My version of Togos taco salad

When I was pregnant with Mom Jr. there was nothing better to eat than Togo's Taco Salad! I had to have at least 2 of their taco sauce packs as well. Sometimes I'd even ask for an extra cup of the chili beans they put in the salad.
After I had her it was still one of my favorite meals to have but I didn't have to have it as much as I did before.

Now, 4 kids later I needed to come up with ways of making some of our "favorites" at home since it costs so much to take a family of 6 out to dinner or even lunch.

My version of Togos Taco Salad

Items to buy or have on hand:

1 pkg. of kidney beans (I always cook any type of beans I use but you can buy the canned ones to make it faster)

2 small cans of tomato paste

1 pkg. of ground turkey breast (you can use beef, chicken, whatever you like)

1 red onion

2 pieces of garlic (or you can just use garlic powder)

1-2 tomatoes (for the chili beans)

1 head of lettuce (any type of lettuce, we use a mixture of iceberg and the red leaf or dark green lettuce)

shredded cheese (any kind you like)

1 small can of sliced olives (this is optional, if I have it I'll put it out because my kids like them)

tortilla chips (I usually buy the big bag of tortilla chips from Costco since we use them for a variety of recipes)

1-2 tomatoes-diced

sour cream

taco sauce (or you can use salsa, whatever you like)

Thousand Island (this is optional, my husband likes his salad with dressing drizzled with the taco sauce)

avocado (of course! If I have it I obviously will use it, one of the kids favorites)

chicken or beef bouillon (just a little)

I use my crockpot to cook the beans, so I will start them in the morning. I check the beans, wash them, and place them in the crockpot (which I have turned on first with water in it).

I let them cook for 2-3 hours and then will add the cans of tomato paste, some chopped red onion (about 2 slices out of the onion), chopped garlic (or garlic powder), and a little bouillon. Stir it up so that the tomato paste kinda separates. Let that cook for another 2 hours or so (if your doing it in the crockpot I guess it really doesn't matter if you put it in all at once, I just like doing little by little). When I check on my beans and they look almost done I will cook my ground turkey breast on the stove. I usually will season it with some black pepper and seasoned salt. When it's fully cooked I add it in with the beans and stir it. I am now done messing with the chili beans so I just let the flavors mingle and continue to cook slowly all together until it's time to put it all together.

Now, if you are using canned beans I would think you'd probably have to do it all at once with adding a little water.

Chop up your lettuce and put in the fridge so that it gets nice and cold.

When it's time to put it together this is how I do it......

A handful of chips in a bowl, I press them down with my hand to break them up, put chili beans on top of the chips (for my family I put a good amount), drop some shredded cheese over them, lettuce, sprinkle diced tomato (if you like), olives (if you like), get your taco sauce and drizzle it around the lettuce (as well as the dressing if you are going to use it), place a dollop of sour cream in the middle and if you have avocado you can add some slices on top (or smash it up and add a spoonful next to the sour cream).

**extra** If you like the peppers they use, put them on, I usually will just use jalapeno slices on mine.

**left over ideas**

great to just send a container of the chili with chips on the side (and some shredded cheese to place on top, maybe even a little container with taco sauce on the bottom and sour cream on top).

Scramble eggs and add chili for breakfast burritos....