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Home Recipes Easy Dinner Recipes Dorito Taco Salad

Dorito Taco Salad

4.97 from 330 votes
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By: 180 Comments
Posted: 05/24/25

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The perfect salad for a potluck or party! This Dorito Taco Salad is always a hit anywhere I bring it and we’ve been serving it my entire life. It’s loaded with ground beef, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and Nacho Cheese Doritos for the perfect crunch!

A plated serving of Dorito taco salad in a black bowl, garnished with fresh cilantro, diced tomatoes, shredded cheddar cheese, and lime wedges. The bowl sits on a textured gray surface, with a larger serving bowl in the background, a bottle of taco sauce, and fresh ingredients scattered around, creating a vibrant and appetizing presentation.

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It’s not summer until you make a Dorito Taco Salad! It’s the ultimate summer salad recipe perfect for parties and backyard cookouts or you can easily eat this as your lunch or dinner. A salad with chips? Sign me up!

This Dorito taco salad recipe is originally my Mom’s so we know it’s delicious. Plus, whenever I bring it somewhere it’s always one of the first salads gone! It’s loaded with ground hamburger, shredded cheddar cheese, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, Catalina dressing and of course the Nacho Cheese Doritos!

If you try this and love it, you need to try our Dorito casserole, too!

why you’ll love this recipe

  • Anyone can make this Taco Salad recipe because it’s so easy!
  • This is the perfect salad to bring to a pot luck, maybe every pot luck.
  • This salad is packed with so much flavor in every single bite!

5 stars
So easy to make and everyone loves it!!

Gwyn
Dorito Taco Salad Supply Image

Ingredients for Taco Salad

  • Iceberg lettuce – There is just something about a classic, crisp iceberg lettuce. You could also use Romaine or mixed greens if you prefer.
  • Catalina dressing – This salad dressing can be subbed for Ranch or French Dressings.
  • Tomatoes – We love Roma tomatoes but you can dice any variety. Grape or cherry tomatoes are so easy to slice in half and toss into the bowl, too.
  • Onion – Diced red onion adds so much flavor to this salad!
  • Cheddar – Shredded cheddar is a favorite in our house and the kids love to help with the shredding!
  • Taco seasoning – Use your favorite store-bought package or try making homemade.
  • Hamburger – Easily substituted for ground chicken or ground turkey.
  • Nacho Cheese Doritos – Mix it up by using Cool Ranch Doritos or Taco flavored Doritos!

Variations

You can really make Doritos taco salad however you’d like with the ingredients in your pantry. If you’d rather use ground chicken or ground turkey instead of beef either is a great substitution.

Other great additions are drained black beans or kidney beans, corn, pico de gallo, guacamole, green onions, black olives, diced bell peppers and more!

They are always coming out with new Dorito flavors so switch out Nacho Cheese for Taco, Spicy Doritos, Cool Ranch or whatever you’d like.

How to Make a taco salad with doritos

  1. Brown the hamburger in a large skillet, then drain off the grease. Add taco seasoning and water, according to packet instructions.
  2. Mix beef together with lettuce, tomatoes, onion and cheddar cheese in large bowl. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
  3. When it is time to serve, mix in the Doritos and top with dressing!
A stainless steel pan filled with cooked ground beef sits on a textured grey surface. A wooden spoon rests in the pan, partially submerged in the beef. A small white bowl containing an orange-colored seasoning is placed nearby. Black and white striped kitchen towels are draped around the scene.
A stainless steel pan filled with cooked ground beef sits on a textured grey surface. A line of orange taco seasoning has been added on top of the beef, ready to be mixed in. A wooden spoon with seasoning residue rests nearby. Black and white striped kitchen towels are draped around the scene.
A glass bowl filled with taco salad ingredients sits on a textured grey surface. The bowl contains seasoned ground beef, diced tomatoes, chopped red onions, shredded cheddar cheese, and crisp iceberg lettuce, arranged in separate sections. In the background, a small bowl of Doritos and a bottle of red dressing are visible. Black and white striped kitchen towels are draped around the scene.
A glass bowl filled with Dorito taco salad sits on a textured grey surface. The salad is fully mixed, combining seasoned ground beef, chopped iceberg lettuce, diced tomatoes, red onions, shredded cheddar cheese, crushed Doritos, and dressing. A small bowl of Doritos and a bottle of red dressing are visible in the background. Black and white striped kitchen towels are draped around the scene.
A glass bowl filled with Dorito taco salad sits on a grey textured surface. The salad is topped with crushed Doritos on one side and drizzled with a red dressing on the other. The ingredients, including seasoned ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and cheese, are visible beneath the toppings. A black and white striped kitchen towel is placed nearby, with a few stray crumbs scattered around.
A glass bowl filled with freshly mixed Dorito taco salad sits on a grey textured surface. The salad consists of chopped lettuce, diced tomatoes, red onions, seasoned ground beef, shredded cheese, and crushed Doritos, all coated in a tangy dressing. The ingredients are well combined, with the crunchy chips and vegetables evenly distributed. A black and white striped kitchen towel rests beside the bowl, with a few crumbs scattered around.
A close-up of Dorito taco salad, highlighting crispy crushed Doritos, seasoned ground beef, shredded cheddar cheese, chopped lettuce, diced tomatoes, and fresh cilantro. The vibrant colors and textures of the ingredients create a visually appealing dish with a mix of crunch, freshness, and savory flavors.

How to Store Leftovers

Cover and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

If you are not going to enjoy this all at one time simply take out the amount you’d like, top with chips and dressing then store the rest of the salad in an airtight container in the fridge.

A large white bowl filled with Dorito taco salad, garnished with fresh cilantro, diced tomatoes, shredded cheddar cheese, and lime wedges. The salad contains crunchy Doritos, seasoned ground beef, and crisp lettuce. The bowl is placed on a rustic wooden board, surrounded by fresh ingredients like tomatoes, red onions, a bottle of taco sauce, and lime wedges. A black plate with a serving of the salad is also visible, along with decorative utensils and a textured napkin, creating a vibrant and inviting presentation.

Double up the batch to feed a crowd and you are all set. This flavor packed salad is bound to be a hit at every potluck and cookout this season!

Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!

 

Dorito Taco Salad Square Image
4.97 from 330 votes

Dorito Taco Salad Recipe

This is always a hit at any party or backyard party. It's loaded with ground beef, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and Nacho Cheese Doritos for the perfect crunch!
Prep:15 minutes
Cook:10 minutes
Total:25 minutes
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12

Ingredients

  • 1 head Iceberg Lettuce shredded
  • 1 bottle Catalina dressing 16 ounces
  • 2 tomatoes chopped
  • 1 onion chopped, if desired
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
  • 1 ½ pounds hamburger browned and grease drained off
  • 1 packet taco seasoning 3 Tablespoons if using homemade
  • 15.5 ounces bag Nacho Cheese Doritos crushed

Instructions

  • In a large skillet, brown hamburger and drain off grease. Add packet of taco seasoning and finish cooking according to packet's directions.
  • In a large bowl, mix the browned hamburger together with lettuce, tomatoes, onion and cheddar cheese in large bowl. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
  • Right before serving toss in dressing and mix in crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos.

Tips

  • If you’d like to make this ahead of time, simply layer the salad. First layer is the ground beef, then the tomatoes and onions form layer two. Sprinkle the lettuce on top of that and then the cheese. Leave off the Doritos and dressing until serving time. Toss to combine when ready to serve.
OPTIONAL ADD-INS
You can really make this however you’d like with the ingredients in your pantry. If you’d rather use chicken or turkey instead of beef it’s a great substitution.
Other great additions are beans, corn, pico de gallo, guacamole, green onions, black olives, peppers, fresh cilantro and more!
They are always coming out with new Dorito flavors so switch out Nacho Cheese for Taco or Spicy Doritos or whatever you’d like.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1, Calories: 615kcal (31%), Carbohydrates: 37g (12%), Protein: 23g (46%), Fat: 40g (62%), Saturated Fat: 15g (94%), Cholesterol: 81mg (27%), Sodium: 980mg (43%), Potassium: 404mg (12%), Fiber: 2g (8%), Sugar: 13g (14%), Vitamin A: 790IU (16%), Vitamin C: 4.8mg (6%), Calcium: 361mg (36%), Iron: 2mg (11%)
© Julie's Eats & Treats ®

We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box is calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.

how to serve taco salad

Fire up the grill and make this easy BBQ Chicken Marinade for amazing grilled chicken. Another great opion alongside Dorito taco salad is Instant Pot Crack Chicken.

Of course, you will need a great beverage batched up for your get togeher and a batch of Margaritas is perfectly refreshing!

More great recipes for your next cookout

  • Every cookout needs a classic Macaroni Salad and we’ve got a super simple one to put together.
  • If you are looking for a new dessert to try, this Strawberry Pie is sure to hit it out of the park!
  • Homemade Jalapeño Poppers are the best appetizer to keep everyone happy while they are waiting for supper.
  • A fun beverage for everyone to enjoy is a classic Arnold Palmer Tea. Make a batch in a pitcher so guests can self serve.

Meet Julie Evink

I'm here to help you win in the kitchen again! Life is Busy, Life is Crazy, but that doesn't mean you can't make your family dinner! Julie's goal is to provide you with easy, family, friendly recipes that use pantry staples. Dinnertime will be stress free again!

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Reader Interactions

4.97 from 330 votes (287 ratings without comment)

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  1. Gwyn says

    5 stars
    So easy to make and everyone loves it!!

    Reply

  2. Kim says

    Hello! I’m having a party with a mix of kids and adults, 27 in total. I’d like to make this as a 2nd side dish. Do you think the recipe as is would be enough or should I double it?

    Reply

    • Sarah Hill says

      If your friends and family are anything like mine, you’ll have to make more 😉 This recipe is for 12 servings so I would at least double it for your party!

      Reply