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If you love easy and classic salads, then you have to make my Doritos Taco Salad. Filled with your favorite taco ingredients and perfect for a crowd, this recipe is absolutely delicious.

I love salad recipes of multiple different types, pasta, lettuce, fruit, dessert, etc. They are a staple recipe that I bring to a lot of gatherings all year long, and believe me when I say this Doritos Taco Salad hits the spot every time.
This is one of my all-year-long salads. Everyone flocks to this dish and it’s always one that someone brings to a gathering.
This is also a recipe that we love to make at home just to eat on our own as a main dish or a side to another Mexican-style meal.
My whole family loves this delicious taco salad. It’s such a great way to bring everyone together. Such an easy recipe for any Taco Tuesday!
What I love most about this is that it is done in no time. Quick recipes are some of my favorites, and if they taste amazing, even better, and that is exactly what this recipe is!
You can make this recipe as spicy or as mild as you’d like by changing the salsa to your favorite flavor. We also use our own seasoning alongside taco seasoning for the meat to have even more flavor in our Doritos Taco Salad.
Some of my other favorite salad recipes that we have on our site include: Broccoli Pasta Salad, Cheddar Bacon Ranch Potato Salad and Tropical Cheesecake Salad.

Jump to:
- WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
- INGREDIENTS NEEDED (SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR THE FULL RECIPE CARD):
- HOW TO MAKE DORITOS TACO SALAD:
- FAQ: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS RECIPE:
- WHAT KIND OF DORITOS SHOULD I USE?
- I DON’T LIKE BLACK BEANS, WHAT CAN I SUBSTITUTE?
- CAN I USE OTHER MEATS?
- ANY ADDITIONS?
- ANY SUBSTITUTIONS?
- HOW TO STORE:
- DANA’S TIPS AND TRICKS:
- Dorito Taco Salad
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
- This can easily be doubled to serve a larger crowd.
- You can find all the ingredients at your local grocery store.
- Mix up the ingredients to your liking.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED (SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR THE FULL RECIPE CARD):
- Lean ground beef
- Taco seasoning
- Garlic powder
- Ground cumin
- Onion powder
- Water
- Salsa
- Romaine hearts
- Doritos
- Colby Jack cheese
- Black beans
- Grape tomatoes
- Scallions
- Black olives
- Catalina dressing, for serving
- Sour cream, for garnish, optional
- Cilantro, for garnish, optional

HOW TO MAKE DORITOS TACO SALAD:
- In a large skillet over medium high heat, brown the ground beef, breaking it up into crumbles, 8-10 minutes.
- Add the taco seasoning, garlic powder, and onion powder, stir until the seasoning is coating the meat and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add the water and salsa, stir it in and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- While you are cooking the ground beef, prepare the rest of your ingredients.
- In a large bowl, add the romaine, crushed Doritos, cheese, black beans, tomatoes, scallions, black olives, and the meat mixture.
- Pour the Catalina dressing on top and toss the salad to combine everything.
- Add more dressing if needed to your preference. Garnish with sour cream and fresh chopped cilantro.

FAQ: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS RECIPE:
WHAT KIND OF DORITOS SHOULD I USE?
We like to use Nacho Cheese Doritos for this recipe, but you can use any of your favorite flavors of Doritos, and it should taste just fine!
You can also use tortilla chips in a pinch.
I DON’T LIKE BLACK BEANS, WHAT CAN I SUBSTITUTE?
If you are not a fan of black beans some good substitutes include red kidney beans or pinto beans, or you can omit them altogether if you are just not a bean lover.
CAN I USE OTHER MEATS?
Yes! We regularly use what we have on hand and that includes ground beef, ground chicken, or ground turkey and they all taste great.
So use your favorite ground meat for this recipe, it shouldn’t change the flavor too much.

ANY ADDITIONS?
You bet! There are tons of your favorite taco toppings you can mix into this easy taco salad recipe for extra flavor:
- Red bell pepper or green peppers for color and crunch
- Ranch-style beans to boost that savory flavor
- Red onion or white onion in small pieces for a zesty bite
- Corn kernels and cherry tomatoes for sweet, juicy contrast
- Avocado slices for creamy texture. Great on a hot summer day
- Jalapeños if you love taco flavors with a kick
- Extra romaine lettuce or head of iceberg lettuce for crunch
- Crispy bacon bits. A surprising crowd favorite
- A squeeze of lime to brighten everything up
- Cucumbers or other fresh veggies for a veggie-packed salad
Whether you’re making a Dorito taco salad recipe or a traditional taco salad, these tasty extras take it from a side dish to the perfect meal. Just toss your beef mixture, shredded cheese, and salad dressing (like French, Ranch, or Catalina) over a bed of lettuce and serve in an airtight container if prepping ahead!
ANY SUBSTITUTIONS?
Let me know in the comments how these go for you. I love hearing about it!
- Ground turkey or chicken: For a healthier option, substituting lean ground beef with ground turkey or chicken can lighten the dish while maintaining delicious taco flavor.
- Greek yogurt: Substituting sour cream with Greek yogurt introduces a healthier, tangier garnish, ideal for those looking for organic food options.
- Cool Ranch Doritos: For a variation in flavor, Cool Ranch Doritos can replace nacho cheese Doritos chips, offering a new twist on the easy taco salad.
- Spinach or mixed greens: Using spinach or a blend of mixed greens instead of romaine hearts offers a nutritious twist and caters to those preferring organic food.
- Kidney beans or chili beans: Swapping black beans for kidney or chili beans adds variety and caters to different palates, making it a perfect recipe for taco Tuesday or any busy weeknight.
HOW TO STORE:
REFRIGERATOR: This can be stored in the refrigerator where it will last for up to 2 days, the chips will get a little soggy but it still tastes great.
FREEZER: I do not suggest freezing.
DANA’S TIPS AND TRICKS:
- Use your favorite Doritos flavor, we use nacho cheese.
- Tortilla chips can be used in a pinch.
- Swap out any of the ingredients you do not like.
- Double this recipe to serve more people.
- You can use other meats, see my tips above.
- If you use ground beef use a leaner one, at least 85/15.
- Iceberg lettuce can be substituted for romaine.

Love a good salad recipe that works all year long and that no one will turn down? Then you need to make this Doritos Taco Salad ASAP!
If you like this recipe, you might also like:
If you’ve tried this DORITOS TACO SALAD, let me know in the comments how it turned out! You can follow me over on PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK to find some more of our mouthwatering recipes!
Dorito Taco Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 ounce packet taco seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup salsa
- 3 romaine hearts chopped into small pieces
- 2 cups crushed nacho cheese Doritos
- 1 ½ cups shredded Colby Jack cheese
- 15 ounce can black beans drained and rinsed
- 1 pint grape tomatoes cut in half
- 3 scallions thinly sliced
- ¼ cup sliced black olives
- 1 ½ cups Catalina dressing for serving
- sour cream for garnish, optional
- fresh chopped cilantro for garnish, optional
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium high heat, brown the ground beef, breaking it up into crumbles, 8-10 minutes.1 pound lean ground beef
- Add the taco seasoning, garlic powder, cumin, and onion powder, stir until the seasoning is coating the meat and cook for 30 seconds.1 ounce packet taco seasoning, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Add the water and salsa, stir it in and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.½ cup water, ¼ cup salsa
- While you are cooking the ground beef, prepare the rest of your ingredients.
- In a large bowl, add the romaine, crushed Doritos, cheese, black beans, tomatoes, scallions, black olives, and the meat mixture.3 romaine hearts, 2 cups crushed nacho cheese Doritos, 1 ½ cups shredded Colby Jack cheese, 15 ounce can black beans, 1 pint grape tomatoes, 3 scallions, ¼ cup sliced black olives
- Pour the Catalina dressing on top and toss the salad to combine everything.1 ½ cups Catalina dressing
- Add more dressing if needed to your preference. Garnish with sour cream and fresh chopped cilantro.sour cream, fresh chopped cilantro
Notes
- Use your favorite Doritos flavor, we use nacho cheese.
- Tortilla chips can be used in a pinch.
- Swap out any of the ingredients you do not like.
- Double this recipe to serve more people.
- You can use other meats, see my tips above.
- If you use ground beef use a leaner one, at least 85/15.
- Iceberg lettuce can be substituted for romaine.
Nutrition
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