Print

Easy Doritos Taco Salad Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.9 from 121 reviews

This Easy Doritos Taco Salad is a quick, crowd-pleasing dish perfect for potlucks, family dinners, or any casual gathering. Featuring seasoned ground beef, crunchy Nacho Cheese Doritos, crisp iceberg lettuce, fresh tomatoes, and sharp cheddar cheese, all tossed in flavorful Catalina dressing, this salad combines textures and tastes loved by both kids and adults. Ready in just about 30 minutes, it travels well and can be customized easily to suit dietary preferences or ingredient availability.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Salad:

  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 onion, finely diced
  • 1.5 lb ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio recommended)
  • 2 tomatoes, diced
  • 1 head iceberg lettuce, shredded

For Seasoning and Dressing:

  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • 16 fl oz Catalina dressing (e.g., Annie’s Organic Catalina Dressing)
  • 1 bag Nacho Cheese Doritos, crushed just before serving

Instructions

  1. Cook the Hamburger: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until thoroughly browned, breaking it up into small crumbles as it cooks for even browning. Drain excess grease thoroughly to prevent sogginess.
  2. Season the Meat: Return the skillet with the drained beef to the heat. Add the taco seasoning packet along with the amount of water specified on the seasoning packet. Simmer until the seasoning is fully absorbed and the mixture is well combined. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
  3. Prepare the Salad Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the cooled, seasoned ground beef with shredded iceberg lettuce, diced tomatoes, finely diced onion, and shredded cheddar cheese. Toss everything well to distribute ingredients evenly. Chill the mixture in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
  4. Final Assembly and Serving: Just before serving, remove the salad bowl from the fridge. Pour the Catalina dressing over the salad and toss thoroughly to coat all ingredients. Finally, add the crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos and gently mix to incorporate the chips without crushing them too finely. Serve immediately to enjoy the best crunch and freshness.

Notes

  • Keep all components separate until serving to prevent soggy chips and wilted lettuce.
  • Drain ground beef thoroughly to avoid greasy salad.
  • Break Doritos into bite-sized chunks rather than pulverizing for better texture.
  • Start with half the dressing and add more if desired to avoid overpowering the salad.
  • You can substitute romaine, mixed greens, or chopped cabbage for iceberg lettuce.
  • The recipe is easily doubled for larger crowds or potlucks.
  • Ground turkey or chicken can replace beef for a lighter version. Vegetarian versions can use black beans or plant-based meat substitutes.
  • Store leftovers without chips and dressing separately, and add chips/dressing only when ready to eat.

Keywords: Doritos taco salad, taco salad recipe, ground beef salad, Catalina dressing salad, easy party salad, crunchy taco salad

Find it online: https://foodbylina.com/easy-doritos-taco-salad-recipe/