Super Fresh Chopped Taco Salad

episode #73 of 30-minute budget meals

And we’re back with our 30-minute budget meal series! Only a day late, but hey, I’m on baby’s schedule.

It has only been two weeks off, and like I said earlier, I didn’t expect to jump back into working so quickly into my postpartum experience. But it has been nice to take some time for myself while Sagan sleeps, and working on my creative endeavors is part of what brings a sense of normalcy into my day. Writing this newsletter feels like a treat, and not a chore, and I feel so grateful that that has been my experience so far.

Don’t get me wrong — I have not created a new recipe or filmed anything since going into labor, and I plan to take the rest of the month easy. But I’m grateful I worked on content while I was pregnant, so I can continue writing and sending out these recipes!

mommy

RECIPE!

If I’m being honest, a taco salad isn’t a dish I would usually order at a restaurant. But there’s something about making one at home that just hits differently! There’s nothing particularly interesting or groundbreaking about this particular taco salad, but maybe it’s the way I know the tomatoes are going to be juicy and fresh, the romaine is going to be light and crisp, and the beef is going to be properly seasoned.

Like I said, this is a simple taco salad, but one that feels light and won’t weigh you down. The dressing is made with Greek yogurt, lime, and some more taco seasoning, and everything gets topped with lots of chopped cilantro.

You have a lot of substitute options here if you’re not feeling the ground beef — you can use ground turkey or chicken, or if you want to opt out of meat altogether, there’s always black beans! You truly can never go wrong with beans. And, if you’re feeling like you want that extra protein, you can throw a can of black beans in along with the ground beef! Just maybe add an extra squeeze of lime to the salad to ensure it’s properly dressed.

You can chop up the romaine yourself, but you can also buy a bag of pre-shredded romaine to cut down on prep time!

Super Fresh Chopped Taco Salad

Ingredients (serves 2)