Taco Salad Crispy Tortilla Bowl (Printable)

Crispy tortilla bowls filled with seasoned beef, fresh vegetables, beans, cheese, and vibrant toppings for a satisfying Mexican-inspired meal.

# Ingredient List:

→ Tortilla Bowls

01 - 4 large flour tortillas (10-inch)
02 - 2 tbsp vegetable oil

→ Beef Mixture

03 - 14 oz ground beef
04 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 tsp chili powder
07 - 1 tsp ground cumin
08 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
09 - 1/2 tsp salt
10 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Salad Components

11 - 1 can (14 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
12 - 5 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
13 - 1 small head romaine lettuce, shredded
14 - 3.5 oz shredded cheddar cheese
15 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
16 - 1 avocado, diced
17 - 1/2 cup corn kernels

→ Toppings

18 - 1/2 cup salsa
19 - 1/2 cup sour cream
20 - Fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish
21 - Lime wedges, for serving

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Brush both sides of tortillas with vegetable oil. Drape each over upside-down oven-safe bowls on baking sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes until golden and crisp. Cool and remove from molds.
02 - Heat skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef, cook until browned while breaking up with spoon. Drain excess fat. Add onion and garlic, sauté 2-3 minutes until softened. Stir in chili powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook 1 minute.
03 - Combine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, black beans, corn, red onion, and avocado in large mixing bowl.
04 - Place tortilla bowls on plates. Fill with salad mixture. Top with warm beef mixture and sprinkle with shredded cheddar. Add salsa and sour cream. Garnish with cilantro and serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get all the satisfaction of tacos but eat twice as many vegetables without feeling like youre making a compromise
  • The tortilla bowls transform an ordinary salad into something festive enough for company but casual enough for Tuesday dinner
  • Each person can load their bowl exactly how they like it so no complaining about too much onion or not enough cheese
02 -
  • Dont skip the oil on the tortillas or they will turn hard and brittle instead of staying crisp and flexible
  • Make sure the tortilla bowls cool completely before filling because the steam from warm toppings can make them soft again
  • The beef mixture can be made ahead and reheated but the salad components should be tossed right before serving
03 -
  • Use a pair of tongs to carefully remove the tortilla bowls from their molds without breaking them
  • Sprinkle a little cheese in the bottom of each tortilla bowl before adding the salad to help anchor the toppings
  • Warm your beans slightly before adding them to the salad for better temperature contrast with the crisp vegetables
Go back