Description
Doritos Taco Salad is a flavorful and crunchy main course salad combining seasoned ground beef, fresh vegetables, black beans, corn, shredded cheddar cheese, and a zesty Catalina dressing, all tossed together and topped with crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos for an irresistible crunch. This easy-to-make American classic is perfect for quick dinners or party gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning or 2 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning
- 1/3 cup water
Salad
- 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup canned corn, drained
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup diced red onion
Dressing and Toppings
- 1 cup Catalina dressing or French dressing
- 3 cups Nacho Cheese Doritos, lightly crushed
- 1/2 cup sour cream (optional)
- 1/4 cup sliced black olives (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned and fully cooked, breaking it apart with a spoon, about 6 to 8 minutes. Drain excess grease from the skillet.
- Season the beef: Stir in the taco seasoning and water into the beef. Simmer the mixture for 3 to 4 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat and let the beef cool slightly.
- Prepare the salad base: In a large serving bowl, combine the chopped romaine lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, drained black beans, drained corn, shredded cheddar cheese, and diced red onion.
- Combine beef and salad: Add the seasoned beef to the bowl and gently toss all ingredients together to combine thoroughly.
- Add dressing: Pour the Catalina or French dressing over the salad mixture and toss until the salad is evenly coated with dressing.
- Fold in chips: Just before serving, carefully fold in the lightly crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos to maintain their crisp texture.
- Optional toppings and serve: Top the salad with sour cream and sliced black olives, if desired. Serve immediately for the best freshness and crunch.
Notes
- For extra flavor, add diced avocado or fresh cilantro as toppings.
- To make ahead, prepare all components separately and combine just before serving to prevent sogginess of the chips.
- You can substitute ground turkey or ground chicken for a lighter meat option.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free chips instead of Doritos.
