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Easy Taco Skirt Steak Salad Recipe

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We’ve been making this taco steak salad all summer long. It’s made with cumin-seasoned skirt steak, cheese, pico de gallo, crisp lettuce, black beans, and avocados. Topped with store bought cilantro lime dressing. Seriously so good! For fun and crunch, top the beef salad with Doritos, Fritos, or tortilla chips. It’s a fun salad for kids as well because what kid doesn’t like Fritos! And it’s a great way to get kids to eat their healthy vegetables and beans! 

taco salad recipe

This salad is one of my most favorites! I was 18 when I first tried it. The waiter claimed theirs was the best so I went ahead and tried it. It was so good. Ever since that day, I’ve been making it. That salad changed my life!

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It tastes just as good, if not, better than the one I had back in the day. I’ve been making it for years and tweaked it many times.  It’s so much flavor. We make it a lot. As a matter of fact, we will be eating it this Taco Tuesday or maybe we’ll go for Classic Beef Tacos (our other favorite taco meal). I get hungry just thinking about it. 

steak salad

INGREDIENT TO MAKE THIS TACO SALAD 

  • skirt steak
  • cumin
  • salt and pepper
  • romaine lettuce
  • pico de gallo or salsa
  • avocados
  • black beans
  • shredded cheese (Monterey Jack and Colby blend)
  • radishes (optional)
  • Fritos corn chips or Tortilla chips
  • lime wedges
  • salt and pepper for taste

taco salad

HOW TO MAKE IT 

Step 1: First thing first. Veggies.  Some people like to add salsa others, like to use homemade or store bought pico de gallo. Alternatively, you can add your favorite vegetables.  I like to use my fresh homemade pico de gallo. If you don’t have time to make Pico de Gallo or you don’t want to spend too much time prepping,  buy the already made pico de gallo from your local grocery store. You can find it near the fresh vegetables.

Step 2: I love to add thin slices of radishes. Radishes are great in salads but they are optional. Do you see them in the picture? Their bright pink color is everything!  I think they taste great in salads too. Whatever you decide to do, prep the veggies first then make the steak.

Step 3: Drain and rinse the black beans, or if you’re like me, you can warm your beans up on the stove or the microwave first.

Step 4: Next, the steak. I love making this steak salad with skirt steak because it has so much flavor, it’s inexpensive and it cooks fast.
Season both sides of the steak with salt, pepper and cumin.

Step 5: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the pan is smoking hot, add the steak. Cook the steak for 2 minutes on each side or more depending on your preference. Place the steaks on a plate and let it rest for about 5 minutes. Slice the beef thinly against the grain. It’s okay, go ahead and sneak a piece of steak. I know you want to :).

Taco salad

HOW TO PREPARE TACO SALAD 

Step 6: The first step in preparing a taco salad is to add the romaine lettuce to a large bowl then add in the black beans and shredded cheese.

Step 7: Top with the slices of steak then the Pico de Gallo or feel free to use salsa, the avocado, sliced radishes and garnish with cilantro and lime wedges. For crunch feel free to add tortilla chips or Fritos on top.

Alternatively, you can serve in individual bowls then add cilantro lime buttermilk dressing or whatever you prefer.

Step 8: Top with the slices of steak, the avocados, radishes slices, the rest of the black beans and pico de gallo. Lastly, top with your favorite chips. Sometimes we make ours with Doritos but we truly love to add Fritos because it reminds me of the days I used to eat walking tacos. If you’re not familiar with walking tacos, it’s basically a delicious taco salad in a Frito bag with the Fritos of course.

THE CILANTRO LIME SALAD DRESSING 

I’m still working on bringing you a perfect easy salad dressing recipe but for now, I love to use Cilantro lime dressing with this steak and salad.  You can find it at most groceries stores. I totally recommended it! If you are looking for a tasty recipes this one from Taste sounds amazing! 

taco salad recipe

We all know salad can get soggy fast, SO if you decide to make this, make it and serve it right away. If you are making it for a family get together, party or potluck, Mix the pico de gallo and beans together and keep it separate from the salad. The avocado should be the last topping on the salad. Everything separate. Prepare the skirt steak salad as soon as you are ready to serve your guests.

taco salad

Easy Skirt Steak Taco Salad Recipe

April Boller Wright
We've been making this easy taco skirt steak salad all summer long.  This beef steak salad is always a big hit at parties. It's made with cumin-seasoned skirt steak, cheese, Pico de Gallo, crisp lettuce, black beans, and avocados. Topped with store bought cilantro lime dressing. Seriously so good! For fun and crunch, top salad with Doritos, Fritos, or tortilla chips. It's a fun way to get kids to eat their veggies. The whole family will love it. 
5 from 13 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 minutes
5 minutes
Total Time 14 minutes
Course Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people
Calories 625 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb skirt steak
  • 1 1/4 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 avocado diced into small cubes
  • 1 cup Pico de Gallo or salsa can be used
  • 15 oz black beans drain and rinsed
  • fresh minced cilantro for garnish
  • 1 one radish sliced very thin (optional)
  • 1 cup shredded cheese preferably Monterrey and Colby blend
  • 1 lime for garnish
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • salt and pepper for taste

Instructions
 

  • Season both sides of the skirt steak with cumin, salt, and pepper. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat the vegetable oil. Once the skillet is very hot, add the seasoned skirt steak. Cook for two minutes on each side. Remove from the skillet and let it rest for 5 minutes. Slice the steak thinly against the grain. 
  • Add the romaine lettuce to a large bowl then add in the black beans and shredded cheese. 
  • Top with the slices of steak then the Pico de Gallo or feel free to use salsa, the avocado, sliced radishes and garnish with cilantro and lime wedges. For fun and crunch, top with tortilla chips, Fritos, Doritos or Sun Chips. 
  • Alternatively, you can serve the salad in individual bowls then add cilantro lime buttermilk dressing or whatever you prefer. 

Notes

To prevent soggy salad.
If you are making this salad for your family make it and serve it right away per the recipe.
To make this salad for a family get together, party or potluck, Keep the lettuce separate from the other ingredients.  Mix the beans or your choice of Pico de Gallo or salsa together. Prepare the salad as soon as you are ready to serve it. Add the diced avocado last.

Nutrition

Calories: 625kcal
Keyword beef salad, steak and salad, taco salad
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If you love this steak taco salad recipe, you may also like this Garlic Butter Brazilian Steak

Here are some of my other Mexican inspired, chicken/beef meals you may also like.

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14 Comments

  1. Taco salad is my favorite as a matter of fact I love it with leftover chili on top its my favorite salad over anything else

  2. This looks incredible! I love everything about this – especially the steak and the added crunch from the chips. Need to make this one soon! 🙂5 stars

  3. Skirt steak on salad is the real deal! I love having taco salad and your version looks so good! I know this will be a hit at our home too.5 stars

  4. I always love a good taco salad. This looks amazing, and I can’t wait to try it. Putting on next week’s menu. Gorgeous photos, by the way!5 stars

  5. Tacos are one of our favorite meals. it is always included on our weekly meal plan because the whole family loves it. The good thing about this recipe is easy to make and healthy. Definitely adding this to our list. Thank you for sharing this with us.5 stars

  6. wow, this is what a call a real scrumptious salad, with all the right ingredients and then some. The skirt steak is perfectly cooked, and all the veggies and garnishes look so tasty. You have mouthwatering photography too!5 stars

  7. I love taco salad, too. I think I was a bit older than 18 when I first tried it but it definitely made a great impression on me. Even though I don’t make it often, it is always a special event when I do. Thank you for a wonderful recipe!5 stars

  8. Jere Cassidy says:

    We have taco salad weekly, it’s easy, healthy and delicious. I am now going to put steak in mine because your salad looks so much better than mine.5 stars

  9. You know….I can’t even remember the last time I had taco salad. I think I need to make this recipe on the weekend. This is the perfect easy cooking dish….along with a glass of wine while I am making it too.5 stars

  10. What a great idea to get my family to eat more veggies especially my littles. I’m going to try sprinkling some Doritos on top like you said. Great tip!5 stars

  11. Stine Mari says:

    Yumm! This salad looks so inviting and perfect for serving at parties. I love taco salads, but I usually use ground beef. You have definitely up’ed the game here! Can’t wait to give it a try.5 stars

  12. Wow April! You sound someone who lives in San Diego, where we have thee best Mexican food of course :). There’s a similar one called Carne Asada salad and we all totally love it! I’ll have to try your recipe though so watch out! Thanks April!5 stars

  13. Catherine Brown says:

    Oh, my goodness! Taco salad with Fritos!! This is exactly how my mom used to make it… only we never got steak. Ours was almost always made with ground turkey (lots of mouths to feed and beef was more expensive). My mom was also big into mayo (never sour cream) to mix it all together… and she’d buy the larger Fritos… the filling would always collect in the curled chips making them scrumptious (so naturally, we squabbled over who would get the most curled chips. Your version looks amazing April (sorry, mom!) and I’m looking forward to tasting it! I always forget how much I love taco salad, but we eat tacos ALL the time. 😉5 stars

  14. It’s official, I’m going to add this to my list!!! I haven’t had fritos in a very long time. This salad is so well dressed I could eat it right off the screen. I also like how you added the radish as well, gives it a different twist. Cumin would give it a nice earthy flavor. You have all of my faves in one bowl.5 stars