{"id":204059,"date":"2026-01-14T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecountrycook.net\/?p=204059"},"modified":"2026-01-12T11:48:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T16:48:06","slug":"taco-bell-taco-salad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thecountrycook.net\/taco-bell-taco-salad\/","title":{"rendered":"Taco Bell Taco Salad"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Everything you used to love in a Taco Bell Taco Salad \u2013 but made at home. Crispy shells filled with seasoned beef, lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and more!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A FAST FOOD COPYCAT RECIPE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Raise your hand if you mss the taco salad at Taco Bell! It was my favorite thing on the menu so I was so bummed she they took it away. So I figured I would start making my own version at home. I do feel like this is a little less of a recipe and more of a set of guidelines since it\u2019s all very customizable. I even share a bunch of homemade options for different ingredients in the ingredients and FAQ sections, but if you want this to be a silly simple recipe, grab the premade ingredients at the store and toss it all together. Or, leave all the ingredients out buffet style and let everyone build their own salads!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What hard shells work best to make a Taco Salad with?<\/strong>

You can use whatever brand you have available, I grabbed this one from Kroger<\/a> (not a paid affiliate link). But, any shells from the refrigerated section of the grocery store should work. Sometimes, if you can\u2019t find them in the refrigerated area, you can check the refrigerated section (where you\u2019d look for Queso Fresco or Crema Mexicana, etc.) They\u2019ll usually come with oven-safe formers that help the bowls keep their unique bowl shape.<\/p> <\/div>

Can I make my own Taco Salad Bowl?<\/strong>

Yes. I haven\u2019t done it myself, but if you\u2019d like to use other tortillas and then buy some taco shell formers<\/a> (paid affiliate link). If you don\u2019t want to get a former, I suppose you could ball up some aluminum foil and shape them that way. Just lay the tortilla over the aluminum foil ball and gently push down.<\/p> <\/div>

Can I fry the taco bowl instead?<\/strong>

Sure. The original taco salad bowl was fried, so if you\u2019ve like to have that, here you go. It\u2019s not hard at all to make. Just heat up some oil in an electric fryer or use a dutch oven. Heat the oil to 350F and then place a large burrito size flour tortilla into the oil and take a large (hot oil safe) ladle and push it down in the middle. Hold it down so it forms a well. Once the tortilla gets golden brown and crispy, remove it from the oil and put it on a paper towel to drain any excess grease.<\/p> <\/div>

What else could I add? <\/strong>

The original salad, back in the day, had sliced olives and sliced green onions on it. I know those can really be controversial ingredients with so many people, so I opted to leave them out. But, when I make these for me at home, I totally love throwing a handful of sliced black olives and green onions on and I\u2019m not really an olive person, but they work so well on this salad! If you like some heat, add chipotle crema, hot salsa, or jalape\u00f1os.<\/p> <\/div>

Does it matter what order I put stuff in the salad? <\/strong>

Actually it does. You\u2019ll want to start with the beans and rice at the bottom so they can help soak up the beef juices without making the salad shell get soggy too fast. The rest of the things can be tossed on, but keep that in mind when layering your salad. I also like to wait to add the crunchy tortilla strips until serving so they actually stay crunchy.<\/p> <\/div>

Can I make this without the meat? <\/strong>

Certainly, go for a Veggie Taco Salad. To do this, just omit the meat, double up on the beans and rice, and add some of your favorite roasted veggies.<\/p> <\/div>

How should I store leftovers?<\/strong>

Leftovers should be stored in individual containers for each type of ingredient if you haven\u2019t assembled the salad bowls yet. They\u2019ll last longer that way. Keep them in air tight containers in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. If you\u2019ve assembled Fiesta Taco Salads already, I\u2019d recommend storing the shell separately from the rest of your salad ingredients as it\u2019ll get soggy quick. <\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n