Dorito Taco Salad
127 Comments
Posted: 02/20/20
Updated: 06/23/22
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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!
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!
Ingredients Needed
- 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!
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.
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 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.
- 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!
Expert 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.
Ideas to Serve with your Taco Salad!
- 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!
WATCH THE STEP BY STEP VIDEO FOR THIS RECIPE BELOW:
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Dorito Taco Salad
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!
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 grease drained off
- 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.
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
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%)
Originally Publish January 25, 2018
Gretchen says
Love this salad… for added punch and more protein I add taco seasoning to my meat and a can of ranch style beans to the salad.
Julie says
That sounds like a great addition! So glad you loved it!
Sarah Enos says
Would this serve a group of 15 people or should I double it? Thanks?
Julie says
It makes a pretty decent sized salad but if this is going to be the only side for the meal for 15, I would maybe double it.
Rebecca Driskill says
We LOVE this taco salad! I used taco seasoning, and added canned black beans and corn.
Julie Evink says
Great additions Rebecca! Thanks for coming back to comment and rate the recipe!
Gerald says
I have not tried this yet, but I would never put oinons in it because that is all you will taste
Gloria says
Love the amount slider will certainly try this salad.
Julie Evink says
It’s a handy little button, unfortunately overlooked quite frequently 🙂 Enjoy!
Jessica says
You don’t use taco seasoning??
Julie Evink says
I don’t, but you surely could!
Sandy says
I like it lots better with taco seasoning!
Julie says
That would definitely spice it up! Sounds delicious!
Carol says
I don’t c any measurements like cups etc. help please
Julie Evink says
Scroll down further to the recipe card and it’s all listed there. Please let me know if that’s not showing up for you?
carol aiken says
substitute salsa sauce for dressing and also serve with sour cream
Julie Evink says
A great option to change things up Carol!
Karen says
Nummy
Julie Evink says
So good!
Rhonda Todd says
I 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
Great way to mix it up!
Rebecca says
We 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
Great additions!
Laverne says
Ah, 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
So glad you enjoyed it!! I LOVE this salad!
arlene anaraki says
Sorry, I meant, “…can or red kidney beans.”
arlene anaraki says
I 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
I’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!
lisa weyers says
Taco Doritos are back in some stores. And if you can find Dorothy Lynch dressing, OH AMAZING!! Black beans are also a great add.
Julie Evink says
Oooo I’ve never tried it with that dressing I need too!
Laverne says
I made half the recipe and the two of us loved every single bite. Thanks for a great recipe!!
Julie Evink says
So glad you enjoyed it! It’s one of my faves!