Paleo Taco Salad

Total time35 min

Prep time20 min

Cook time15 min

Taco night gets a serious upgrade when you ditch the shell and pile everything into a big, vibrant bowl instead. Seasoned ground beef — cooked with chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and a handful of other warm spices — sits right on top of crisp romaine, creamy diced avocado, juicy cherry tomatoes, and fresh cilantro. The whole thing gets tied together with a bright lime-and-olive-oil dressing that doubles as the only sauce you need. No cheese, no sour cream, no tortillas — and honestly, you won't miss any of them. This is the kind of meal that works because every ingredient is pulling its weight: real food, bold flavor, nothing processed sneaking in. It comes together in well under 30 minutes and serves four, making it an easy weeknight win that doesn't feel like a compromise. Squeeze a little extra lime over the top right before eating and you're done.

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the taco meat

1 lb ground beef (80/20)
Kroger Ground Beef 80/20 Simple Truth 80% Lean Natural Ground Beef Harris Teeter Premium 80% Lean Ground Beef SunFed Ranch 100% Grass Fed 80% Lean Organic Ground Beef Brick Kroger 80/20 Ground Beef
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1 tbsp avocado oil
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
½ tsp smoked paprika
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
2 tbsp water

For the dressing

3 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
½ tsp ground cumin
¼ tsp chili powder
¼ tsp salt

For the salad

1 large head romaine lettuce, chopped into bite-sized pieces
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
½ small red onion, thinly sliced
1 medium jalapeño, seeded and thinly sliced (optional)
2 ripe avocados, diced
¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves

For serving

lime wedges, for serving (optional)

Instructions

1
In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, cumin, chili powder, and salt until combined. Set aside.
2
Heat the avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned throughout with no pink remaining, about 7–8 minutes, reaching an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).

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