Dorito Taco Salad
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!
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!
So easy to make and everyone loves it!!
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
- Brown the hamburger in a large skillet, then drain off the grease. Add taco seasoning and water, according to packet instructions.
- Mix beef together with lettuce, tomatoes, onion and cheddar cheese in large bowl. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- When it is time to serve, mix in the Doritos and top with dressing!
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.
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 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!
Video
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.
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%)
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.
Moffett says
So Good! I left the dressing off. So if you didn’t care for Catalina, you can use your favorite. Excellent recipe. Thank you for sharing❤️
Julie Evink says
So glad you could adjust it to your preferences!! Thanks so much for commenting and rating this recipe!
Bobbi says
We always put a can of ranch style beans in ours, but I understand they’re only available in certain regions. I think you can buy them on Amazon, though. You really should try it! This salad is not nearly as good without them.
Julie Evink says
Yum that sounds great!
Paula says
I added avocado and substitute green goddess dressing which gives the salad a creamier textured with a flavor similar to sour cream, and provided salsa for those to top off their salad.
Julie Evink says
Sounds delicious Paula! Thanks for rating and commenting on the recipe!
Macrina lopez says
Great salad
Julie Evink says
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
MARCIA JANTZ says
I’ve made this salad for years, for the dressing we like 1000 Island and add a tsp of sugar and taco seasoning to the 1000… very good! Now I’m hungry for this! 🙂
MARCIA JANTZ says
Add about half the taco seasoning pack to the 1000…..
MARCIA JANTZ says
Also I put about a 1/2 a packet of taco seasoning to the hamburger meat….
Julie Evink says
Sounds like a delicious twist!
Jen says
Love this recipe. We use spicy taco seasoning in the meat and the spicy red Doritos. Also love it with the cool ranch Doritos. Easy to switch out different ingredients and quick to make. Love seeing other comments about making half then storing the rest to keep from getting soggy. Wonderful suggestion!
Julie Evink says
Love all these variations!!
Kathi Imjo says
I have made this salad for years. Love it as my family does.
Julie Evink says
It’s a favorite of ours too Kathi!
Marie Murphy says
I have made this recipe for years but usually leave out the hamburger and add kidney beans.
Julie Evink says
A great option!
AngieinSC says
I love this recipe! I do leave out the onions but I use everything else and I add black olives and set out salsa and sour cream. It is yummy!! I do however only mix half if it’s for supper. Then mix it in a bowl if they want more. Leftovers are all stored in zip top bags. That keeps it all fresh. Thanks for sharing the recipe with us!!!
Julie Evink says
Great storage idea! Glad you enjoyed it!
Paula says
What about warming it after? Don’t want warm lettuce. I should have kept it separate.
Michelle Sperr says
Lettuce wouldn’t reheat very well, you’re correct Paula! We often eat it cold and straight outta the fridge!
Synlover Too says
I first made this salad over 30 yrs ago for a grad school potluck – before the days of flavored Doritos. WAIT – Am I giving my age away ? LOL
I used taco seasoning & Creamy Cucumber salad dressing & it was a huge hit. Haven’t made it for a very long time – but seeing your post has awoken a craving for some, so I’ll have to grab some Doritos when I go to the store Sun morning (to stock up on reduced price Halloween candy for upcoming baking).
Julie says
Hope you enjoy it!
Nancy Adams says
I’ve been making this for over 40 years and it is always a huge hit. The only difference is that I like it more like tacos than a salad, so I serve it with salsa and sour cream on the side. Sometime I will also have Catalina dressing on the side. You just can’t go wrong with a classis recipe like this!
Michelle Sperr says
What a great idea to serve it with salsa and sour cream on the side! Glad you enjoy this recipe Nancy!
Raelene Ross Ramirez says
I’ve made this salad for over 25 plus years and it is my favorite! I use red onion and add black olives. The icing on the cake is to also add a can of Ranch Style Beans. The flavor is over the top,
Julie says
Interesting! I might have a to try that!
Cynthia Huberdault says
We use Taco seasoning mix and I use cherry or grape tomatoes whole so it won’t get soggy. In a pinch just for me I’ve used salsa, lettuce and whatever meat I have left over beside Doritos and dressing.
Julie says
Taco seasoning is a great addition, glad to hear you love it!
Juniper says
We mix the Catalina with sour cream about 1/2 and 1/2. Or just put a couple dollops of sour cream on the top and whoever wants it can take it and then of course there is more sour cream in another small bowl. We also put taco seasoning in it..the salad ,… Extra toppings like guac, extra shredded cheese, diced onions, chives., Dish of black beans, bowl of refried beans. Then everyone can add what they want. .. So good !!
Julie says
Sounds great! Glad you enjoy this one!
Cindy says
My mom used to make this all the time when I was growing up and now I make it all the time. The only things I do differently is use taco seasoning on my meat and use Italian dressing instead. It’s a quick, easy dish, and one of my favorites!
Julie says
It’s such a classic dish! I’m so glad you enjoy it!
Dawn says
We used to make this all the time except we added kidney beans to it and it was delicious
Julie says
Sounds like a great addition!
Kurt says
My mom’s taco salad is totally different.
Ham , block of cheese , pinto beans , tomatoes, lettuces
corn chips and ott’s dressing.
Dice ham ,cheese , tomatoes and lettuce into cubes bite size. Grab a bowl and add chips then throw in everything on top. Top it off with the ott’s dressing.