Easy Doritos Taco Salad Recipe
Introduction
This Easy Doritos Taco Salad is a flavorful, crunchy, and satisfying dish perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a casual gathering. Combining seasoned ground beef, fresh vegetables, and zesty dressing with the iconic crunch of Doritos, it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2-3 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning or a packet of taco seasoning
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 large head of iceberg or romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped black olives
- 1 cup halved grape or cherry tomatoes
- 1 can (15.25 ounces) corn, drained
- 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
- 2 cups crushed nacho cheese Doritos
Instructions
- Step 1: In a mason jar or small bowl, combine red wine vinegar, olive oil, ketchup, honey, Worcestershire Sauce, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder. Shake or whisk well to blend. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
- Step 2: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the ground beef until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain any excess grease.
- Step 3: Stir in the taco seasoning and water. Simmer the mixture for 5 to 7 minutes until thickened and flavorful. Remove from heat and let cool for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Step 4: In a large salad bowl, place the chopped lettuce as the base. Layer with green bell pepper, black olives, tomatoes, corn, black beans, shredded cheese, and the cooled seasoned beef.
- Step 5: Just before serving, add the crushed Doritos and the prepared dressing. Toss gently to combine and serve immediately to keep the chips crunchy.
Tips & Variations
- Use ground turkey for a leaner option or add diced avocado for extra creaminess.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the meat and add extra beans or cooked quinoa.
- Add a squeeze of fresh lime juice to the dressing for a bright, tangy twist.
- To keep the salad crisp longer, keep the Doritos and dressing separate until serving.
Storage
Store leftover salad (without Doritos and dressing) in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Keep the dressing and crushed Doritos separate and only add them when ready to serve. Reheat the beef mixture if desired before tossing with the salad, but avoid reheating the entire salad to maintain freshness and crunch.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I make this salad ahead of time?
You can prepare the seasoned beef and dressing ahead and store them separately. Chop the vegetables in advance, but combine everything just before serving to keep the salad fresh and the Doritos crunchy.
What can I use if I don’t have Doritos?
If you don’t have Doritos, substitute with any crunchy tortilla chips or even crushed pita chips for a similar texture and flavor.
Print
Easy Doritos Taco Salad Recipe
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
This Easy Doritos Taco Salad is a vibrant, flavorful dish combining seasoned ground beef, fresh vegetables, shredded cheese, and crunchy nacho cheese Doritos, all tossed with a tangy homemade dressing. Perfect for a quick, satisfying meal or a party crowd-pleaser, this taco salad offers a delightful mix of textures and bold southwest flavors in just 35 minutes.
Ingredients
Dressing
- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2–3 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Salad
- 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
- 3 tablespoons taco seasoning or 1 packet taco seasoning
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 large head iceberg lettuce or romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped black olives
- 1 cup halved grape or cherry tomatoes
- 1 can (15.25 ounces) corn, drained
- 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese or Monterey Jack cheese
- 2 cups crushed nacho cheese Doritos
Instructions
- Prepare Dressing: In a mason jar, combine red wine vinegar, olive oil, ketchup, honey, Worcestershire Sauce, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder. Shake vigorously to mix all ingredients well. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use, allowing flavors to meld.
- Cook Meat: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spatula as it cooks. Drain excess grease from the skillet. Stir in taco seasoning and water, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 5-7 minutes to develop flavor. Remove from heat and let cool for 10-15 minutes before assembling salad.
- Assemble Salad: In a large bowl, place chopped iceberg or romaine lettuce as the base. Layer on chopped green bell pepper, black olives, halved tomatoes, drained corn, rinsed black beans, shredded cheese, and the cooled, seasoned cooked beef.
- Add Doritos and Dressing: Just before serving, sprinkle crushed nacho cheese Doritos over the top and drizzle with the desired amount of dressing. Toss gently to combine so the Doritos maintain some crunch and all ingredients are coated with dressing.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey for beef to lighten the dish.
- For added freshness, consider tossing in sliced avocado or fresh cilantro.
- Use your favorite type of cheese or a blend for different flavor profiles.
- If you prefer less sweetness, reduce the honey in the dressing.
- The Doritos should be added last to preserve their crunchiness.
- Prepare the dressing a day ahead to enhance the flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Doritos taco salad, taco salad, easy taco salad, ground beef salad, Tex-Mex salad, crunchy taco salad, quick dinner salad
