and delicious salad combines the classic elements of a taco salad with the irresistible crunch and flavor of Doritos. Perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or a quick weeknight meal, this taco salad is sure to be a hit with its bold flavors and satisfying textures.
Why You’ll Love Doritos Taco Salad:
- Crunchy and Flavorful: Doritos add a satisfying crunch and cheesy flavor.
- Easy to Make: Simple ingredients and quick preparation.
- Versatile: Customize with your favorite taco toppings and ingredients.
- Crowd-Pleaser: A hit with both kids and adults alike.
Ingredients Notes For Doritos Taco Salad:
- Ground Beef: Lean ground beef for the taco meat.
- Taco Seasoning: Pre-packaged or homemade taco seasoning for flavor.
- Lettuce: Crisp romaine or iceberg lettuce, chopped.
- Tomatoes: Fresh, diced tomatoes for color and juiciness.
- Cheese: Shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese.
- Black Beans: Canned, drained, and rinsed for added protein and fiber.
- Corn: Fresh, canned, or frozen corn, drained if necessary.
- Red Onion: Finely chopped for a bit of bite.
- Doritos: Nacho Cheese flavor, crushed slightly.
- Dressing: Catalina, ranch, or a creamy taco dressing.
- Optional Toppings: Sliced black olives, jalapeños, avocado, sour cream, or cilantro.
Recipe Steps:
- Cook the Ground Beef:
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook 1 pound of ground beef until browned and fully cooked, breaking it up with a spatula as it cooks. Drain any excess fat.
- Add 1 packet of taco seasoning (or homemade taco seasoning) and 2/3 cup of water to the skillet. Stir to combine and simmer until the sauce has thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Prepare the Salad Base:
- In a large salad bowl, combine 6 cups of chopped lettuce, 2 diced tomatoes, 1 cup of shredded cheese, 1 can of black beans (drained and rinsed), 1 cup of corn, and 1/2 cup of finely chopped red onion. Toss to combine.
- Add the Beef and Doritos:
- Add the cooked taco meat to the salad bowl and toss to combine.
- Just before serving, add 2 cups of slightly crushed Doritos to the salad and gently toss.
- Dress the Salad:
- Drizzle your choice of dressing (about 1/2 cup) over the salad and toss to coat evenly. Adjust the amount of dressing to taste.
- Serve:
- Serve immediately, garnished with optional toppings like sliced black olives, jalapeños, avocado, sour cream, or cilantro if desired.
Storage Options:
- Refrigerate: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Note that the Doritos will lose their crunch over time. For best results, add fresh Doritos when serving leftovers.
- Make-Ahead: Prepare all the salad components separately and combine them just before serving to keep the Doritos crunchy.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning mix
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 head iceberg lettuce chopped
- 1 can 15 oz black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can 15 oz corn, drained
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion
- 1/2 cup sliced black olives optional
- 1 avocado diced (optional)
- 2 cups Doritos crushed (any flavor you prefer)
- 1 cup Catalina dressing or ranch, if preferred
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro optional, for garnish
Instructions
Cook the Ground Beef:
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef until browned and fully cooked, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Drain any excess fat.
- Add the taco seasoning mix and water to the skillet. Stir to combine and cook for another 2-3 minutes, or until the sauce thickens. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
Prepare the Salad:
- In a large salad bowl, combine the chopped lettuce, black beans, corn, cherry tomatoes, shredded cheddar cheese, red onion, and black olives (if using).
Assemble the Salad:
- Add the slightly cooled ground beef to the salad bowl.
- Just before serving, add the crushed Doritos and diced avocado (if using).
Dress the Salad:
- Pour the Catalina dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine, ensuring all ingredients are evenly coated.
Serve:
- Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro if desired.
- Serve immediately to maintain the crunchiness of the Doritos.
