OKAY PEOPLE! Here ya go! Mamas have been asking so I am giving!
This is our family's favorite TACO SALAD RECIPE!
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This is SO YUMMY! It is very simple to make and there are very specific ingredients that make this combination work so pay attention mamas! You have to purchase tortilla chips without flavor. We use to use plain flavored Doritos but you can't find this any more so you could use your favorite tortilla chips and with this recipe fancy is not needed. I would probably use Tostitos, round and mini. Next up, PACE PICANTE. NOT chunky, medium Pace Picante. No exceptions! The other ingredients have some flexibility, BUT NOT TOO MUCH! ;) Check out the specifics below and let me know how it goes!
Ingredients
1 bag of Plain Tostitos (no funky flavors)
1 jar of PACE Picante (no chunky or funky flavors) I use medium heat
1 bag of shredded iceberg lettuce or one small head of iceberg lettuce thinly sliced
2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
1 can of red kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
1 medium tomato (diced)
1 medium yellow onion (diced)
1 bottle of Thousand Island Salad Dressing (any brand but not fat free)
2 lbs of lean hamburger meat
salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Brown the hamburger and season with salt and pepper. Once browned, drain off fat and add the drained and rinsed kidney beans to the meat and heat for just a few minutes.
Turn off the heat and set aside to cool down. In a very large pasta bowl or salad bowl add at least half of the bag chips into the bowl and crunch with your CLEAN hands. You won't want crumbs but you do want to break them up with your hands so they are a good bite size in the salad. I then add a good amount of the hamburger meat. I usually use it all if I am feeding the entire crew. If not then I will save some to mix up a quick salad for a late night snack! I like to add the salad dressing at this point as it will really give a good coating to the chips and meat before the salad is added. I like it pretty soggy so I tend to go heavy on the dressing. I would say to start with at least half the bottle for a good size salad. On top of the dressing I like to add the PACE picante sauce. Again I like it soggy so I add about 1/3 of the jar to start with. Now add the lettuce, onions, tomatoes and cheese. Pick up your spoons and start mixing! Taste it and see if you need more dressing or picante. If you like your salads more dry then use less dressing and picante. I like to set additional picante and chips on the table so people can adjust their salads as they like. I also have one kiddo that won't eat tomatoes and a hubby that turns his nose up to onions so if they are present I do not add them to the salad and put on the side in bowls for those who want to can mix them in their individual salads.
I know this combo sounds a little crazy but I promise you it is so yummy! Any leftovers can be stored in the frig and I have a few children who will pull it out the next day and polish it off soggy and cold!
Homemade salsa recipes coming up soon!