The perfect Taco Salad for a potluck or party! This Doritos 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!
Dorito Taco Salad
So this is another one of those recipes from Mom. Ya know, the ones that you crave for and have to ask and beg to make it. Well, maybe not beg. She’s usually more than happy to make it for me. Best. Mom. Ever. This Dorito Taco Salad is always a staple for us every summer and I remember it growing up. Plus, whenever I bring it somewhere it’s always one of the first salads gone! It’s loaded with ground hamburger, cheddar cheese, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, Catalina dressing and of course the Nacho Cheese Doritos!
So we were going to the cabin the other weekend and I was like, “So, Mom want to make Taco Salad.” And then it happened. And I ate. And ate. And ate. I typically usually only have this one time a year due to the fact I can’t stop eating it and the husband not liking oh the majority of the ingredients. Although he did take several bites and didn’t die. Maybe there is hope yet for his finicky taste buds.
Taco Salad
Guess who else ate and ate and ate. Miss K! I couldn’t believe it. I gave her a bite thinking she’d to the wrinkle up your nose and grab it out of her mouth move, but it didn’t happen. She wanted more. I’m grooming her taste buds so some day she’ll be able to eat all this yummy stuff that her dad seems to dislike so very much. Got to have a partner in crime somewhere!
After learning that she liked lettuce I began to share more of it with her. Low and behold she’s now 6 years old and she’s grabbing the lettuce and Ranch dressing out of the fridge at every meal and having herself a salad.
Score!
I’m not sure if it’s just because she wants to eat the Ranch dressing or if she likes the lettuce too. Either way I’m still chalking this up as a Mom win and I love that she’s going out of the box!
Maybe someday she’ll be begging me to make certain dishes while we go to the cabin with her family….but for now I’m enjoying ever moment of her just learning how to be herself!
Taco Salad Recipe
Like I said before this is the perfect potluck, backyard BBQ, family get together recipe ever. It feeds a crowd and it’s typically a hit.
If you don’t want to feed a crowd and just want to eat it yourself, which I will not judge you for this! Make sure to skip adding the dressing and chips to the entire salad. Instead just mix the rest of the ingredients together and store in the refrigerator.
When you are ready to enjoy the salad take a portion out add the chips and dressing to the portion and stick the rest in the fridge.
I’ve actually been told of people meal prepping this for the week and putting it into smaller containers and eating it for lunch. I think I’ll be joining for lunch because that sounds like a fantastic idea!
Don’t mind me while I go meal prep for the rest of the week 😉
What goes in a Taco Salad?
- Head Lettuce
- Catalina dressing
- Tomatoes
- Onion
- Cheddar
- Hamburger
- Nacho Cheese Doritos
How do you make Dorito Taco Salad?
Anyone can make this Taco Salad recipe because it’s so easy! If you can brown hamburger you can make it since that’s the hardest part of the entire recipe.
Grab your skillet and brown the hamburger then drain off the grease.
Mix it together with lettuce, dressing, tomatoes, onion and cheddar cheese in large bowl. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
When you are ready to serve it mix in the Doritos!
More Summer Salad Recipes
- Crab Pasta Salad
- Cashew Chicken Rotini Salad
- Bruschetta Caprese Pasta Salad
- Chicken and Berry Pesto Salad
- Easy Tex Mex Pasta Salad
WATCH THE STEP BY STEP VIDEO FOR THIS DORITO TACO SALAD RECIPE BELOW:
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Which is your favorite? Be sure to comment below, I definitely want to hear from you!!! Are you like me and snap photos of everything you eat? Be sure to tag me on Instagram @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats that way I’m sure to see your pictures!!
Dorito Taco Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Head Lettuce shredded
- 16 oz bottle Catalina dressing
- 2 tomatoes chopped
- 1 onion chopped, if desired
- 2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 1/2 lbs hamburger browned and greased rained
- 15.5 oz bag Nacho Cheese Doritos crushed
Instructions
- Brown hamburger and drain off grease.
- Mix it together with lettuce, dressing, tomatoes, onion and cheddar cheese in large bowl. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Right before serving mix in Doritos.
arlene anaraki says
November 16, 2018 at 6:55 pmI use this exact recipe except with a taco seasoning packet with the ground beef and please try it with a drained canned of red kidney beans. I have sometimes added avocado and/or sliced black olives.
I always make a full recipe. The lettuce and Doritos do get soggy after a day but I just add a little more Catalina dressing and eat it happily for a few days.
Back in the 70’s there were only the Taco flavored Doritos but any flavor is good with this salad–I’ve even used plain chips. Everyone loves this salad!
Julie Evink says
November 16, 2018 at 8:37 pmI’ll have to give that a whirl! I also add more Catalina to leftovers 😉 I never knew there were only Taco flavored Doritos in the 70’s! Those are still some of my faves!
arlene anaraki says
November 16, 2018 at 6:59 pmSorry, I meant, “…can or red kidney beans.”
Laverne says
January 29, 2019 at 5:27 pmAh, Julie – I made half a recipe for myself and ate the whole thing!! So easy, so quick, so GOOD!! Perfect for a single…. Thanks, Laverne Smith xoxo
Julie Evink says
February 1, 2019 at 11:37 amSo glad you enjoyed it!! I LOVE this salad!
Rebecca says
February 16, 2019 at 4:07 pmWe used the beans and taco seasoning, as well, and Thousand Island instead of the Catalina. I like the idea of making the salad into individual portions, and adding the meat and dressing at each lunch time. It’s a meal I could gladly eat every day!
Julie Evink says
February 18, 2019 at 9:15 pmGreat additions!
Rhonda Todd says
May 3, 2019 at 1:49 pmI make this but don’t use hamburger instead, I use 2 cans pinto beans drained as well as 2 cans of whole kernel corn drained. I mix the beans, corn, onions, and Catalina dressing and marinate overnight. When ready to serve I add the lettuce, tomato, and toss. Chips are added immediately prior to serving. This makes a big salad good for picnics and potlucks.
Julie Evink says
May 5, 2019 at 9:14 pmGreat way to mix it up!
Karen says
May 3, 2019 at 8:36 pmNummy
Julie Evink says
May 5, 2019 at 9:14 pmSo good!