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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.
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..
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
- Cook the taco meat – Brown the ground beef in a skillet, then stir in taco seasoning and simmer until thickened.
- Mix the dressing – Combine ranch, salsa, mayo, and spices in a bowl until smooth and chill until ready to use.
- Prep the veggies & toppings – Chop the lettuce, dice the tomatoes and avocado, and get everything else measured and ready.
- Toss the salad base – In a large bowl, combine the lettuce, corn, beans, cheese, tomato, avocado, and olives.
- Add the meat & chips – Top the salad mixture with warm taco meat and a handful of crushed Doritos.
- Dress & combine – Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat everything evenly.
- Serve fresh – Enjoy right away while the chips are still crunchy and the meat is warm.
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.
Other Delicious Salad Recipes
- Chinese Chicken Salad
- Chicken Fajita Salad
- Caesar Pasta Salad
- Grilled Chicken Antipasto Salad
- Southwestern Cobb Salad
Dorito Taco Salad
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
- 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
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
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Love a flavorful salad with a jam packed crunch! This will be perfect for dinner tonight; looks delish!
I am loving the addition of the Doritos! So fun. 🙂
This taco salad looks so beautiful and vibrant! I gotta have this
I love how flavorful this is!! Can’t wait to make it again!
i loved your taco recipes & its a healthy one.