Ditch the same old burgers and hot dogs this year and try our show-stopping Patriotic Taco Salad.
Made with everything you love in a taco, only served in a casserole dish and decorated with the colors of the American flag!
Spice up your Independence Day celebrations with a fiesta of flavors and get ready to wow your guests!
Check out all the other July 4th Food ideas for even more recipes to help you with your party planning!
Whether you're hosting a backyard barbecue or a casual potluck, this easy-to-assemble masterpiece is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
It's everything you love about tacos, but with a patriotic twist that'll make your celebration unforgettable.
Looking for more flag themed Easy Appetizers? Try my 4th of July Flag Cheese Board, Charcuterie Cups or my collection of 4th of July Fruit Appetizers.
Table of Contents
- Tips for Building Your Patriotic Dip
- What kind of lettuce works best for a layered dip?
- What's the best way to prevent the layers from getting soggy?
- 🛒Helpful Kitchen Tools
- 📋Ingredients
- Substitutions and Variations
- Step-by-Step Instructions
- How to Quickly Brown Ground Beef for Tacos, Salad and Dip
- Quick Tip
- Before you Begin!
- What to Serve with
- Can I make this dip ahead of time?
- Storage Instructions
- Top Recipe Tip
- More Recipes You'll Love!
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 💬 Comments
Tips for Building Your Patriotic Dip
Make sure you drain any excess grease after browning the meat. Then season it well with either Homemade Taco Seasoning or use a pre-packaged seasoning mix.
Choose a chunky salsa to add texture and make the dip more visually appealing. If you don't like spicy food, go for a mild or medium salsa.
What to make the recipe vegetarian? Substitute the taco meat with seasoned black beans, lentils, or crumbled tofu. You can even use vegan cheese.
What kind of lettuce works best for a layered dip?
I chose to use shredded iceberg lettuce for this recipe. But you could use romaine or another sturdy lettuce that will hold up well under the weight of the layers. Wash and dry the leaves thoroughly to prevent sogginess.
What's the best way to prevent the layers from getting soggy?
Make sure you drain the cooked taco meat. Choose a thicker, less watery salsa to prevent your layers from getting soggy.
🛒Helpful Kitchen Tools
2-Pack Casserole Dishes for Oven, Large Baking Dishes 9x13,4.2 Quarts Baking Pan with Handles,Lasagna Pan Deep Casserole Dish Set Bakeware Oven Safe Ceramic Baking Dish for Lasagna,Wedding Gift, White
Ruvanti Cloth Napkins Set of 12, 18x18 Inches Napkins Cloth Washable, Soft, Durable, Absorbent, Cotton Blend. Table Dinner Napkins Cloth for Hotel, Christmas, Dinner, Parties - Multi ColorSweejar Glass Mixing Bowls Set(set of 9),Nesting Bowls for Space Saving Storage,Great for Cooking,Baking,Prepping,Stackable Bowl Set…60 Pack Colorful Taco Holder Stands Plastic Large Taco Tray Plates Hold 2 or 3 Tacos Each Rack Server Hard Tortilla Holder for Party Platter Rack Dishwasher Microwave Safe
📋Ingredients
Here's a quick overview of the ingredients for this recipe. Find the exact amounts and click the Instacart button to easily add them to your cart – all in the printable recipe card below!
Substitutions and Variations
Instead of black olives in the corner for the star shaped cheese to rest on, you could use blue corn chips.
A layer of refried beans on top of the cooked beef would add heartiness and a different flavor. You could also add a layer of Homemade Guacamole.
Finely chopped white onions would add a bit of flavor and a little crunch.
You can use either a packet of taco seasoning or try my Homemade Taco Seasoning recipe.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Stir the taco seasoning into the cooked and cooled browned beef. Don't forget to drain the beef first!
Step 2: In a mixing bowl, combine together the softened cream cheese, sour cream and salsa.
How to Quickly Brown Ground Beef for Tacos, Salad and Dip
Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add your ground beef and break it up with a spatula as it cooks. Keep stirring and breaking up the meat until it's all browned and no longer pink. Don't forget to drain the grease before adding the taco seasoning.
Step 3: Spread the cheese mixture evenly over the bottom of a 9X12 casserole dish. For easier cleanup, you can also use a disposable aluminum pan.
Step 4: Once the beef is cooked and seasoned, spread it evenly over the other ingredients. This ensures every bite is packed with flavor.
Step 5: Spread the shredded cheddar cheese on top of the beef layer. I used finely shredded cheddar cheese.
Step 6: Then add the layer of shredded lettuce. For this recipe I used iceberg lettuce.
Step 7: Create a "blue square" in the top left corner of your salad by arranging the sliced olives. This represents the star-studded blue field of the American flag.
Step 8: Cut star shapes out of full slices of cheese using a star-shaped cookie cutter. Place the stars on top of the sliced olives.
Quick Tip
Cut the grape tomatoes in half lengthwise so they lay flat on top of the taco salad layers.
Step 9: Add the layer of sliced grape tomatoes. Make sure you leave room for the shredded mozzarella cheese.
Step 10: Finally add the mozzarella cheese in between the grape tomatoes to give the effect of the red and white stripes of the flag.
Before you Begin!
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What to Serve with
Serve this salad/dip recipe with plenty of tortilla chips. You can also serve this with homemade guacamole on the side.
Can I make this dip ahead of time?
To make things easier, you can prepare parts of the patriotic taco salad ahead of time. Cook the seasoned beef, mix the cream cheese dip, shred the cheese and lettuce, and slice the olives and tomatoes a day or two before. Store everything separately in the refrigerator. When you're ready to serve, layer everything in the dish to keep it fresh and delicious!
Storage Instructions
Refrigerate: Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap, ensuring it touches the surface of the dip to prevent air exposure. Place the covered dish in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. While this method is more convenient, it's important to note that the dip may lose some of its freshness and the layers may become slightly soggy due to moisture.
- PRESS'N SEAL PLASTIC FOOD WRAP: With a quick press of a finger, Glad Press'n Seal Food Wrap keeps food fresh with a leak proof, air tight seal,
Top Recipe Tip
For the best American flag taco salad dip, make sure the cream cheese is softened to room temperature for easier mixing. This will ensure a smooth and creamy base for your dip.
More Recipes You'll Love!
- Check out my other recipe for (Similar recipe from my site)
- Or you might enjoy this recipe for Taco Biscuit Cups or this collection of Mexican Inspired Recipes.
📖 Recipe Card
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Patriotic Taco Salad
Equipment
- 9x13 Casserole Dish with Lid
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef drained and cooled
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning
- 8 ounces sour cream
- 8 ounces cream cheese; softened
- ⅓ cup salsa thick, chunky
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese; shredded
- 1 cup Iceberg lettuce; shredded
- 2.25 ounce black olives; sliced and drained
- 1 cup grape tomatoes; sliced lengthwise in half
- 2 slices American cheese white
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef, breaking it up with a spatula until browned. Drain any excess grease.
- Stir the taco seasoning into the drained beef and set aside to cool slightly.
- In a bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, and salsa. Spread this mixture evenly in a 9x12 casserole dish.
- Layer the seasoned beef evenly over the cream cheese mixture.
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the beef, followed by a layer of shredded lettuce.
- In the top left corner, arrange sliced olives to form a blue square.
- Using a star-shaped cookie cutter, cut stars out of cheese slices and place them on top of the olives.
- Arrange halved grape tomatoes in rows, leaving space for the mozzarella.
- Place mozzarella cheese strips between the tomato rows to create the stripes.
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