Go Back
Crunchy and creamy textures in taco salad

Name: Taco Salad Taco Bell

Summary: A crave-worthy copycat of Taco Bell's legendary Fiesta Taco Salad, featuring seasoned ground beef, refried beans, crisp lettuce, cheddar cheese, and zesty toppings—all served in a crunchy edible tortilla bowl.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 780
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • Ingredients: For 4 servings
  • 4 large flour tortillas 10-inch, for bowls
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 packet Taco Bell-style taco seasoning
  • 1 cup refried beans canned or homemade
  • 2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • ½ cup pico de gallo or salsa
  • 1 tbsp olive oil for cooking beef
  • Optional: guacamole jalapeños, black olives, hot sauce

Equipment

  • Equipment:
  • Skillet or frying pan
  • Mixing bowls
  • Spoon or spatula
  • Knife and cutting board
  • Oven-safe bowl (for shaping tortilla bowl) or tortilla shell mold (optional)
  • Fryer or oven (to crisp tortilla bowl)

Method
 

  1. Instructions:
  2. Prepare Tortilla Bowls:
  3. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Spray both sides of each tortilla with oil, place in an inverted oven-safe bowl or mold, and bake for 10–12 minutes until crispy. Let cool.
  4. Cook Ground Beef:
  5. In a skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil and add ground beef. Cook until browned (6–8 minutes), breaking it up with a spatula. Drain excess fat. Stir in taco seasoning with a splash of water and simmer for 2–3 minutes.
  6. Heat Refried Beans:
  7. Warm beans in a saucepan or microwave-safe bowl until hot.
  8. Assemble the Salad:
  9. In each tortilla bowl, layer:
  10. ¼ cup warm refried beans
  11. ¼ cup seasoned beef
  12. ½ cup shredded lettuce
  13. ¼ cup shredded cheese
  14. 2 tablespoons sour cream
  15. 2 tablespoons pico de gallo or salsa
  16. Top & Serve:
  17. Garnish with optional guacamole, jalapeños, and hot sauce. Serve immediately while the bowl is crisp.

Notes

Notes:
For a healthier version, use baked tortilla shells and swap beef for grilled chicken or black beans.
Add tortilla strips on top for extra crunch if you're not using a bowl.
This recipe is very customizable—perfect for using up taco night leftovers!