Beef Taco Salad Tortilla Bowl (Print View)

Crispy homemade tortilla bowls filled with seasoned beef, fresh vegetables, cheese, and creamy toppings for a satisfying Mexican-inspired meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Tortilla Bowls

01 - 4 large flour tortillas (10-inch)
02 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

→ Seasoned Beef

03 - 1 pound lean ground beef
04 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 teaspoons chili powder
07 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
08 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
10 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
12 - 1/4 cup tomato sauce
13 - 1/4 cup water

→ Salad Components

14 - 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
15 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
16 - 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
17 - 1 cup canned corn, drained
18 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
19 - 1/2 cup sliced black olives
20 - 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
21 - 1 avocado, sliced or diced

→ Toppings

22 - 1/2 cup sour cream
23 - 1/2 cup salsa
24 - Fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish
25 - Lime wedges

# How to Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Brush both sides of each flour tortilla lightly with vegetable oil. Drape each tortilla over an inverted oven-safe bowl or use a tortilla mold to form a bowl shape.
02 - Bake tortillas for 12–15 minutes, or until golden and crisp. Remove from oven and let cool completely. Carefully lift off the molds.
03 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned, about 5 minutes.
04 - Add chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened, 2–3 minutes. Stir in garlic, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
05 - Mix in tomato sauce and water. Simmer for 4–5 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat.
06 - Place a tortilla bowl on each plate. Fill with chopped romaine lettuce and top with warm beef mixture. Add cherry tomatoes, black beans, corn, cheddar cheese, olives, red onion, and avocado.
07 - Dollop with sour cream and salsa. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves and serve with lime wedges on the side.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • You get to eat the bowl, which is basically the best part of any meal
  • The warm spiced beef against cold crisp lettuce creates this perfect temperature contrast that makes every bite exciting
  • It looks impressive but comes together in under an hour
02 -
  • The tortilla bowls need to cool completely before filling or they'll get soggy and lose their crunch
  • Season your beef generously at each step, salt builds flavor in layers not all at once
  • Drain excess fat from the beef before adding spices or the seasoning won't coat properly
03 -
  • Use pastry brushes lightly when oiling tortillas, too much oil makes them greasy instead of crispy
  • Let the beef rest for a few minutes off the heat before serving so the flavors really meld together