Dorito Taco Salad
144 Comments
Posted: 03/18/23
Updated: 03/20/23
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
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!
Contents
show
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
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 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
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
Lisa says
We used to make this years ago when growing up. Except we layered it on our plates like nachos and mixed it up. Delicious
Julie says
Perfect! I’m glad you love it!
Sandy says
Taco salad is one of my faves!
Julie says
Ours too!
Anoy says
I would recommend low fat sour cream as substitute for dressing. Toss all base ingredients in the sour cream then toss in the doritos. Creamy and flavorful!
Julie says
Glad you enjoyed it!
Daniel says
Trick or treat.
Stephanie says
A friend of mine gave me this recipe when we lived in Alaska 25 years ago. Lol. My husband just requested it last night. The only other difference is we keep all the ingredients separate so the picky people can keep out what they don’t like. We also have Doritos AND Fritos. Just one big communal bowl for tossing and then putting in your bowl. So fabulous!!
Julie says
A taco salad bar, I like it! I’ll have to try mine with Fritos next time, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Beth says
I made this receipt for the first time but I didn’t add onions cause I don’t like onions and I didn’t add the chips either wasn’t feeling it but it tasted good also without the chips and onions
Julie says
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Kathryn says
Thank you, this was my first recipe in my file box at age 14. I’m now 60, I use taco seasoning packet and brown onions with the hamburger as well as adding green peppers. My adult child just requested this again, haven’t made it for several years, had to make sure my memory hadn’t failed me yet, so glad you put this on Pinterest!
Julie says
It’s definitely a classic recipe! I’m glad everyone can enjoy it over and over!
Karen S says
Question: Has anyone made this without meat? Wondering if I just add taco seasoning to all the other ingredients if it would be a good vegetarian dish?
Julie says
I haven’t tried that but I think it would be worth a try!
Julie W says
this is my go to for family gatherings. I substitute taco sauce for the salad dressing. I wash lettuus and put in pillow case after I spin dry it in the case and put in ice box. I brown meat and drain add seasoning . cool and put in zip lock bad in your ice box or cooler. I prep onions and grate cheese and put each in zip lock bags in ice box or cooler. I also add drained sliced black olives. just before serving I dump everything in the pillow case and mix well, add the taco sauce right into the pillow case mix until evenly coated then add the chips and dump serving bowl. It doesn’t get soggy as fast this way and its easy for traveling and storing in cooler and the mess is confined to the pillow case that can be washed and used again.
Julie says
I have never heard of using a pillow case to mix ingredients! I’m glad you enjoy this recipe, thanks for sharing!
Casper Jo says
In the first note, you mistakenly mentioned potatoes instead of tomatoes. You might want to correct that. I was a bit confused :).
Julie Evink says
Oh dear! Thank you so much for letting me know! 😊
Juanita watson says
I’m sure going to fix this. I love all kinds of tacos.
Julie says
I hope you enjoy it!
Mike says
Tastes great loved every bite I will make it again
Julie says
Awesome! I’m glad you loved it!
Gail McKelvey says
I make this frequently too, but my change is the dressing. Can’t do that orange stuff! My sister gave me the original dressing and it is about 1/2 and 1/2 Green Goddess and creamy onion. Although now I tend to use ranch instead. I also throw in drained pinto/black/red/whatever beans and I always add celery to everything thinking the more veggies the better and green pepper. After all, they come with fajitas! Throw some cream cheese on top and ready to go. So good. Thanks for mentioning this recipe again; you tend to forget some of these once in a while!
Julie says
I’m glad you enjoy it!
Kaitlyn says
I don’t use the onion and I add a can of ranch style beans and yum !!!!!
Julie says
Sounds delicious! Glad you enjoy it!
Bobi Beaton says
I am about to make it, adding taco seasoning, black beans and olives! 🙂 thanks for the recipe!
Julie says
Sounds fantastic! You’re welcome, hope you enjoy!
jan annette mead says
I make this same salad but add taco seasoning to the hamburger and a can of light red kidney beans.I also use Italian dressing instead of the Catalina.
Julie says
Sounds like a yummy twist!
Christine Gallenberger says
I love making this! I recommend using taco seasoning on the beef, its optional but worth it. I also cook the onions in this recipe with the beef because my picky eaters dont like raw onions. You can change up the doritos too but cheese is classic.
Julie says
So happy you enjoyed it!