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Easy Weight Watchers Taco Salad in a Jar Recipe

Easy Weight Watchers Taco Salad in a Jar

Four colorful taco salads are layered in wide-mouth jars with lean taco meat, beans, corn, tomatoes, cheese, salsa, and crunchy lettuce. Prepare them ahead for a convenient refrigerated lunch that stays fresh for 3 to 4 days.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Taco Meat
  • 1 lb (450 g) Extra-lean ground turkey or 93% lean ground beef
  • 1 oz (28 g) packet Taco seasoning
  • 1/4 cup Water
Jar Layers
  • 1 cup Canned black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup Corn kernels, drained if canned
  • 1 cup Cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup Salsa
  • 1/2 cup Reduced-fat Mexican-blend or cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 8 cups Chopped romaine or other sturdy lettuce
Optional Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup Plain nonfat Greek yogurt or light sour cream
Optional Garnishes
  • As desired Avocado, cilantro, lime juice, crushed tortilla chips, or jalapeño

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Brown the ground turkey or 93% lean ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it into small crumbles. Cook for about 6 to 8 minutes, until the meat is no longer pink.
  2. Drain excess fat if needed, then stir in the taco seasoning and water. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is absorbed, and cool the taco meat completely.
  3. Prepare four clean, dry 1-quart wide-mouth jars. Divide the salsa among them, using about 1/4 cup per jar, and add the optional Greek yogurt or light sour cream with the salsa or directly above it.
  4. Divide the cooled taco meat among the jars, placing it above the salsa layer. Add the black beans, corn, halved cherry tomatoes, and shredded reduced-fat cheese in that order.
  5. Top each jar with about 2 cups of chopped romaine, pressing it down lightly without packing it tightly. Seal the jars and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
  6. To serve, turn a jar upside down into a bowl so the salsa and taco filling flow over the lettuce. Toss well, then add avocado, cilantro, lime juice, crushed tortilla chips, or jalapeño just before eating.

Notes

Cool the taco meat fully before assembling so condensation does not wilt the lettuce. Store sealed jars in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days, and add avocado or tortilla chips only at serving time.