Searching for a scrumptious and simple meal that may please the entire household? Do this tasty Frito Taco Salad with Catalina Dressing! This flavorful salad combines all of your favourite taco components with the satisfying crunch of Fritos corn chips, and the tangy sweetness of Catalina dressing. It’s excellent 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 The primary time I had this recipe I after I was six years outdated.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 mounted something like this at residence. It could 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 might 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 type of responsible pleasures that I’ve, and actually it isn’t what I might name a dish I might make for firm, I’ll admit that I nonetheless get pleasure from this salad. For me, some dishes are fully nostalgic and the nostalgia is what makes a selected dish style so good.
What Makes the Traditional Frito Taco Salad So Good?
Taco Salad is probably not very refined, however it is 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 an alternative to make preparation simpler however retains the salad each bit as scrumptious.
Why You Ought to Strive This Recipe
In the event you grew up throughout a sure period (from in regards to the 60s to the 80s), nostalgia alone must be sufficient to need to strive making a Taco Salad recipe at residence.
Even in the event you don’t bear in mind being thrilled on the times your faculty cafeterias or summer season camp served Taco Salad, you must nonetheless give this dish a shot. It’s simple, low cost, and has every thing you like about tacos packed right into a salad bowl.
Taco Frito Salad Elements
For taco salad with Frito chips, you’ll want:
- Floor beef
- Taco seasoning combine
- Water
- Shredded lettuce
- Fritos corn chips
- Cheddar cheese, shredded
- Tomatoes
- Pink onions
- Olives, sliced
- Kraft Catalina Dressing or Kraft French Dressing
- Salsa

Ingredient Notes
You should use a can of pre-sliced black olives, however jarred entire olives in brine are way more flavorful. In the event you don’t like olives, you may go away them out.
For the shredded lettuce, you need to use iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, or a mix of them.
Catalina and vinaigrette are related in taste however not the identical. Catalina dressing tends to be candy with a skinny consistency, whereas vinaigrette has extra of a chew. Select whichever you favor or have readily available.
Word: This recipe will be made Gluten Free in the event you use this taco seasoning combine recipe.
The best way to Make Taco Salad With Frito Chips
To prepare dinner the bottom beef:
- Heat a big skillet over medium warmth.
- Prepare dinner the bottom beef within the skillet till it’s not pink. Drain any extra liquid.
- Stir the taco season into the bottom beef and observe the directions on the packet for a way a lot water so as to add and tips on how to end cooking the taco meat.
- Cowl the cooked and seasoned floor beef and set to the facet.

To prep the greens for the Frito Taco Salad recipe:
- Peel off the primary few outer leaves of the top of lettuce and minimize 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 entire 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 happy to swap out the bottom beef for one thing else. Floor turkey is an efficient different in case you are making an attempt to keep away from pink meat. You too can strive making Frito Taco Salad with hen strips for extra of a fajita vibe.
Make this salad vegetarian utilizing vegetable crumble or canned beans as an alternative of meat.
What to Serve With Taco Frito Salad
You’ll be able to go slightly wild when including toppings to this salad. Listed below 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 number of creaminess to this recipe.
- Bitter cream or Mexican Crema offers the salad slightly extra zing.
- Swap the cheddar for queso fresco or one other kind of cheese.
- Black beans are tasty and add a number of further protein.
- Corn salsa provides a number of sweetness with a contact of warmth.
- Pickled jalapenos actually kick up the warmth stage for folk who prefer it sizzling.
The best way to Retailer the Leftovers
Maintain every salad part 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 Carry 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 title doesn’t do my Grandmother’s casserole justice, provolone and cheddar cheese, bacon, macaroni and extra!
Favourite Taco Recipes
Standard Mexican Salad Recipes
Try extra of my simple salad recipes and one of the best household favourite recipes on CopyKat!
Frito Taco Salad
Make this Frito Taco Salad, it is really easy to arrange.
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Fee
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Servings: 8
Energy: 266kcal
Elements
- 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 (optionally available)
- 1/4 cup Kraft Catalina Dressing you might additionally use a vinaigrette
- 1/4 cup salsa
Directions
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In a skillet over medium warmth brown floor beef, when nearly executed drain fats, and add taco seasoning combine. If you’re utilizing a package deal of taco seasoning combine add the quantity of water advisable on that package deal and let the meat simmer till totally cooked.
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As soon as meat is totally 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 in the event you want. Serve instantly. This salad doesn’t maintain properly, so be ready to eat in a single sitting.
Diet
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