Joy's Taco Salad

Don't let the long list of ingredients scare you - it's worth it. This would be a great recipe for a potluck or something where you are feeding LOTS of people. I've made a few changes to the original - I don't like to add the dressing or chips until right before serving so the lettuce doesn't get all soggy.

1 lb lean ground beef
1 Tbs chili powder
2 cups low-fat salad dressing
1 cup ketchup
1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
1 head iceberg lettuce - rinsed, dried, and chopped
1 head romaine lettuce- rinsed, dried and chopped
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1 (4 ounce) can green chilie peppers, finely chopped
1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained
1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained
12 oz shredded Cheddar cheese
3 large tomatoes, diced (I used 2 cans petite diced tomatoes, drained)
2 (14.5 ounce) packages corn tortilla chips

1. Brown the beef, drain, season with chili powder and set aside to cool.

2. Prepare the dressing by whisking the salad dressing, ketchup and taco seasoning mix together in a small bowl.

3. In a large bowl, combine iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, green pepper, red or yellow pepper, green onions, green chilies, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, cheese, cooled ground beef. Mix well, cover and refrigerate.

4. Just before serving, mix in tomatoes and dressing and top the salad with the crushed chips if desired. Serve with whole chips on the side.

Servings: 12

Author: Joy Valcarcel Source: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Joys-Taco-Salad/Detail.aspx