Midwestern Taco Salad

The Taco Salad That Shows Up At Every Midwest Party

This Midwestern Taco Salad is one of those recipes that might make absolutely no sense until you eat it.

Iceberg lettuce. Seasoned ground beef. Shredded cheese. Doritos. And the ingredient that I will argue is VERY important here: Western Dressing.

If you grew up going to family parties, graduation parties, church picnics, football parties, and backyard cookouts in the Midwest, there is a good chance you have eaten some version of this salad.

My family has been making it forever.

In fact, we like it so much that my cousins and I have been known to hide a plate of it before putting the bowl out at a party so we know there will be some left for us later.

You have to plan ahead when you come from a big family.

This isn’t an authentic Mexican taco salad and I am certainly not pretending it is.

This is an authentic Midwestern party taco salad.

And there is a difference.

Before You Skip To The Recipe

This is a very easy recipe, but there are a few things worth reading before you make it.

Why Western Dressing Makes This Salad

What To Use If You Can’t Find Western Dressing

How To Keep Taco Salad From Getting Soggy

Growing Up On The Southwest Side Of Chicago

I grew up on the Southwest Side of Chicago in the neighborhoods around Midway Airport.

At the time, our neighborhood was heavily Polish with Czech, Bohemian, Italian, and other Eastern European influences all around us. So when I talk about “Midwestern food,” I am usually talking about the kind of food I grew up eating at family parties on the Southwest Side.

And when I say family party, I don’t necessarily mean a beautifully decorated dining room with a carefully set table.

I mean the basement or the garage.

Those were our party rooms.

In the summer, you opened up the garage, set up folding tables and chairs, filled coolers with drinks, put out enough food to feed three times the number of people you invited, and everyone came and went all day.

When the weather wasn’t cooperating, the party moved into the basement.

Basement bars. Folding tables. Crockpots plugged into every available outlet. Aluminum pans of food. Bowls of chips. A card game happening somewhere. Kids running up and down the stairs. People sitting wherever they could find a chair.

THAT is the kind of party food this taco salad is.

Nobody was delicately plating individual salads.

Someone walked downstairs carrying an enormous bowl, set it on the table, and everybody dug in.

And somehow there was never enough of this particular salad.

Southwest Side Chicago Party Food

The food I grew up with is such a big part of why I cook the way I do today.

A lot of these recipes weren’t fancy and nobody was worried about whether they were trendy. They were recipes that could feed a lot of people, travel well, sit out at a party, and make everyone happy.

I have quite a few recipes on my site that remind me of those Southwest Side garage and basement parties. You can click each image to get the recipe.

Western Dressing Is The Secret

If you take only one thing away from this entire post, let it be this:

Look for the Western Dressing.

I have been using Western French Dressing for years and it is what I prefer for this taco salad.

People tell me all the time that they cannot find it.

My first question is always: Did you REALLY look?

Because this dressing has a funny way of hiding in plain sight.

At a lot of grocery stores there will be an entire section filled with ranch, Italian, Caesar, French, and Catalina dressing and then ONE little facing of Western.

Sometimes it is on a lower shelf.

Sometimes there are only a few bottles.

If you are just scanning the salad dressing aisle, you can walk right past it.

Look specifically for Western Original Sweet & Smooth Dressing.

Where Do I Buy Western Dressing?

I usually find Western Dressing at major grocery stores and big-box stores in the salad dressing aisle.

The trick is that it often doesn’t get much shelf space.

Don’t expect a giant display.

Look carefully among the red French and Catalina dressings, especially toward the lower shelves. I have seen stores give it only one small facing, which makes it very easy to miss.

If you cannot find it locally, it is also available online.

Find It On Amazon

If you have trouble finding this ingredient or kitchen item locally, you can also check Amazon.

*Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This does not cost you anything extra, but I may earn a small commission if you purchase through my link.*

Western French Dressing

I always recommend checking your regular grocery store or local store first, but sometimes Amazon is the easiest option when something is hard to find.

Before ordering online, please be sure to check your local store. I would bet that you have been walking past this for years.

What Does Western Dressing Taste Like?

This is where people get confused because Western is often grouped with French dressing.

To me, Western Dressing tastes like red French dressing and barbecue sauce had a baby.

It is sweet and tangy, but it also has more of that savory tomato, onion, and spice flavor that makes it work so well with taco-seasoned beef and Doritos.

It is thicker and bolder tasting than what I think of when I think of a typical Catalina.

That sweet, tangy, savory combination is important because this salad has a lot of salty ingredients.

You have seasoned beef.

You have cheese.

You have Doritos.

The sweetness and acidity of the dressing cut through all of that richness.

This is why I don’t consider the dressing an afterthought in this recipe.

It is one of the main flavors.

Is Western Dressing The Same As Catalina?

Not exactly.

They live in the same general family of sweet, tangy, tomato-based red dressings, which is why Catalina can work as a substitute.

But I don’t think they taste identical.

Catalina is generally a little brighter and more vinegar-forward to me, while Western has the sweeter, thicker, deeper flavor I associate with this particular taco salad.

If you’ve made this salad with Catalina your whole life, I am not coming to your house to confiscate it.

Keep making it the way your family likes it.

But if you’ve never tried Western, I think it’s worth tracking down a bottle at least once.

Is Western Dressing The Same As French Dressing?

This gets even more confusing because Western itself is sometimes described as a French-style dressing.

For this recipe, when I say “French dressing” as a substitute, I mean the dark red, tangy French dressing, not a pale orange creamy French.

Look for something tomato-based, sweet, and tangy.

If the dressing tastes very mild or creamy, it isn’t going to give this salad quite the same flavor.

What Can I Use Instead Of Western Dressing?

If you absolutely cannot find Western, don’t abandon the taco salad.

My substitutions, in order, would be:

1. A dark red, tangy French dressing
2. Catalina dressing
3. Russian dressing if you already have one you like

The finished salad will taste slightly different, but it will still be good.

You can also doctor up French or Catalina dressing to get it closer to the sweet, savory flavor of Western.

How To Make A Quick Western-Style Dressing Substitute

This is NOT meant to be an exact copycat recipe for Western Dressing.

It is my easy kitchen workaround when you cannot find a bottle.

For approximately 1 cup, combine:

• 1 cup dark red French or Catalina dressing
• 1 to 2 tablespoons of your favorite traditional barbecue sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

Whisk everything together and taste it.

If you want it a little sweeter, add a small pinch of brown sugar or a tiny drizzle of honey.

If it needs more tang, add another splash of apple cider vinegar.

If you’re starting with Catalina, I would begin with only 1 tablespoon barbecue sauce because Catalina is already sweet.

The goal is a dressing that is sweet, tangy, tomato-forward, and a little more savory than plain Catalina.

You don’t have to make it complicated.

We are doctoring salad dressing, not applying for a Michelin star.

More Ways To Use Western Dressing

Once you finally find the bottle of Western Dressing hiding on that grocery store shelf, don’t worry about buying it for just one recipe.

I use this stuff ALL THE TIME.

It is one of those ingredients that appears in recipes all over my website because I love the combination of sweet and tangy flavors. Click each image to try out the recipe.

Let’s Talk About The Doritos

Now we have to discuss the other controversial ingredient.

Doritos.

I personally think the perfect combination for this salad is Spicy Nacho Doritos and Western Dressing.

That is MY favorite.

You do not have to use Spicy Nacho.

Regular Nacho Cheese Doritos are delicious.

Cool Ranch will change the flavor quite a bit, but plenty of people love them.

You could even use another flavored tortilla chip that your family likes.

The important thing is how you crush them.

You want bite-sized crunchy pieces, not Dorito dust.

Put them in the bag and gently crush them with your hands.

There should still be recognizable pieces of chip throughout the salad.

That crunch is a huge part of what makes this so good.

The Ground Beef Should Be Finely Crumbled

This is one little detail that makes a surprisingly big difference.

I like the taco meat very finely crumbled.

You don’t want huge chunks of ground beef sitting on top of iceberg lettuce.

The small crumbles distribute throughout the salad so you get a little seasoned beef in every serving.

I use a ground meat chopper, but a spatula works too.

Just keep breaking the meat apart as it cooks.

After adding the taco seasoning and water, let it simmer until the seasoning has coated the beef and the excess liquid is absorbed.

Then comes the important part.

LET THE BEEF COOL.

Do not dump piping hot taco meat onto iceberg lettuce unless your goal is wilted lettuce salad.

Iceberg Lettuce Belongs Here

Could you use romaine?

Sure.

Would I?

No.

This is one of those recipes where I want iceberg lettuce.

Iceberg has that cold, crisp crunch that holds up against the seasoned beef, shredded cheese, dressing, and Doritos.

This is not the moment for delicate spring greens.

We need lettuce with a little backbone.

Wash it well, dry it thoroughly, and cut or tear it into bite-sized pieces.

Drying it matters because excess water will dilute your dressing and make the salad soggy faster.

Everyone Has Their Own Version

One of my favorite things about sharing this recipe over the years has been hearing how many other families make it.

And almost EVERYONE has something they insist belongs in theirs.

Some people add black olives.

Some add diced red onion.

Some add green onion.

I’ve heard from people who add corn, black beans, kidney beans, avocado, jalapeños, bell peppers, or extra tomatoes.

Some families add sour cream.

Others add salsa.

Some people swear by regular Nacho Cheese Doritos while others have a specific chip flavor their family has used forever.

I’ve even heard from readers whose family makes a completely different dressing combination.

That is exactly what I love about recipes like this.

There probably wasn’t one official Midwestern Taco Salad recipe handed down from some taco salad authority.

It was a party recipe that moved from family to family, church cookbook to church cookbook, and neighborhood to neighborhood.

Everybody changed it a little.

If your family has a special ingredient they add, keep adding it.

The version in my recipe card is simply the way MY family likes it.

When Should I Add The Dressing And Doritos?

If you’re serving the salad immediately, toss everything together and put it on the table.

If you’re taking it to a party, I recommend doing things a little differently.

Prepare the lettuce.

Cook and completely cool the taco meat.

Shred your cheese and prep any vegetables.

Then transport the Western Dressing and Doritos separately.

Right before serving, add the dressing and crushed chips and toss everything together.

That gives you the best combination of crisp lettuce and crunchy Doritos.

But I Actually Like It After It Sits

Now here is where my family may be controversial.

This salad is great when it is freshly tossed and crunchy.

But I ALSO love it after it has been sitting awhile.

The Doritos soften slightly and absorb some of the Western Dressing and taco seasoning.

It becomes an entirely different experience.

This is also why my cousins and I have been known to hide some before serving it.

We know what we’re doing.

If you’re someone who absolutely hates a softened chip, only dress what you plan to eat immediately.

The rest of us will be over here eating the leftovers.

How To Make Midwestern Taco Salad For A Party

This is an ideal party recipe because almost everything can be prepared before your guests arrive.

Earlier in the day:

Cook and season the ground beef.

Cool it completely and refrigerate it.

Wash, dry, and chop the lettuce.

Dice your tomatoes and any other vegetables.

Shred the cheese if needed.

Then keep everything refrigerated.

Right before serving:

Add the lettuce to a large bowl.

Add the cooled taco meat.

Add the cheese and tomatoes.

Pour in the Western Dressing.

Add the crushed Doritos.

Toss well and serve.

If you’re feeding a big crowd, you can also put extra Doritos, cheese, sour cream, olives, onions, and other toppings on the side.

Can I Make This Ahead?

You can prep it ahead, but I wouldn’t completely assemble it hours in advance unless you specifically like a softer taco salad.

For maximum crunch, keep the dressing and Doritos separate until shortly before serving.

The ground beef can easily be made a day ahead.

Just make sure it is completely cool before combining it with the lettuce.

What To Serve With Midwestern Taco Salad

This salad can absolutely be a meal on its own.

But at a Southwest Side garage party?

It is probably sitting next to about fourteen other things.

This would be great with:

• Burgers
• Hot dogs
• Brats
• Italian sausage
• Sloppy Joes
• Party sandwiches
• Taco dip
• Pasta salad
• Potato salad
• Mostaccioli
• Anything coming off the grill

Basically, if it can be carried downstairs to a basement or outside to a garage on a folding table, it probably belongs next to this salad.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Western Dressing?

Western is a sweet and tangy tomato-based French-style dressing with savory onion and spice flavors. It is the dressing I prefer for this taco salad.

Where Do I Find Western Dressing?

Check the salad dressing aisle carefully. It often gets only one small facing and can be easy to miss. Look near French and Catalina dressings and check lower shelves. If you can’t find it locally, you can also order it online.

Can I Use Catalina Instead?

Yes. Catalina is probably the easiest substitute, although the flavor isn’t exactly the same.

Can I Use French Dressing?

Yes, but I recommend a darker red, tangy French dressing rather than a creamy orange French dressing.

Can I Make My Substitute Taste More Like Western?

Yes. Add a little traditional barbecue sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, and apple cider vinegar to dark French or Catalina dressing. Taste and adjust from there.

What Kind Of Doritos Should I Use?

My favorite is Spicy Nacho, but regular Nacho Cheese or another flavor your family likes will work.

Can I Use Plain Tortilla Chips?

You can, but you will lose some of the cheesy seasoned flavor the Doritos bring to the salad.

Why Does The Ground Beef Need To Cool?

Hot ground beef will wilt your iceberg lettuce. Let the seasoned beef cool completely before assembling the salad.

Can I Make This The Night Before?

Prep the components the night before, but keep the dressing and Doritos separate. Toss everything together before serving.

Can I Add Beans?

Absolutely. Black beans or kidney beans are both additions readers have told me they use.

What Else Can I Add?

Black olives, red onion, green onion, corn, avocado, jalapeños, bell peppers, sour cream, salsa, and extra tomatoes are all options.

Is This An Authentic Mexican Taco Salad?

Nope.

This is Midwestern party food and proud of it.

A Bowl Full Of Midwest Nostalgia

Some recipes are special because they are complicated.

This isn’t one of them.

This recipe is special to me because I can picture exactly where I would have eaten it growing up.

A huge bowl sitting on a folding table.

Someone’s garage door open.

People going in and out of the house.

Or everybody packed into the basement because Chicago weather decided not to cooperate.

There would be way too much food, plenty of relatives, somebody telling a story you’ve already heard twenty times, and at least one person asking who made the taco salad.

That is what food nostalgia is to me.

It isn’t always a beautiful formal Sunday dinner.

Sometimes it’s iceberg lettuce, taco meat, Doritos, and Western Dressing in a giant bowl in somebody’s basement.

And I wouldn’t change a thing.