The Southwest salad is a celebration of fresh ingredients and bold flavors that come together to create a truly satisfying and enjoyable meal. It's an easy and healthy salad with Tex-Mex flavors.
Course any meal, dinner, entree, healthy, lunch, side, Side Dish
Mix all of the taco seasoning ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
In a medium pan, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef and 1-2 teaspoons of taco seasoning (adjust to taste). Cook until the beef is browned and any moisture has evaporated. Drain any excess grease or moisture. Set aside.
If making the salad in a jar, layer the ingredients in the following order: salsa, red onion, avocado, black beans, cherry tomatoes, cheese, cooked ground beef, and lettuce. Optionally, pour a bit of ranch dressing on top. Close the lid and shake to evenly coat.
If serving the salad on a plate, arrange lettuce as the base, then layer with cooked ground beef, cherry tomatoes, black beans, avocado, red onion, and cheese. Optionally, add salsa and / or fat-free ranch dressing. Mix everything together and enjoy!