Mexican Haystacks - Taco Salad. Kid friendly, fun crunchy and healthy. Taco meat and tortilla chips

sour cream

🥗Healthier: Greek yogurt

💰Cheaper: cream cheese

Greek yogurt reduces calories while maintaining creaminess.

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: canned beans

Ground turkey is leaner, while beans provide plant-based protein.

tortilla chips

🥗Healthier: baked tortilla chips

💰Cheaper: popped corn

Baked chips have less fat, while popped corn is a low-cost alternative.

shredded cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: processed cheese

Nutritional yeast is lower in fat and adds a cheesy flavor.

Brown the ground beef in a cast iron skillet over medium to high heat with half a tablespoon of olive oil.

Add minced garlic and onions to the skillet and cook until fragrant and translucent.

Season the ground beef with salt and pepper as it cooks, breaking it up until it's browned and minced.

Drain excess fat from the cooked ground beef.

Add the taco seasoning to the beef and mix it in.

Fill the empty seasoning packet with water and add it to the skillet, stirring to combine.

Bring the mixture to a simmer and let it cook for about five minutes until thickened.

Crush the nacho cheese chips and use them as the base for the haystacks.

Layer the taco meat over the crushed chips.

Add shredded cheese, diced onions, lettuce, diced tomatoes, and more cheese on top.

Drizzle Thousand Island dressing over the top and garnish with green onions.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens