Classic, crunchy, flavor-packed taco salad requires the most delicious Taco Salad Dressing. This one combines tangy citrus juice with honey and paprika for the perfect sweet and sour balance.
Recipe first posted on March 24, 2022 and last updated with clearer instructions on January 2, 2024.
I love a good easy taco salad recipe, don’t you? It is a celebration of textures: creamy black beans, crunchy tortilla chips, sharp red onion, cherry tomatoes, rich taco meat. It is an awesome gluten-free dinner option, but you need a good taco salad dressing to bring it all together.
I’ve seen a lot of recipes for taco salad bowls with Catalina dressing, which if you are unfamiliar is a sweet, tangy dressing made from vinegar, oil, ketchup, sugar, and spices.
I like the idea of a sweet-tangy dressing recipe but wanted to utilize the bounty of citrus that is in season in California right now. My neighbor dropped off two huge bags of blood oranges and Meyer lemons yesterday and I’m determined to use them.
This has quickly become our favorite dressing. I hope you enjoy this dressing on taco salad or any Mexican salad recipe. Leave me a comment below and let me know what you think!
Why It’s The Best
Fresh and vibrant. Fresh-squeezed Meyer lemon juice, blood orange juice, and lime juice make this ultra fragrant and full of bright sparkling flavors. It’s like capturing sunshine in a bottle.
Super versatile. Don’t have access to Meyer lemons or blood oranges? No problem. Feel free to use regular lemons and navel oranges or tangerines or grapefruit. Just keep the ratios the same, so 3/4 cup lemon juice and 1/4 cup orange (or tangerine or grapefruit).
Makes a ton. This makes enough dressing for at least two main course salads which is awesome because you can mix it up on Sunday and have yummy, homemade salad dressing to top every salad for a week!
Ingredients To Make This Taco Salad Dressing Recipe
If you have a favorite homemade taco seasoning, you can use that instead or try the Magic Spice Mix recipe in my cookbook, Plant Powered Mexican. See recipe card for exact amounts:
- Olive oil. My favorite is extra virgin olive oil from California Ranch, because it is harvested and pressed right here in California. That means it is guaranteed to be fresher than imported olive oils.
- Meyer lemon juice. Meyer lemons are more subtle than a regular lemon so you may need to add a little extra honey if you substitute regular lemon juice for the Meyer lemon juice.
- Blood orange juice. Substitute navel orange, tangerine, or grapefruit juice if you can’t find blood oranges.
- Lime juice. Like the other citrus, please use fresh-squeezed lime juice.
- Honey. Local honey is always best because the bees are using local flowers to make their honey which helps deter allergies.
- Paprika. I like sweet paprika here but you could use hot paprika or smoked paprika for a different flavor profile.
- Kosher salt. I always use Morton kosher salt unless otherwise specified.
- Onion powder. Because I use onion powder to season the ground turkey in my taco salad, I also use it in this taco salad dressing recipe. You could substitute garlic powder, minced shallot, or green onions if you prefer.
- Dried Mexican oregano or dried Mediterranean oregano. Mexican oregano has a lemony flavor that I just adore but Mediterranean oregano is easier to find and is fine to use here.
- Ground black pepper. Use freshly-ground black pepper. Always.
How To Make This Recipe
Step One
Mix it. In a large bowl combine all the ingredients and whisk until incorporated. Or combine everything in a Mason jar, seal and shake until well combined. Taste and add more salt, lime juice, or honey if you think it needs it. Enjoy!
Basic taco salad instructions:
For a classic taco salad recipe, use my Healthy Taco Salad Recipe.
The recipe is simple enough for any Taco Tuesday. Brown some ground meat (ground chicken, beef, turkey, or your favorite protein) in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season it well with chili powder or a packet of taco seasoning.
Let cool slightly then serve with all your favorite taco salad ingredients like: Iceberg lettuce, bell peppers, black olives, pickled red onions, tortilla strips or nacho cheese Doritos, Roma tomatoes, pico de gallo.
Top with salsa and sour cream if you’d like and drizzle with the dressing.
More Ways To Use This Taco Salad Dressing Recipe
Should you use this on your next taco salad? Of course! But it is also excellent on any salad recipe, grain bowl or even as a dip. You could also try:
- Try as a sauce for lettuce cups. Fill pieces of butter lettuce or Romaine lettuce with lean ground beef or chicken and top with fresh cilantro, tomatoes, and this citrusy dressing.
- Use it as a salad dressing for this Panzanella Salad with Cheddar Cheese Cornbread.
- Drizzle on a sheet pan of roasted vegetables for an easy side dish.
- Use it as a marinade for grilled chicken or pork chops.
Storing Tips
This recipe makes enough for two main course salads so you are bound to have leftovers. Store the dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. If you mix the dressing in a Mason jar, you can just screw the lid on and store it in there. No extra bowl to clean!
*CHEF’S TIP: Meal prep the salad and dressing ahead of time. For the salad I like to keep the veggies and extras in separate bowls. Store the dressing in a separate container and dress right before eating.
Top 5 Most Popular Salad Recipes
- Cilantro-Lime Slaw
- Mango Cucumber Salad with Cayenne Dressing
- Roasted Beet Salad with Serrano Pepper Dressing
- Autumn Harvest Cobb Salad
- Fruit Salad with Honey-Lemon Dressing
Want to Know If This Taco Salad Dressing Is Really the Best?
Give it a try and see for yourself! When you do, snap a pic and tag me on Instagram @holajalapeno and #holajalapeno so I can see or leave me a comment below (don’t forget to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating) ! Also, don’t forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter, lots of good stuff there too!
The BEST Taco Salad Dressing
Classic, crunchy, flavor-packed taco salad requires the most delicious Taco Salad Dressing. This one combines tangy citrus juice with honey and paprika for the perfect sweet and sour balance.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Meyer lemon juice (or regular lemon juice)
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup blood orange juice (or navel orange, tangerine, or grapefruit juice)
- 3 tablespoons lime juice
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano or Mediterranean oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Mix. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and whisk until combined or place all ingredients in a Mason jar, seal tightly and shake until combined. Taste and add more salt, lime juice, or honey to suit your tastes.
Notes
- For a spicier flavor: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce to the dressing.
- To make the dressing vegan: Substitute the honey with agave nectar or maple syrup.
- If using regular lemons instead of Meyer lemons: Taste the dressing and adjust the amount of honey to balance the tartness.
- Make ahead/Storage Instructions: This dressing can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. Just give it a good shake before using.
- Experiment with different citrus fruits: Such as grapefruit or tangerine to create unique flavor variations.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 110Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 223mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 1gSugar: 6gProtein: 0g
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