired.
  • The amount of total servings really depends on the appetites of those you’re serving. As a side dish you could easily get 8 servings. As a main dish, closer to 6.
  • Store any leftover ingredients in separate plastic baggies chilled in the refrigerator. Reheat ground beef in a saucepan over medium heat or in the microwave.
Frito Taco Salad

Side Dishes to Serve with Frito Taco Salad

This salad is a meal all on it’s own, but if you’d like to add to the menu check out these recipe ideas:

Frito Taco Salad

Thanks for visiting come back soon!

Disclosure ~ If  a purchase is made using one of the affiliate links on this website we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!

Helpful Kitchen Items:

Frito Taco Salad

Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Main Course, Salad
Cuisine: American, Southern
Keyword: frito-salad, frito-taco-salad, taco-salad-recipes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 772kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 lb lean ground beef
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 1 oz packet taco seasoning
  • salt to taste
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 large head iceberg lettuce shredded
  • 1 15 oz can pinto beans drained
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes sliced
  • 1 small red onion diced
  • 1 medium jalapeno pepper or small green bell pepper sliced
  • 1 4 oz can sliced black olives drained
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded colby jack cheese
  • 1 16 oz bottle Catalina dressing
  • 1 9 oz bag chili cheese or plain fritos
  • 1 large avocado diced
  • chopped green onion for garnishing optional

Instructions

  • In a large skillet, over medium-high heat cook ground beef with onion in a few drizzles of olive oil. Cook for 10 minutes or until no pink remains. Drain fat from pan. Add taco seasoning and garlic, simmer for another 5-8 minutes. Taste and adjust salt, if needed. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl: Toss together lettuce, beans, tomatoes, onion, pepper, olives and cheese. You may reserve some cheese for the top, if desired. Add beef and 1/2 cup dressing. Mix well. Toss 1/2 fritos and avocado into salad.
  • Serve immediately with remaining dressing and fritos on the side garnished with green onion, if desired. (If making in advance only toss with dressing, fritos and diced avocado just before serving.)

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 772kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 49g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 76mg | Sodium: 1561mg | Potassium: 757mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 1077IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 212mg | Iron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @melissassk or tag #melissassk!

 

5 Comments

  1. I have made the old version of this salad for so many gatherings and it is always a hit. I never bring any leftovers home. I think it’s the Catalina dressing that makes it.
    I love your site. Thank you for all the great recipes and tips.

    1. ELIZABETH BOTT: I totally agree! I made this version and it was a huge hit! I agree that the Catalina Dressing makes it! It goes really well with the spicy meat !

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating