The Doritos Taco Salad is a simple, fun meal with spicy ground beef, lettuce, corn, and peppers on a bed of crunchy Doritos, all topped with melted cheese. It’s a tasty mix of classic taco flavors and Doritos crunch, great for a quick and enjoyable dish.
Hey cousins, let me tell you about this wild Doritos Taco Salad I whipped up! It’s like a fiesta in a bowl, y’all. You start with some lean ground beef, cook it until it’s nice and brown, then stir in that spicy taco seasoning with a bit of water. Let it simmer until it gets all thick and tasty. Then, you’ve got to let it cool down a bit – we don’t want a hot mess, right? Next up, the fun part: grab a bag of Spicy Nacho Doritos, give them a little crush (not too much, we’re not making dust here), and then lay them out around the edge of a big ol’ serving platter.
Now, for the salad – toss in a bunch of Romaine lettuce right in the middle of those chips. Then, you just start piling on the good stuff: fire-roasted corn (gives it a bit of a smoky kick), sliced black olives, and cherry tomatoes cut in half for that pop of color. Oh, and let’s not forget those mini bell peppers – get some red, orange, and yellow ones sliced up for a rainbow effect. Throw in some jalapeños if you’re feeling brave! Sprinkle a generous amount of Colby Jack cheese over everything, and finish it off with a handful of chopped cilantro. If you’re into dressing, Catalina on the side works great. It’s like a party on a plate, and trust me, it tastes as good as it looks!
Now it’s time for you to try this recipe!
How to Make Doritos Taco Salad
Shopping List
- Lean Ground Beef (1 lb): This is the main protein of your salad, providing a hearty and flavorful base. Cook it until brown and mix with taco seasoning for that classic taco taste.
- Taco Seasoning Packet (Hot): This adds the spicy, savory flavors typical of tacos to your ground beef.
- Water (3 tbsp): Helps to evenly distribute and cook the taco seasoning with the beef.
- Romaine Salad Mix (1 – 10 oz bag): Serves as the fresh, crunchy foundation of your salad.
- Fire Roasted Corn (1 – 8 oz can, drained): Adds a sweet and smoky flavor to complement the spicy beef.
- Black Olives (1 – 2.25 oz can, sliced): These provide a mild, earthy taste and a different texture to the salad.
- Cherry Tomatoes (½ cup, sliced in half): Bring a sweet, juicy element to balance the savory and spicy flavors.
- Mini Peppers (2 of each red, orange, and yellow, sliced into rounds): Add a pop of color and a sweet, slightly tangy flavor.
- Jalapeños (3, sliced into rounds): These offer a spicy kick, for those who enjoy a bit of heat.
- Fresh Cilantro (4 tbsp, chopped): Gives a fresh, herby note to the salad.
- Colby Jack Cheese (2 cups, shredded): Melts into the warm ingredients for a creamy, cheesy texture.
- Catalina Salad Dressing (1 – 16 oz bottle, optional): Adds a tangy, sweet dressing option for those who prefer dressed salads.
- Spicy Nacho Doritos (1 – 10.5 oz bag): Used as a crunchy, flavorful base and edge for your salad, adding a unique twist to the traditional taco salad.
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet and cook the ground beef over medium heat until it’s thoroughly browned. Make sure to drain off any extra grease afterward. (Sidenote: Draining the grease helps keep your salad from becoming too oily.)
- Mix in the taco seasoning and a bit of water with the beef. Let this cook gently until the sauce thickens up. Then, take it off the heat and let it cool down for around 10 minutes. (Sidenote: Cooling the meat prevents wilting the salad greens.)
- Lightly crush the Doritos into smaller bits and lay them around the perimeter of a big serving dish. (Sidenote: Crushing the Doritos adds texture and makes the salad easier to serve.)
- Put the Romaine lettuce mix right in the middle of the dish. (Sidenote: Placing the lettuce in the center keeps it crisp and fresh.)
- Sprinkle the salad with your toppings: add the fire-roasted corn, olive slices, halved cherry tomatoes, rounds of mini peppers, jalapeño pieces, and a generous helping of shredded Colby Jack cheese over the lettuce. (Sidenote: Distributing the toppings evenly ensures every bite is flavorful.)
- Top off the salad with a scattering of chopped cilantro and a few more slices of jalapeño for an extra zing. (Sidenote: Adjust the amount of jalapeño according to your heat preference.)
- Offer Catalina dressing on the side for those who’d like to add it. (Sidenote: Serving the dressing on the side lets everyone control how much they want to add, keeping the salad versatile for all tastes.)
Preparing and storing leftovers of a Doritos Taco Salad requires a bit of strategy to maintain the freshness and texture of the ingredients. Here are some tips and tricks:
Preparing for Doritos Taco Salad Leftovers
- Separate Components: If you anticipate leftovers, it’s best to keep the salad components separate when serving. This means not mixing the Doritos, dressing, or the warm beef with the salad greens and other toppings initially.
- Portion Control: Only prepare the amount of salad you plan to eat immediately. This helps in maintaining the freshness of the ingredients.
Storing Leftovers
- Beef Storage: Store the cooked taco-seasoned beef in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should last for 3-4 days.
- Doritos: Keep them in their original packaging, tightly sealed. If they’ve already been opened, transfer them to a zip-lock bag or an airtight container to keep them crisp.
- Salad Greens and Veggies: Store the lettuce and chopped vegetables in separate containers or plastic bags in the crisper drawer of your fridge. They usually stay fresh for 2-3 days.
- Cheese and Dressing: Store shredded cheese in a sealed bag or container. The dressing should be kept in its original bottle in the fridge.
Reassembling Leftovers
- Reheat Beef: Gently reheat the beef in a microwave or on the stove. Be careful not to overcook it.
- Assemble Fresh: When ready to eat, assemble your salad fresh with the stored ingredients. This keeps the textures and flavors at their best.
- Add Doritos Last: Add the Doritos and dressing right before serving to avoid sogginess.
Additional Tips
- Avoid Freezing: This salad does not freeze well, especially the lettuce and other fresh components.
- Refreshing Veggies: If the veggies lose some of their crispness, soak them in ice water for a few minutes before serving.
- Dressing Tip: If you like your salad with dressing, consider adding it to just the portion you’re eating immediately. This keeps the remaining salad from becoming soggy.
If you enjoyed this Doritos Taco Salad, check out some of my other recipes!
Doritos Taco Salad
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef 80/20
- 1 packet hot taco seasoning
- 3 tbsp water
- 10 oz bag of Romaine Salad Mix
- 8 oz fire roasted corn drained
- 4.5 oz black olives sliced
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 6 mini bell peppers 2 red, 2 orange, 2 yellow, sliced into rounds
- 3 jalapeños sliced into rounds
- 4 tbsp fresh cilantro chopped
- 2 cups Colby Jack cheese shredded
- 16 oz Catalina salad dressing optional
- 10.5 oz Spicy Nacho Doritos chips
Instructions
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat until fully cooked. Drain any excess fat.
- Stir in the taco seasoning and water. Let it simmer until the mixture thickens. Remove from heat and let it cool for about 10 minutes.
- Gently crush the Doritos to make smaller pieces. Arrange them around the edge of a large serving platter.
- Place the Romaine salad mix in the center of the platter.
- Evenly distribute the toppings over the salad: fire-roasted corn, sliced olives, cherry tomatoes, mini pepper rounds, jalapeño slices, and shredded Colby Jack cheese.
- Garnish with chopped cilantro and extra jalapeño slices.
- Serve with Catalina dressing on the side, if desired.
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