Dorito Taco Salad

4.50 from 6 votes
Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy

Dorito Taco Salad – This easy taco salad is loaded with seasoned ground beef, crunchy nacho cheese Doritos, fresh veggies, and a creamy ranch-salsa dressing. It’s bold, satisfying, and perfect for potlucks, parties, or busy weeknights when you want something fun and flavorful without a lot of fuss.

There’s something about this salad that instantly makes me think of summer cookouts, paper plates, and going back for seconds. It’s bold, crunchy, a little messy—in the best way—and ridiculously satisfying.

Taco salad with beans, tomatoes, corn, avocado, black olives, taco meat, and cheese Doritos

 

I started making it for low-key backyard dinners, and now it’s my go-to anytime I want something fun that still counts as “a real meal.” 

The nacho cheese Doritos steal the show (no surprise there), but the taco-seasoned beef, creamy avocado, and zippy dressing definitely hold their own. 

You can keep things chill and serve it as-is, or pair it with something fresh and citrusy like this Mojito Margarita if you’re feeling a little festive.

Why You’ll Love This Dorito Taco Salad

  • Crunchy, cheesy Doritos add a fun twist – Swapping plain tortilla chips for nacho cheese Doritos gives this salad a bold, snacky vibe that feels a little indulgent in the best way.
  • Seasoned ground beef makes it hearty – The taco-seasoned beef brings warmth and depth that turns this from a side into a full meal.
  • Customizable with your favorite beans – Use black, pinto, or kidney beans—whatever you’ve got on hand or love most.
  • Balanced with fresh produce – Crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, creamy avocado, and sweet corn bring freshness that balances out the richer ingredients..
Great potluck salad with leftover taco meat. Top with a salsa ranch dressing for a great salad

What You’ll Need

Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card.

  • Ground Beef
  • Taco Seasoning
  • Corn Kernels
  • Beans
  • Cheddar Cheese
  • Diced Tomato
  • Avocado
  • Sliced Black Olives
  • Iceberg Lettuce
  • Nacho Cheese Doritos

For the Dressing

  • Ranch Dressing
  • Salsa
  • Mayo
  • Cayenne Pepper
  • Chili Powder
  • Cumin

How to Make Dorito Taco Salad

  1. Cook the taco meat – Brown the ground beef in a skillet, then stir in taco seasoning and simmer until thickened.
  2. Mix the dressing – Combine ranch, salsa, mayo, and spices in a bowl until smooth and chill until ready to use.
  3. Prep the veggies & toppings – Chop the lettuce, dice the tomatoes and avocado, and get everything else measured and ready.
  4. Toss the salad base – In a large bowl, combine the lettuce, corn, beans, cheese, tomato, avocado, and olives.
  5. Add the meat & chips – Top the salad mixture with warm taco meat and a handful of crushed Doritos.
  6. Dress & combine – Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat everything evenly.
  7. Serve fresh – Enjoy right away while the chips are still crunchy and the meat is warm. 
Dorito Taco Salad is a great dinner, lunch or even potluck recipe

Recipe Tips & Tricks

  • Use warm meat for best flavor – Adding the taco meat while it’s still warm helps slightly melt the cheese and blend the flavors.
  • Don’t skip the crushed chips – Crushing the Doritos just a bit gives you perfect bite-sized crunch without overwhelming the salad.
  • Toss just before serving – To avoid soggy chips, wait until you’re ready to eat before mixing everything together.
  • Customize the spice level – Adjust the cayenne and chili powder in the dressing to make it milder or spicier.
  • Swap out the protein – Ground turkey, shredded chicken, or even black beans alone work well if you want a different option.
  • Make it ahead, just not all together – Prep the components in advance but store them separately to keep everything crisp.
  • Add extra veggies – Bell peppers, red onion, or shredded carrots can bulk it up and add color.
  • Try different Doritos flavors – Cool Ranch or Spicy Sweet Chili bring a new twist if you’re not set on the nacho cheese classic.
Use taco meat and Doritos to make this salad over the top good.

Other Delicious Salad Recipes

A bowl of food on a plate, with Salad and Taco
4.50 from 6 votes

Dorito Taco Salad

Dorito Taco Salad – a fresh a delicious salad loaded with seasoned ground beef, beans, cheese, tomatoes, avocado, plenty of crushed Dorito tortilla chips and tossed in a creamy homemade dressing.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients 

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • 1 cup corn kernels
  • 15 oz beans (kidney, pinto, black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup diced tomato
  • 1 avocado, diced
  • 1/2 cup sliced black olives
  • 1 head iceberg lettuce, chopped
  • 10 oz Nacho Cheese Doritos, slightly crushed

Dressing

Instructions 

  • In a large skillet brown ground beef until fully cooked. Drain any fat. Add taco seasoning and water called for on the packet. Mix and simmer until liquid is absorbed.
    1 pound ground beef, 1 packet taco seasoning
  • To make the dressing mix together ranch dressing, salsa, mayo, chili powder, cumin and cayenne pepper. Mix until smooth and well combined. Store in fridge until ready to use.
    1/2 cup ranch dressing, 1/4 cup salsa, 2 Tablespoon mayo, 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • In a large bowl mix together lettuce, corn, beans, cheese, tomato , avocado, and black olives.
    1 cup corn kernels, 15 oz beans (kidney, pinto, black beans, 1 cup cheddar cheese, 1 cup diced tomato, 1 avocado, 1 head iceberg lettuce, 1/2 cup sliced black olives
  • Top with taco meat and Doritos.
    10 oz Nacho Cheese Doritos
  • Pour dressing over the salad and toss until everything is well combined.
  • Serve immediately.

Notes

Toss and add dressing right before serving or the Doritos will get soggy.

Nutrition

Calories: 885kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 60g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 35g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 140mg | Sodium: 1645mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 14g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Author: Erin Sellin
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Course: Dinner Recipes
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Calories: 885
Like this recipe? Leave a comment below!

I created a fun group on Facebook,and I would love for you to join us! It’s a place where you can share YOUR favorite recipes, ask questions, and see what’s new at Dinners, Dishes and Desserts (so that you never miss a new recipe)!

Be sure to follow me on Instagram and tag #dinnersdishes so I can see all the wonderful DINNERS, DISHES, AND DESSERTS recipes YOU make!

Be sure to follow me on my social media, so you never miss a post!

Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram 

.

About Erin Sellin

Welcome to Dinners, Dishes, & Desserts where my love of food meets my busy life. My name is Erin and I’m a casual home cook who loves to feed people. On this blog, you’ll find hundreds of quick and easy recipes made mostly from scratch. My days are spent in the kitchen, creating new recipes to share with family and friends.

Other Recipes You Might Like:

4.50 from 6 votes (6 ratings without comment)

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

5 Comments