Nacho Salads are crunchy, colorful and delicious! Made with nutritious veggies, turkey, cheese and tortilla chips, this is a non-boring salad your whole family will love.
My goal as a recipe developer and dietitian is to create healthy meals you actually enjoy, because healthy eating does not have to be boring. This nacho salad is case and point: it's full of lean protein, nutrient-rich vegetables and healthy fats, but is also incredibly delicious and emotionally satisfying.
We've got crunchy tortilla chips, taco seasoned turkey, and a high protein creamy salsa dressing to bring it all together. Your family is going to LOVE this nacho salad!
Why This Recipe Is Dietitian Approved
- Balanced meal. This nacho salad has everything I look for when planning a healthy meal that keeps me full: lean protein, healthy fats, and ton of colorful vegetables.
- Veggies that taste good. Instead of forcing yourself to eat steamed broccoli you don't like, I want to encourage you to find ways to enjoy vegetables! This recipe is a great non-boring salad to get you excited about healthy eating.
- Easy to make. Not only is this recipe simple to prepare, it's fun to assemble as a family. Who doesn't love a build-you-own nacho salad night?
Ingredients
Ground turkey. This is our lean protein of choice. You can easily swap it for any ground meat of choice.
Taco seasoning. You can use pre-made taco seasoning or make your own with ½ tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper , ¼ teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, and a pinch of dried oregano. If you are opting for pre-made taco seasoning, I recommend using a low-sodium option to help minimize the added salt content.
Lettuce. Romaine lettuce has the best crunch as is a milder tasting green.
Veggies. I went for bell peppers (any color), red onion and cherry tomatoes. Feel free to use whatever vegetables you have on hand.
Cheese. I personally recommend using cheddar cheese for a true nacho taste, although Monterey jack or even cotija cheese would be delicious choices.
Tortilla chips. For an added crunch, because carbs and crunch are so great for boosting emotional satisfaction. My personal favourite are these ones.
Black beans. These add tons of fibre and extra plant based protein. I usually use canned beans for convenience (just be sure to rinse them first).
Corn. Frozen or canned corn kernels are both great options.
Lime juice. For an added fresh flavour and zing.
The complete ingredient list with measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
Instructions
In a pan over medium-high heat, add olive oil. Once oil is hot, add ground turkey. Cook until the meat is brown and no longer pink in colour (about 5 minutes). Add taco seasoning and stir to combine.
In a medium bowl, combine black beans, corn, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes and red onion. Drizzle with lime juice and season with salt and pepper. Mix well.
To assemble your salad: add romaine lettuce to a large salad bowl, top with black bean mix, and sprinkle with cheddar cheese, and tortilla chips. Drizzle with salsa dressing and toss to combine.
Substitutions and Variations
To make gluten-free: Use gluten-free tortilla chips or make your own from gluten-free tortillas.
To make dairy-free: Use a dairy-free cheese.
To make vegan: Follow the dairy-free instructions and swap the ground turkey for a veggie ground substitute or lentils. You could even increase the amount of black beans to use as the main protein.
To make nut-free: This recipe is naturally nut-free.
Go crazy with your toppings! This recipe is the base, feel free to add jalapenos, sour cream, guacamole The key to a good salad is slicing your green base thinly and dicing your vegetables finely. This makes sure you get a bit of everything in every bite. To make this easier, I recommend using a vegetable chopper for your onions and red peppers! or avocado!
Equipment
- Large pan
- Vegetable chopper (optional)
- Mixing bowl
Storage
This nacho salad is best eaten when freshly assembled. Once assembled, it can be stored for up to 3 days in an airtight container, although the romaine base will begin to get soggy.
For a meal prep version: store the ground meat, black bean mix, lettuce, toppings and dressing separately. When you are ready to serve, combine the desired amount of lettuce with your toppings and drizzle with dressing. If stored separately, black bean mix and ground turkey can be stored for 4-5 days in an airtight container.
Top Tip
The key to a good salad is slicing your green base thinly and dicing your vegetables finely. This makes sure you get a bit of everything in every bite. To make this easier, I recommend using a vegetable chopper for your onions and red peppers.
Frequently Asked Questions
I love the Que Pasa brand (they also have low sodium options) but you can also make your own! Slice whole wheat tortillas into triangles, brush with olive oil and bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes, or until crispy.
Honestly there isn't a HUGE difference! For me I like to add all the toppings I'd noramlly add to my nachos to my nacho salad this includes things I wouldn't normally add to my tacos such as black beans and corn!
If you REALLY want to make a true nacho salad, you can melt some cheese onto your tortilla chips prior to adding them to your salad!
More Fun Salad Recipes
Non-boring salads are my specialty!
See you in the kitchen!
I love seeing my recipes in action! If you decide to make this nacho salad, don't forget to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram- @nourishedbynic or leave a comment and rating below letting me know how you liked it!
📖 Recipe
Nacho Salad
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb lean ground turkey
- 1 24 g package of low-sodium taco seasoning see notes for substitution
- 1 x 540mL can black beans rinsed and drained
- 1.5 cups corn kernels
- 1 medium red bell pepper diced
- 1 681 g pint of cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 red onion diced
- Juice of 1 lime
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 6 cups romaine lettuce finely chopped
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 cup tortilla chips crushed
- 1 batch of creamy salsa dressing
Instructions
- In a pan over medium-high heat, add olive oil. Once oil is hot, add ground turkey. Cook until the meat is brown and no longer pink in colour (about 5 minutes). Add taco seasoning and stir to combine.
- In a medium bowl, combine black beans, corn, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes and red onion. Drizzle with lime juice and season with salt and pepper. Mix well.
- To assemble your salad- add romaine lettuce to a large salad bowl, top with black bean mix, and sprinkle with cheddar cheese, and tortilla chips. Drizzle with salsa dressing and toss to combine.
Bev Mangar says
Can't wait to make this!
Is there a recipe for the creamy salsa dressing?! Did I miss it?
Nicole Addison says
Hi Bev! OH no I forgot to link it- I just updated it but the recipe can also be found here: https://registerreward.info/creamy-salsa-dressing/%3C/a%3E !
Enjoy!