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!
It’s not summer until you make a Dorito Taco Salad! It’s the ultimate summer salad recipe perfect for parties, backyard cookouts or you can easily eat this as your dinner or lunch. A salad with chips? Sign me up!
This salad 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, 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!
Ingredients for Taco Salad
- Iceberg Lettuce – You could also use Romaine or mixed greens if you prefer.
- Catalina dressing – This could be subbed for Ranch or French Dressings.
- Tomatoes
- Onion
- Cheddar
- Hamburger – Easily substituted for ground chicken or turkey.
- Nacho Cheese Doritos – Mix it up by using Cool Ranch or Taco flavored Doritos!
Variations
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.
Trying making the protein with a packet of taco seasoning for an extra kick.
Other great additions are beans, corn, pico de gallo, gaucamole, green onions, black olives, peppers 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.
How to 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.
- Brown Hamburger – Grab your skillet and brown the hamburger then drain off the grease.
- Mix Ingredients – Mix it together with lettuce, dressing, tomatoes, onion and cheddar cheese in large bowl. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Serve – When you are ready to serve it mix in the Doritos and top with dressing!
Can I make this ahead of time?
They key to making this easy Taco salad ahead of time is to layer it and then toss before serving. Layering it keeps the ingredients from becoming soggy.
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 until serving time. When it’s time to serve mix in chips and dressing and then toss to combine.
Do not add the salad dressing until you toss it before serving.
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.
Pro Tips!
- Not a fan of Catalina dressing? Use Ranch, French or any other dressing you’d love.
- Iceberg is the classic lettuce used in this salad, but you can use romaine or mixed greens too.
- Top with your favorite Taco toppings like diced avocado, fresh cilantro etc.
Servings Suggestions
- Fire up the grill and make this easy BBQ Chicken Marinade for amazing grilled chicken!
- It’s not a party until you serve Instant Pot Crack Chicken along this delicious salad.
- Mix up a big batch of Margaritas to serve!
MORE RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE!
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
Ingredients
- 1 head Iceberg Lettuce shredded
- 16 ounces bottle Catalina dressing
- 2 tomatoes chopped
- 1 onion chopped, if desired
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 ½ pounds hamburger browned and grease drained off
- 15.5 ounces bag Nacho Cheese Doritos crushed
Instructions
- In a large skillet brown hamburger and drain off grease.
- 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 add 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 until serving time. When it’s time to serve mix in chips and dressing and then toss to combine.
- Not a fan of Catalina dressing? Use Ranch, French or any other dressing you’d love.
- 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.
- Iceberg is the classic lettuce used in this salad, but you can use romaine or mixed greens too.
- Top with your favorite Taco toppings like diced avocado, fresh cilantro etc.
Video
Nutrition Information
Originally Publish January 25, 2018
Judy says
This is the recipe I was remembering growing up with, minus one thing… it’s taco salad, so it needs the burger to have taco seasoning! The Doritos alone does not do it. My suggestion is for everyone to just get their favorite taco seasoning packet and brown the meat with that. Everything else will start the same.
Kelli says
I make this but I add kidney beans and olives. No onions
Courtney says
Great additions!
Cathy says
Just found your site. Love your recipes! They sound delicious cannot wait to make some of them.
Tonya M. says
Have been thinking about this salad for quite some time. I ran across your pinterest page and had to cook the Doritos Taco Salad recipe and cooked it right away. It was just how I remembered it, and better.
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Donna Bredrick says
Easy, very very tasty!
Courtney says
So glad you loved it! Thanks for the comment & positive rating.
Donna Bredrick says
Easy, &delicious
Donna W says
How much dressing do you use? I’m planning to use ranch. I’m going to make this today for lobster fest on the beach. I think it’s going to be a great side dish!
Julie Evink says
It’s really a personal preference! Just dump until you like it!
Carrie Ryappy says
I have always used Mayonnaise and salsa mixed as my dressing,
NOT Miracle Whip. Original recipe from high boyfriend”s”s Mother. I start with 1 cup of mayonnaise and 2/3 C. salsa and adjust as needed. I use mild but you can do whatever your people can handle.
Jean Blakney says
I make a salad just like this only I use Dorito Taco chips and Italian dressing (actually an dressing ie Ranch, French, Thousand Island) all taste good with this salad!
Julie Evink says
So many options for this one to mix it up!! Great ideas!