Simple Doritos Taco Salad (Printable Version)
Crunchy Tex-Mex salad with seasoned beef, cheddar, black beans, corn and crushed Doritos—ready in 25 minutes.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 pound ground beef
→ Seasonings
02 - 1 ounce taco seasoning mix
03 - 1/4 cup water
→ Vegetables
04 - 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
05 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 1/2 cup red onion, diced
07 - 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
08 - 1 cup canned corn, drained
→ Cheese
09 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
→ Chips
10 - 2 cups Nacho Cheese Doritos, slightly crushed
→ Dressing
11 - 1/2 cup ranch dressing or Catalina dressing
# How To Make It:
01 - In a large skillet set over medium heat, cook ground beef until thoroughly browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Drain off any excess fat.
02 - Stir in taco seasoning and water. Allow to simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
03 - In a large salad bowl, add chopped romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, diced red onion, drained black beans, corn, and shredded cheddar cheese.
04 - Gently incorporate the slightly cooled taco beef into the salad mixture.
05 - Just before serving, incorporate the crushed Doritos and chosen dressing. Toss the salad gently to evenly combine. Serve immediately to retain chip crunch.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The Doritos add a nostalgic, irresistible crunch that feels like you're cheating in the best way possible.
- Everything comes together so fast, and leftovers (if any) are just as delightful for a midnight snack.
02 -
- If you wait too long before serving, the Doritos will lose their texture and sadly go limp.
- Switching to ground turkey or plant-based crumbles is a lifesaver when cooking for different diets—no one ever misses the beef.
03 -
- Don’t let the beef cook too dry—leaving some juiciness makes every bite more flavorful.
- Layering beef under veggies helps keep the chips extra crunchy until the very last bite.