Dorito Taco Salad

Salad doesn’t have to be boring, and you definitely don’t have to load it down with dressing just to give it flavor. I like a bit of spice and a bite that differs each time. That’s why this Dorito Taco Salad is the perfect choice.

This Dorito Taco Salad is a delicious, easy-to-make dish that will have your taste buds doing backflips. From the burst of freshness from the tomato to the cooling sweetness of the lettuce, and of course, the bite from the chips, this is the type of salad that you can dream about having for lunch or dinner. I like this version of a Dorito Taco Salad so much more than fiesta salads and similar Tex-Mex salads you can get at restaurants. It’s fresher and more vibrant, especially if you eat it right after bringing it together. It’s fantastic if you like flavor – though it doesn’t have to be spicy or over the top unless that’s what you’re craving.

It’s perfect for any occasion, from casual get-togethers with friends to festive holiday parties. It’s great for traveling, but the hard part is making enough. Every time I’ve taken this to a cookout or dinner with friends, it’s the first thing gone off the table. Bring extras, a lot of them!

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Why You’ll Love This Dorito Taco Salad

I must say, personally, this is the best Dorito Taco Salad I’ve ever had, and I highly recommend it for several reasons. The Dorito Taco Salad is the perfect meal to feed a crowd. The perfectly spiced Taco meat combined with the usual Taco toppings makes for a delicious meal. It’s really not that expensive to make. If you have a group of people coming over, you can easily throw this together and serve up what seems to be a planned dinner. This dish is so easy to make and is the perfect kid-friendly meal that will have them laughing and eating.

With all the flavors and textures of a traditional taco salad, but with none of the guilt, it’s sure to become a family favorite. It is a salad after all, and you can load it down with additional veggies and even throw some spinach in the mix when you want added nutrients. No one will focus on the healthy stuff with all of the flavor and bite of the chips here.

Ingredients needed

• Olive oil
• Lean ground beef
• Taco seasoning
• Iceberg lettuce chopped
• Tomato diced
• Nacho cheese Doritos chips
• Catalina dressing
• Sour cream and guacamole for garnish if desired

Ingredient Deep Dive

Lean Ground Beef

You don’t want this to be too greasy, so choose a leaner ground beef for the best overall flavor. However, I have used ground turkey as a replacement many times with good success. You can also switch it up with ground chicken if that’s what you have on hand.

The key is to brown the beef really well before you add the seasoning. That will make it develop more flavor and the salad ends up with a heartier bite. Drain off any of the extra grease because you don’t want that weighing down everything else and making the chips soggy.

Taco Seasoning

Let’s be honest here – any version of taco seasoning that you like works well. If you don’t have a package or prepared ingredient mix, use chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder, and onion powder, along with a bit of paprika and salt to make your own. For more heat, add some red pepper flakes.

I love the convenience of store-bought taco seasoning. But with homemade seasoning you can control the amount of sauce and spiciness, salt and spiciness. It’s easy to customize for people who like a more mild flavor. 

Nacho Cheese Dorito Chips

This is the ideal choice for chips, but you can use any version that you prefer, or the kids haven’t eaten all of them just yet. I like to use the Hot Corn Doritos or Taco-flavored versions, but you can choose the level of heat that fits your needs.

You want to be sure that the chips are in bite-sized pieces and not crumbly. That way they’ll stay crunchy longer when they’re mixed into the salad. If you’re going to be serving this at a potluck or a party, you can set the chips to the side so everyone just adds their own before they eat.

Iceberg Lettuce

Iceberg is ideal for this salad base because it’s bright and crispy. That bit of freshness with every bite makes it tasty. You can use other lettuce varieties, especially another crunchy option like a romaine heart. Mixing in other nutrient-dense greens can also help.

Make sure you wash and dry the lettuce very thoroughly before you chop it because you want the dressing clinging to the leaves, not sliding off. If you’re making the salad in advance, store the lettuce separately so it stays fresh and crunchy.

How to make Dorito Taco Salad:

Step 1: Heat the skillet and brown the ground beef.

Over medium-high heat, place a small amount of olive oil in the pan and then brown the ground beef. I like to fully brown it, drain off any excessive grease, and then add in the two tablespoons of seasoning. That way, I’m not just throwing out seasoning. At this point, you’ll start to smell the delicious beefy smell in your kitchen.

Adding the taco seasoning to the browned beef.

Step 2: Prepare the bed of lettuce.

No complicated steps here. After washing, drying, and then chopping your lettuce, place it in a larger mixing bowl. Make sure it’s as dry as possible so that the flavors stick to it. If you make sure your lettuce is nice and dry before you put the salad together, the dressing will cling to it instead of sliding off. Place the beef mixture on top.

Step 3: Add in the tomatoes.

Add the tomatoes to the top of the salad and beef. Doing this now helps minimize their breakdown as you mix it later. You also don’t want to cook the tomatoes from the hot beef. The few extra minutes in between help to Keep your tomatoes firm. Don’t stir them in. You want them to stay on top so that they stay fresh and well-formed, not limp.

Step 4: Top with the chips.

Don’t crush them up, but keep them as whole as possible as you place the chips on top of the beef and tomatoes. They will break down as you stir things up, but don’t be too rough. The taste of crumbs isn’t ideal here. If the chips are extremely large, like some of the popular brands tend to be, you can break them in two or three smaller pieces. You want bite-sized pieces for the most part.

Step 5: Add the dressing.

Use any dressing brand that you like. The classic most of us ate in taco salad growing up was the Catalina French dressing. I can still remember the sweet tanginess of it. It’s almost like I can still taste it when I smell taco meat simmering. You just need about a cup of it, poured over the entire top of the chips. It will absorb quickly, so be sure to spread it out as you’re pouring it in.

Step 6: Mix well.

Lightly toss everything together so the dressing combines well with the other ingredients. And I’m gonna say this again for the folks in the back. You want to lightly toss these ingredients together because we’re not making soup here. We’re making a salad where every ingredient should look like itself. Try to fold in the ingredients rather than stirring. Again, it’s that crumby texture you don’t want. The creamy dressing will start to coat everything else.

Step 7: Add whatever toppings you love.

Top your salad with the toppings you enjoy. Sour cream and guacamole are the best options by far. Both of those add a delightful creaminess to the salad. I don’t recommend mixing these in immediately. Also, consider adding some jalapeños if you like.

THANKS FOR PINING!

Serving & Pairing

What should be served with the Dorito Taco Salad?

The most popular choice is a side of Mexican rice or refried beans. Others prefer to stick with pico de gallo or salsa. Many will top it with guacamole, sour cream, or both.

This is a meal in itself. You can serve this with Sour cream, guacamole, salsa, or any number of other toppings that you would normally use on a Taco Salad. If you are asking for sides, the side that I would suggest is a side of Mexican Rice. A crusty bread can also bulk this up for you.

A bowl of homemade salsa or some Mexican cheese dip on the side never hurts either.

FAQs & Troubleshooting

How should I store the Dorito Taco Salad?

Although it is best to serve this immediately, it can be stored for up to 4 days in the refrigerator, as long as it is in an airtight container. You can reheat individual servings in the microwave to enjoy a great meal or snack.

Can the Dorito Taco Salad Recipe be frozen?

If the plan is to freeze the Dorito Taco Salad, it is best to do so without the lettuce or tomato in the Salad. The lettuce and tomato do not hold up well when frozen. The Dorito Taco Salad will be good in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Can I make this in advance?

Yes, the salad can be made ahead of time. It would also be good to not add the lettuce and tomato to the salad until you are ready to serve.

Which Doritos are the best choice for this Dorito Taco Salad recipe?

There are so many options to choose from for this Taco salad recipe. I prefer to use ranch or the Original Nacho Cheese. Both of those flavors will provide the base flavor and add to an already amazing Dorito Taco Salad.

What kind of beans are in taco salad?

Most often, you will find Taco Salads with black beans or pinto beans in the recipe. However, there are other types that you may want to consider also.

Other Similar recipes ideas

Taco Spaghetti – Extremely delicious!

Mexican Taco Lasagna – Simply add your favorite toppings, and enjoy.

Walking Taco Casserole – This casserole is sure to please.