Taco Salad in a Jar is a vibrant and customizable Tex-Mex-inspired salad, perfectly designed for the convenience of meal prep. It features seasoned ground turkey, black beans, and a delightful medley of fresh vegetables layered in a mason jar, creating a colorful, portable, and tasty summertime dish. Enjoy a zesty burst of flavor with every bite, and customize it to your liking. Ideal for busy individuals seeking a healthy and satisfying meal on the go.
Healthy Taco Salad in Jar
This Taco Salad in a Jar is a convenient and customizable summer dish. It features layers of seasoned ground turkey, black beans, salsa, Greek yogurt, and a colorful array of fresh veggies like cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, and avocados. The salad is topped with zesty pickled jalapeños and a generous portion of crunchy romaine lettuce.
Equipment
- large skillet
- Mason Jars or Airtight Containers
- Cutting board and knife
- Measuring spoons and cups
- spatula
- Mixing Bowl If you prefer to mix the salad in a bowl before eating.
- Lime Juicer To extract lime juice easily.
- Sealable Bag To mix and store your homemade taco seasoning.
- Can opener To open the can of black beans.
- Chopping Board and Knife
- Citrus zester
Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground turkey (93/7 lean-to-fat ratio)
- 1 can (15 ounces ) Black beans, thoroughly rinsed and drained
- 2-3 tbsp Your homemade taco seasoning or use 1 packet (1.3 ounces) of organic store-bought seasoning.
- 1 and 1/4 cups Your favorite salsa
- 5 tbsp Plain Greek yogurt
- 1 quart Cherry tomatoes, halved
- 5 mini cucumbers, thinly sliced
- 1 small to medium-sized Red onion, finely chopped
- 2 Avocados, diced
- Juice from one lime
- 1 jar (11 ounces) f pickled jalapeños, drained and finely chopped
- 5 cups Chopped romaine lettuce
Instructions
- In a large skillet, cook the 93/7 ground turkey over medium heat, breaking it up into crumbles with a spatula as it cooks. Cook until no longer pink, and it's fully cooked. If using homemade taco seasoning, add it to the turkey while cooking. If using a store-bought seasoning packet, follow the package instructions.
- Once the turkey is cooked, set it aside to cool.
- In the bottom of each Mason jar or airtight container, start assembling the layers. The order of layers is essential to keep the salad fresh and crunchy.
- First, add the black beans as the base layer.
- Next, add the taco-seasoned ground turkey over the beans.
- Spoon salsa evenly over the turkey.
- Add a dollop of Greek yogurt to the jars.
- Now, create the veggie layers. In this order, add cherry tomatoes, mini cucumbers, chopped red onion, diced avocados, and pickled jalapeños.
- Drizzle lime juice over the avocado layer to keep them fresh and vibrant.
- Finally, top off each jar with a generous amount of chopped romaine lettuce.
- Seal the jars or containers tightly and refrigerate until you're ready to enjoy your taco salad. When you're ready to eat, give the jar a good shake to distribute the dressing and seasoning throughout the layers.
- Empty the contents into a bowl, mix it all together, and savor your delicious and convenient Taco Salad in a Jar!
Notes
- Protein Options: You can substitute the ground turkey with lean ground beef, shredded chicken, or plant-based alternatives like tofu or tempeh for a vegetarian version.
- Seasoning Variations: Experiment with different taco seasoning blends to add a unique flavor to your salad. You can also adjust the amount of seasoning to control the spiciness level.
- Salsa Choices: Choose your favorite salsa, whether it's mild, medium, or hot, to match your heat tolerance. You can also make your own salsa for a personalized touch.
- Yogurt Substitute: If you prefer, you can use sour cream, Greek yogurt with different fat percentages, or a dairy-free yogurt alternative for a creamy element.
- Veggie Variations: Feel free to add or omit vegetables based on your preferences. Bell peppers, corn, olives, or even shredded cheese can be great additions.
- Lime Zest: For an extra burst of citrus flavor, consider adding some lime zest in addition to the juice.
- Portion Control: These salad jars are excellent for meal prep and portion control. Make several jars at once for convenient, healthy lunches or dinners throughout the week.
- Gluten-Free Option: To make this salad gluten-free, ensure that the taco seasoning and other ingredients, such as pickled jalapeños, are gluten-free certified.
- Layering: Follow the suggested layering order to keep your salad fresh and prevent sogginess. The dressing, in this case, is the salsa and Greek yogurt, which are placed at the bottom to separate the wet ingredients from the lettuce.
- Serving Options: You can enjoy the salad directly from the jar or empty it into a bowl. If you prefer a warm component, you can heat the taco-seasoned meat before adding it to the jar.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 368kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 783mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 8g
