Simple Doritos Taco Salad (Printable)
Crunchy taco salad with seasoned beef, cheddar, beans, corn and crushed Doritos—ready in 25 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 pound ground beef
→ Seasonings
02 - 1 ounce taco seasoning packet
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
# Steps:
01 - In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef until well browned, breaking the meat into crumbles with a wooden spoon. Drain any excess fat once fully cooked.
02 - Stir in taco seasoning packet and 1/4 cup water. Reduce heat and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture thickens. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.
03 - In a large salad bowl, combine chopped romaine lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, diced red onion, black beans, corn, and shredded cheddar cheese.
04 - Spoon the slightly cooled taco beef over the salad base.
05 - Just before serving, add the crushed Doritos and your chosen dressing. Gently toss the salad until all ingredients are evenly distributed.
06 - Serve the salad right away while the Doritos retain their crunch.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- You get all the excitement of tacos with zero need for tortillas.
- I promise—this has gotten more genuine smiles from picky eaters than almost anything else I’ve served.
02 -
- If you add the Doritos too soon, they’ll go limp—wait until the very last moment.
- Letting the beef cool for just a couple of minutes helps keep the lettuce crisp.
03 -
- Crush Doritos with your hands just before tossing—you get better texture than smashing them in the bag.
- Taste before serving and add a pinch of salt or extra seasoning if needed; the beans and corn mellow out the beef’s kick.