Dorito Taco Salad is one of my family’s favorite recipes I make! It’s made with seasoned ground beef, crisp iceberg lettuce, juicy tomatoes, red onion, cheddar cheese, crunchy Doritos, and Catalina dressing. I had never tried Catalina dressing on taco salad before, but after having it recommended to me, I finally gave it a try and was pleasantly surprised. I feel like the lightly sweet and tangy flavor pairs perfectly with the seasoned beef and crunchy Doritos!
One of my favorite things about this recipe is that everyone can build their own bowl. Setting out all the ingredients buffet-style lets each person customize their salad exactly how they like it and it prevents the crushed doritos from becoming soggy. I know with my kids there’s always going to be one who doesn’t want tomatoes or onions on theirs or maybe one who doesn’t want the dressing. So for everyone’s sake it’s just better to build your own bowl.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy weeknight dinner
- Perfect for feeding a family
- Everyone can customize their own bowl
- Great combination of crunchy, savory, and tangy flavors
- Leftovers store well since nothing is mixed together ahead of time
- It’s a great way to stretch ground beef
Ingredients
For the Taco Meat
- Ground Beef
- Chili Powder
- Ground Cumin
- Garlic powder
- Onion Powder
- Ground Black Pepper
- Oregano
- Paprika
- Salt
For Serving
- Iceberg Lettuce (chopped)
- Roma Tomatoes (chopped)
- Red Onion (diced)
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Doritos (crushed)
- Catalina Dressing
How to Make Dorito Taco Salad
Combine the Seasoning
Combine the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, oregano, paprika and salt in a bowl and mix well.
Brown the meat
Heat up a large skillet over medium heat. Crumble with a spatula, breaking it into small pieces. Let the ground beef cook for about 10 minutes or until all. the liquid evaporates and the beef begins to release it’s own fat. Once that happens add the seasoning mixture and stir well. Let cook for a minute or so. Then add a little water and mix well. Let cook for another minute then remove from heat.
Assemble
Make sure to have the lettuce, tomatoes, onion already chopped and in their individual bowls. Also make sure to have the Doritos crushed and the cheese and dressing out.
Let everyone customize their own bowl by adding their desired amount of each ingredient to their bowl. Then drizzle with the Catalina dressing, mix well and enjoy!
Tips
- Serve buffet-style so everyone can customize their salad.
- Keep the Doritos separate until serving to maintain their crunch.
- Catalina dressing adds a sweet and tangy flavor that works surprisingly well with the seasoned beef.
- Leftovers keep much better when the ingredients are stored separately.
Storage
Store the taco meat, vegetables, cheese, Doritos, and dressing separately in the refrigerator. Assemble individual portions when ready to eat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make Dorito taco salad ahead of time?
Yes! You can prepare the taco meat and chop the vegetables ahead of time. Store everything separately and assemble when ready to serve. It will taste just as delicious the next day!
What dressing goes on Dorito Taco Salad?
Catalina dressing is a classic choice. It adds a sweet and tangy flavor that complements the seasoned beef, fresh vegetables, and crunchy Doritos.
Can I use a different type of lettuce?
Absolutely. Romaine lettuce works well, but I used iceberg lettuce because I love the extra crunch it provides.
You May Also Like
If you enjoyed this Dorito Taco Salad, be sure to check out these other delicious recipes:
- Ensalada de Pollo Mexicana (Mexican Chicken Salad)
- Steak Gorditas
- Tostadas de Jaiba (Crab Tostadas)
- Bean Gorditas (Gorditas de Frijol)
- Beef Birria
- Creamy Jalapeño Dip
They’re all packed with flavor and perfect for sharing with family and friends!
Dorito Taco Salad
Dorito taco salad is an easy and fun meal the whole family will love!
Ingredients
For the Taco Meat
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 2 tbs chili powder
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp paprika
- 2 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup water
For Serving
- 2 heads iceberg lettuce chopped
- 3 roma tomatoes chopped
- 1/2 red onion diced
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Doritos crushed
- Catalina dressing
Instructions
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In a small bowl, combine the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, oregano, paprika, and salt.
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Heat a large skillet over medium heat.
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Add the ground beef and crumble it with a spatula, breaking it into small pieces.
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Cook until the liquid evaporates and the beef begins to release its own fat.
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Add the seasoning mixture and stir well. Cook for a couple minutes.
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Pour in the water and mix well.
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Cook for another minute, then remove from heat.
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Place the chopped lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, cheddar cheese, crushed Doritos, Catalina dressing, and taco meat into separate serving bowls.
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Let everyone build their own taco salad by adding their desired amount of each ingredient to a bowl.
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Drizzle with Catalina dressing and toss before eating.