Dorito Taco Salad is a delicious salad we’ve been serving at potlucks for as long as I can remember!
Everyone loves a great taco salad recipe and this version is a definitely a crowd favorite!
Seasoned ground beef, fresh lettuce, pinto beans, veggies and of course Doritos all sauced up with a zingy dressing make this an exciting change to your daily menu!
I truly love salads, but sometimes they can become a bit boring. This Dorito Taco Salad definitely spices up the ‘same old salad’ slump that we tend to get into. Not only is is easy to make, but it is delicious too!
I absolutely love anything that is taco inspired from pasta to casseroles… and especially salads!
Something about that beautiful blend of spices found in taco seasoning (especially my DIY taco seasoning mix) paired with crisp fresh lettuce just tastes SO good! Of all of the taco inspired dishes I make, this one definitely tops the list because everyone always raves about it!
How to Make Taco Salad
If you happen to have leftover taco beef from a prior recipe, it’s perfect in this taco salad recipe. In fact, I often make a double batch of taco meat to store in my freezer for extra quick meals on busy weeknights.
It takes me just seconds to defrost it for quick tacos, taco salads or even for a tray of Loaded Tater Tot Nachos!
The remaining ingredients are simple and easy to keep on hand. Pinto beans and sliced black olives in the canned variety are always staples in my pantry. Lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cheese, peppers and sour cream are items I always have on hand.
And OF COURSE you can’t forget the Doritos, we love the Nacho Cheese Flavor in this taco salad but you can use your favorite flavor!
How to Make Taco Salad Ahead of Time
This meal can be prepared ahead of time! The secret is to assemble everything in layers and simply toss before serving. Using the layered method keeps ingredients from becoming soggy.
- Your bottom layer will be the cooked and seasoned ground beef topped with the dressing.
- Next layer the pinto beans and sliced olives.
- Follow this with the peppers and tomatoes.
- Next layer is the lettuce and the onion.
- Add the cheese on top.
- Leave out the Doritos until just before serving.
Using the layering method above, you can assemble this Dorito salad and refrigerate for a quick and easy meal at the end of a busy day or to take along to a backyard BBQ party or potluck. Simply toss to coat everything just before serving and wait for the compliments to pour in!
What Goes In a Taco Salad
You can modify this recipe however you’d like or based on what you have on hand! I have used diced chicken breast in place of ground beef (or ground turkey), I also use different types of peppers and I like to kick up the heat a notch using spicy Doritos!
Use the veggies you love (corn is great in this recipe too) and make it your own masterpiece! It is just so easy to prepare and to top it off it tastes fantastic!
6 Taco Inspired Dishes You MUST Try
Love Taco Inspired Dishes? Me too… and here are some of my absolute favorites!
1. Taco Stuffed Pasta Shells Tender pasta shells stuffed with deliciously seasoned beef, salsa and cheese baked until bubbly.
2. Taco Pasta Salad Pasta salad with a taco twist, fresh veggies and our favorite Doritos! Must try!
3. Taco Tater Tot Casserole This casserole features seasoned beef and loads of vegetables topped with a yummy tater tot crust and baked until golden.
4. Taco Casserole with a Surprise Crust Taco night just got a whole lot more delicious… spoiler alert: if you like Doritos, you’ll love this one!
5. French Bread Tacos French Bread Tacos combine all the taco flavors you love with the delicious, crusty bread you can’t get enough of!
6. Layered Dorito Casserole Layered Doritos Casserole has layers of seasoned beef in a rich and zesty sauce topped with loads of cheese.
While assembling the ingredients is super easy to begin with, to make it even easier I love to use my favorite chopping tool! It makes chopping a breeze and you are guaranteed consistent bite sized pieces every time!
I use a whole 10 oz bag of Doritos in this recipe because I love the flavor they add. You can certainly use as much or as little as you’d like! Don’t get stuck making the same old salads this summer. Add Dorito Taco Salad to your menu and delight your family and friends!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 ounce taco seasoning 1 packet, or 2 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning
- ⅔ cup water
- 1 head iceberg lettuce chopped into bite sized pieces
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- 1 green bell pepper chopped
- ½ cup sliced black olives
- 15 ounces canned pinto beans rinsed and drained, 1 can
- 1 cup diced fresh tomatoes
- ¼ cup sliced green onions
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 10 ounces Doritos Nacho flavored
- 16 ounces Catalina salad dressing
- sour cream for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef until no pink remains. Drain any fat.
- Stir in the taco seasoning packet and water. Simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.
- In a large bowl, combine the lettuce, peppers, black olives, pinto beans, tomatoes, cheddar and green onions.
- Top with the seasoned and cooled ground beef.
- Slightly crush the Doritos and sprinkle on top. Drizzle with catalina dressing and toss to coat evenly.
- Garnish with sour cream and additional green onions is desired.
- Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Salad
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In your notes, you say the ground beef goes on the bottom. In the recipe, it says the beef goes on top. Confusing. Of course, it all gets mixed up anyway, just sayin’…
The beef goes in the bottom if you are layering it to make it ahead of time. If you’re going to be serving it right away, the beef can just go on top before tossing. Hope that helps.
I have always used italian dressing with those recipe instead of Catalina! It gives it a niceness zesty taste! Also have tried the spicy ranch dressing! So good!
So glad you loved it Ronda!
Fantastic recipe! A delicious new twist on my old Fritos Taco Salad recipe!! Thanks
So glad you love it!
Recipe may be good but wondering why it can not be printed out as a recipe & not waste a large part of the page where the video is? Just make it simple, please.
I’m sorry for the inconvenience, I am not sure why it is printing that way. Thank you for letting me know, I do have someone fixing it today!
Oh my gosh this Dorito Taco Salad is to die for (figure of speech)…I love it and i wouldn’t change nothing. Did I say I love this salad!!!!!
So glad you love the recipe Annetta!
What size bag of doritos?
10 oz.
Forgot a couple of things got distracted. Still turned out great
A forgiving recipe Peter! Glad you loved it!
How much your homemade Taco Seasoning do you use in place of the packaged seasoning?
For one pound of ground beef, I use 2 tablespoons of homemade taco seasoning.
You need to make it easier to print out!! Make this tonight for our Bible study dinner.
There is a print button right above the ingredients. Hope that helps. Enjoy, Faye!
You need to make it easier to print out!!
There is a print button right above the ingredients. Hope that helps Faye
My mom always made this when we were younger in the summer time . Only she used Italian dressing an Fritos corn chips , us kids couldn’t get enough . Haven’t made it myself in years but I think I’m putting this on my summer dinner list . Thanks
Memories :)
MY dressing Is to mix ranch and picante 1/2 and 1/2. Very good
Thanks for this I think I found it on Facebook and thought heck yeah I wanna try. I made this tonight (25th April 2018) and I have made enough for 2 dinners LOL I left out the pinto beans due not enough money oops maybe next time and I used (mild) Nachos Topping from a jar instead of the mentioned dressing. The salad was a bit “heavy” looking but still tasted awesome and filling too. It was like fireworks going off in my mouth. I will make this again for sure and told my friends on Facebook all about it with links so they cam make it too. Thanks again so much THIS IS A KEEPER!!!!
Yay so glad you loved it Meran! :)
For the DORITO TACO SALAD… The recipe calls for 1 oz. of Doritos. Did you mean 17 oz.???
In the video, is shows Holly using a family size bag. Please help!!!
Thank you so much!
I can’t wait to make this! 5* Recipe!
Kathy
I usually use a whole 10 oz bag of Doritos (as listed in the ingredients) in this recipe because I love the flavor they add. You can certainly use as much or as little as you’d like!
my mom has been making this forever now it’s one of my best party dishes nobody can get enough. we use creamy Italian dressing . the shoprite brand is the best to use . I can eat it allday its normally the first thing to go at family gathering and is the most requested when we ask what can we bring. awesome summer meal as well!
That’s so great to hear Amanda! You’re right, it’s great for both a meal AND a party dish!
Have you ever used pickle juice in the pasta water?
I do that sometimes when I make my favorite Dill Pickle Pasta Salad :). I love it!
i’ve been making this forever and a day. Only difference if that I use kidney beans, red onion and good seasons italian dressing. This is so good…just reading this makes me want to go out and buy the ingredients to make this weekend.
Delicious dish and easy to make.
I use Western dressing instead Catalina dressing. It very good also.
LOVE this salad! In my variation, I use kidney beans instead. Seems to me they hold up better in a salad, For the dressing, I use Thousand Island… the Catalina is a bit too sweet for my taste. :)
Could you use ground turkey instead of the ground beef? Trying to make it a bit healthier. Has anyone used this recipe for meal prep for a few days?
Sure you can!