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If you love a great taco salad but want one that’s loaded with flavor, crunch, and a little nostalgia, this Dorito Taco Salad is calling your name! It’s the perfect mix of bold, zesty, and fresh, with all the best toppings and a dressing that ties it all together. Plus, I’ve got all the tips and tricks to keep it fresh, crisp, and absolutely irresistible—no soggy salads here!
Deliciously Nostalgic Dorito Salad
This salad has been a hit at countless potlucks, church suppers, tailgates, and anytime my family needs a Taco Tuesday upgrade. No matter when I serve it, it always goes first! This Dorito Taco Salad is the one everyone scoops onto their plate, and by the time you go back for seconds—poof, it’s gone! It’s bold, crunchy, and packed with flavor in every bite.
This salad keeps all the taco flavors we love but adds a crispy, cheesy twist that takes it to another level. Plus, it’s quick, easy, and totally customizable, so you can make it just the way your family loves—whether that means extra cheese, no beans, or a little extra crunch!
Want to make sure yours stays crisp, fresh, and absolutely perfect until serving? I’ve got you covered. It’s always a crowd-pleaser. And today, I’m sharing all my secret tips to keep it from turning soggy—so every bite is just as good as the first!
For The Dorito Taco Salad Dressing
I like to make a Homemade Catalina Dressing. It comes together so easily and quickly. It’s really fresh and a little less sweet. However, you cannot go wrong with store-bought if you have it in the pantry and want to use it.
Here is what you need for homemade dressing:
- red wine vinegar
- ketchup
- honey
- Worcestershire sauce
- paprika
- onion powder
- olive or canola oil
This dressing is simply made. Grab your blender and throw in all the ingredients except the oil. Give it a blend, and then slowly add in oil until emulsified. If you do not have a blender, you can also pour all the ingredients into a mason jar, secure on the lid, and give a vigorous shake.
How to Make This Taco Salad Recipe With Doritos
- Start by cooking your ground beef in a skillet. I like to use a nice lean ground beef. Crumble and cook until browned. Drain off any excess fat on paper towels. Then return the ground beef back into the skillet and add the taco seasoning and water. Let it cook until thickened.
- Create your layers. I add in the lettuce and then create sections on the top to set out on the table.
- Next, to add a zesty, creamy component, I like to add a tablespoon or so of ranch dressing mix to the sour cream. It gives the salad an extra bite. Totally optional but highly recommended.
- Crunch up the Doritos to toss in.
- Then, there is the dressing to finish off the salad. Catalina Dressing is a traditional find on this salad. It has some tang and loads of flavor! But don’t forget you can use whichever dressing you like.
Can I make Dorito Taco Salad Recipe Ahead?
If you are making ahead, I recommend layering the taco meat at the bottom. Then, add your lettuce and veggies as desired.
- After you wash your ingredients, make sure that you dry them well. A handy salad spinner works wonders to get the lettuce dry.
- Hold the wet ingredients like sour cream and dressing, and add the Doritos just before serving.
- You can always prep your ingredients ahead and store them separately to save time when assembling the salad.
- For a shortcut, buy some of the ingredients prepped at the grocery store. If you want the olives sliced buy them already sliced in the can.
Dorito Taco Salad Dressing Variations
Change the taste by changing the dressing!
- You can mix sour cream with an easy blender salsa or salsa verde to dress the salad.
- French dressing still has a tang but a little more creamy.
- Thousand Island is oh-so-tasty on this, too.
- You can also go for a creamy ranch. I love it with a heavy dose of salsa on it, too!
- Try a Chipotle ranch, Lime vinaigrette, and Cilantro-lime dressing to change it up!
There really is no hard or fast rule on this salad. You have your basic components, but you can always add or take away so all your favorites are included.
Serving Taco Salad With Doritos
Here’s a great list of toppings idea you can serve in or with your Dorito Taco Salad. Use the ones your family love or build the base and let everyone customize their plate just the way they like it:
Crunchy & Fresh Toppings:
- Diced cucumbers
- Shredded carrots
- Sliced radishes
- Diced bell peppers
- Black olives
- Sliced jalapeños (fresh or pickled)
- Chopped green onions
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Cheese Options:
- Crumbled queso fresco
- Pepper jack cheese
- Monterey Jack cheese
- Cotija cheese
Creamy & Savory Additions:
- Guacamole
- Sliced avocado
- Sour cream
- Greek yogurt (as a lighter alternative)
- Refried pinto beans or refried black beans
Zesty & Flavorful Toppings:
- Pico de gallo
- Salsa (red, verde, or mango salsa)
- Diced red onions
- Fresh chopped cilantro
- Lime wedges for squeezing on top
Extra Crunch:
- Crushed tortilla chips (in addition to Doritos)
- Fritos or corn chips
- Toasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
Does Dorito Salad Store Well?
Unfortunately, no, if it is all tossed together. If you know you will have leftovers and want to store them, I recommend serving without throwing in the wet ingredients and Doritos. Put them on the side in pretty bowls for people to top themselves.
You can also create a buffet of all the ingredients and let people make their own. That is always fun, too! This way, you can also serve a variety of toppings and dressing options if desired.
Delicious Taco Inspired Dishes
- Taco Spaghetti Bake
- Ground Beef Doritos Casserole
- Instant Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta
- Jalapeno Cornbread Taco Pie
- Walking Tacos
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Dorito Taco Salad Recipe
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Ingredients
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon ranch mix
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 ounce packet taco seasoning -
- ½ cup water
- 5 to 6 cups romain lettuce - torn (or iceburg)
- 15 ounces kidney or black beans
- 1 pint grape tomatoes - halved
- 3.8 ounces sliced black olives - drained
- ½ cup sliced green onions - optional
- 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese - shredded
- 1 avocado - diced
- 9 ½ ounces nacho cheese Doritos - crushed
- ¼ to ½ cup Catalina dressing - or to taste
Instructions
- Mix sour cream with ranch mix. Chill until ready to serve.
- In a skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat until cooked through. Drain if needed. Add the taco seasoning and water. Simmer uncovered over low heat until the sauce has thickened. Remove from the heat.
- Start with the Lettuce: Place 5 to 6 cups of torn romaine (or iceberg) lettuce in a large serving bowl.
- Layer the Toppings: Arrange the beans, halved grape tomatoes, sliced black olives, green onions (if using), shredded cheddar cheese, and diced avocado in sections on top of the lettuce. Keeping them grouped makes serving easy and gives a nice presentation.
- Add the Taco Meat: Spoon the cooled taco-seasoned ground beef in the center or spread over the salad.
- Top with Lightly Crushed Doritos: Sprinkle crushed Doritos over the top. You can use more or less depending on how crunchy you like it.
- Dollop with Ranch Sour Cream: Add small spoonfuls of the ranch sour cream topping evenly over the salad.
- Drizzle with Catalina Dressing: Drizzle ¼ to ½ cup of Catalina dressing over the top, or serve on the side so everyone can add their own.
- Serve with remaining sour cream and additional toppings if desired.
Notes
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We make a similar salad with Fritos ans it’s so good. I can’t wait to try this version!
Fritos, Doritos – you cannot go wrong with either. I love a little crunch in a salad. I hope you enjoy the Doritos version!