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You are here: Home / Recipes / Salad

Frito Taco Salad with Catalina Dressing

By Susie Weinrich · Date Jun 1, 2023· 7 Comments · May contain affiliate links.

taco salad topped with fritos and text overlay for Pinterest
taco salad topped with fritos and text overlay for Pinterest
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Frito Taco Salad is a classic meatless taco salad with just 7 ingredients and ready in about 10 minutes! It is a combo of lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, chili beans and crunchy Fritos. Sweet and tangy Catalina dressing tops off this salad. This makes a great dinner salad, especially during the Spring and Summer.

Large frito taco salad in a bowl with a bag of fritos and tomatoes to the side

If you are looking for traditional tacos, not a salad, check out these two recipes: Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Tacos and Creamy Chicken Tacos.

RELATED: Apple Pecan Chicken Salad and Caesar Salad

7 Ingredients

Iceberg Lettuce – It is a really nice crispy and clean lettuce for the Frito Taco Salad. You can also use a romaine if you prefer.

Chili Beans – buy a can of chili beans in sauce, just like you would use for chili. Drain the very top of the chili sauce from the top of the can, BUT LEAVE THE REST OF THE SAUCE. The chili sauce mixes with the Catalina dressing to make a really flavorful dressing for the salad.

Tomatoes – I like to use cherry tomatoes, but if you have roma tomatoes or smaller grape tomatoes those will work too.

Green Onions – use the white and light green parts of the green onion for the most onion flavor. Could also use a diced red onion.

Frito Taco Salad in a while bowl

Shredded Cheese – a shredded cheddar, colby jack, pepper jack or monterey jack will work great.

Frito Corn Chips – this is the star of the recipe! The Fritos add a nice corn flavor and salty crunch to the salad.

Catalina Dressing – this is a sweet and tangy dressing that mixes perfect with the chili bean sauce. It is similar to a French style dressing but has a slightly different flavor. I have also used the Aldi version (California Style Dressing) and that works great too.

How to Make Frito Taco Salad

chili beans in sauce being poured on top of lettuce

Lettuce & Chili Beans

Wash and chop your lettuce and place in a large bowl. Pour any extra sauce from the top of the chili beans, then pour the remaining sauce and beans over the lettuce.

tomatoes and onions on top of lettuce and chili beans

Tomatoes & Onions

Add the chopped tomatoes and green onions..

catalina dressing being poured over a salad

Catalina Dressing

Add your desired amount of dressing and toss to coat. Don’t over dress the salad at this point. People can add more dressing to individual portions.

Frito Corn Chips being poured into salad bowl over salad ingredients

Fritos & Cheese

Top with the Fritos and shredded cheese and toss one more time, adding extra dressing if desired.

tossing a Frito Taco Salad with tongs

Serve!

Serve in bowls with extra Fritos and dressing on the side.

Adding Ground Beef Taco Meat

This is a meatless taco salad but if you want to add a little beef you certainly can! Just brown and crumble 1 lb of ground beef and add taco seasoning. You can follow this recipe for Ground Beef Tacos if you don’t have a taco spice packet!

Listen To The Recipe

Use the audio player below to listen to the full recipe!

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Did you make this recipe?

I would love to hear your review, especially if you have tips and tricks to add! Pop down to the comment section and connect with me

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Frito Taco Salad in a while bowl

Frito Taco Salad Recipe

Frito Taco Salad is an easy dinner salad with just 7 ingredients. It is a great meatless dinner option! Lettuce is combined with chili beans, cheese, Frito Corn Chips, tomatoes and onions then dressed in a Catalina dressing.
5 from 9 votes
Print Pin Rate Save Saved!
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 people
Author: Susie Weinrich

Ingredients

  • 1 large head of iceberg lettuce - could also use romaine
  • 15 oz can of chili beans in sauce - do not drain completely! Just drain liquid in top of the can.
  • Catalina style dressing
  • 2 cups Fritos Corn Chips
  • 1 cup chopped fresh tomatoes - cherry tomatoes or roma tomatoes
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • ½ cup chopped green onions

Instructions
 

  • Wash and chop the lettuce and add to a large salad bowl.
    1 large head of iceberg lettuce
  • Add the (lightly drained) can of chili beans in sauce, chopped tomatoes, green onions and your desired amount of Catalina dressing.
    Pro Tip: don't over dress the salad at this point. You can always add more dressing but it is hard to take out!! You can add more to individual servings!
    15 oz can of chili beans in sauce, Catalina style dressing, 1 cup chopped fresh tomatoes, ½ cup chopped green onions
    catalina dressing being poured over a salad
  • Toss the salad to coat in the dressing.
  • Add in the Fritos and shredded cheese. Add more dressing if desired then toss again.
    2 cups Fritos Corn Chips, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
    Fritos and Catalina dressing on top of a Taco salad ready to be tossed with tongs
  • Serve in individual bowls with extra Fritos and dressing on the side.
    Frito Taco Salad in a while bowl

Recipe Tips and Notes:

ADDITIONAL ADD IN’S : cooked and crumbled ground beef with taco seasoning, black olives, diced avocado, corn, cilantro, salsa, or sour cream.
ADDING TACO MEAT: This is a meatless taco salad but if you want to add a little beef you certainly can! Just brown and crumble 1 lb of ground beef and add taco seasoning. You can follow this recipe for Ground Beef Tacos if you don’t have a taco spice packet!
Did you make this recipe?Connect with me and let me know by commenting below!
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About Susie Weinrich

Susie Weinrich is the recipe developer, food photographer, and content creator behind Mom's Dinner. She has over 20 years experience in the food industry. Currently, Susie shares all her recipes and food knowledge on Mom's Dinner. You will find her recipes are easy to follow and full of tips and tricks to make sure the recipe you are making turns out perfect!

Comments

    5 from 9 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Debbie Kielman says

    June 01, 2023 at 9:57 pm

    5 stars
    I haven’t tried this (yet) but Catalina is my favorite dressing so I can’t wait to try this!!! How about adding some crispy bacon?? I would def add the taco-seasoned ground beef as well!!

    Reply
    • Susie Weinrich says

      June 02, 2023 at 9:18 am

      The taco ground beef will be perfect!!!
      ok on another note… hear me out- have you ever had a “Catalina burrito”? We used to eat them all the time.
      Flour tortilla, refried beans, onions, shredded iceberg lettuce and a generous drizzle of Catalina dressing rolled up like a burrito.

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        December 18, 2024 at 7:10 pm

        5 stars
        Finally, the original recipe without all the latent additions. Thank you!!

      • Susie Weinrich says

        December 19, 2024 at 10:20 am

        This is definitely the OG!

  2. Rc says

    May 26, 2023 at 6:05 pm

    Frito taco salad is real good .easy week night dinner.

    Reply
  3. John says

    June 12, 2022 at 8:50 am

    5 stars
    Everyone in the family loves this recipe!

    Reply
  4. Shyril Kidd says

    May 09, 2021 at 1:04 pm

    5 stars
    Loved this salad and it is good and hardy!

    Reply
taco salad topped with fritos and text overlay for Pinterest
taco salad topped with fritos and text overlay for Pinterest
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Meet The Author:

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