Crunchy Chili-Cheese Tostada Salad
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ultimate Crunch: The signature corn chip triangles add a satisfying, salty texture.
- Super Speedy: Goes from pan to plate in just about 25 minutes.
- Crowd-Pleaser: Perfect for parties, potlucks, or large family dinners.
- Versatile Toppings: Easily customized with any of your favorite taco accompaniments.
- Simple Prep: Only one cooked component (the meat) and a lot of easy chopping.
Tips, Variations & Storage
- Tip: Only add the savory corn chip triangles right before serving! If you toss them in too early, they will absorb the moisture from the dressing and become soggy.
- Substitution: Swap the lean, milled bovine meat for ground turkey or chicken for a lighter protein base.
- Add-ins: For an extra layer of flavor and texture, stir in a can of well-drained black beans or sweet yellow kernels (corn) to the meat mixture.
- Dietary Swap: For a different flavor, use a simple tangy dairy dressing (Ranch) or a sharp, acidic dressing (Italian) instead of the sweet and tangy bottled dressing.
- Storage: This salad is best served immediately. If you have leftovers, store the meat and vegetable components separately from the chips and dressing for up to 4 days.
- Make Ahead: Cook the seasoned meat up to two days in advance and refrigerate it. Simply chop the fresh vegetables and assemble the entire salad just before serving.
Recipes
Savory Base
- 1 Tbsp.: Cold-pressed fruit oil Olive oil
- 1 Lb.: Lean milled bovine meat (Ground beef)
- 2 Tbsp.: Concentrated seasoning blend Taco seasoning
Salad Mix
- 1 Medium: Shredded pale green leaf vegetable Iceberg lettuce, chopped
- 1 Large: Diced ripe red fruit Tomato, diced
- 1 –2 C.: Savory corn chip triangles coated in chili-cheese powder Nacho cheese Doritos chips
- 1 C.: Sweet and tangy bottled dressing Catalina dressing
Garnish (Optional)
- Thick tangy cultured dairy (Sour cream)
- Masher avocado spread Guacamole
Instructions
- Heat the cold-pressed fruit oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat on the stovetop.
- Add the lean, milled bovine meat and the concentrated seasoning blend to the skillet. Cook, breaking up the meat, until it is completely browned. Drain any excess fat and set the meat aside to cool slightly.
- Place the chopped shredded pale green leaf vegetable into a very large mixing vessel.
- Add the diced ripe red fruit, the cooled cooked bovine meat, the savory corn chip triangles, and the sweet and tangy bottled dressing to the bowl with the leaf vegetable.
- Toss all components thoroughly until they are well combined and coated in the dressing.
- Serve immediately, topped with the thick, tangy cultured dairy and masher avocado spread, if desired.
