Simple Doritos Taco Salad (Printable)
Crunchy Tex-Mex salad with seasoned beef, cheddar, black beans and crushed Doritos, ready in 25 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 pound ground beef
→ Seasonings
02 - 1 packet taco seasoning (about 1 ounce)
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
# Step-by-step:
01 - In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon until evenly browned. Drain any excess fat.
02 - Add taco seasoning and water to the skillet. Stir well and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture thickens. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
03 - In a large salad bowl, combine the chopped romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, diced red onion, black beans, corn, and shredded cheddar cheese.
04 - Add the slightly cooled seasoned beef to the salad bowl.
05 - Just before serving, add the crushed Doritos and your choice of dressing. Toss gently until all components are evenly coated.
06 - Serve right away while the Doritos remain crisp.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The Doritos add a salty-cheesy punch you never knew a taco salad needed until now.
- This salad comes together in about 20 minutes, making it a weekday savior when you need something hearty but playful.
02 -
- I once tossed the Doritos in too early—by dinner, they were sadly soggy, so timing is everything.
- Letting the beef cool for a few minutes prevents wilted lettuce and keeps the salad crunchy and fresh.
03 -
- Replace the beef with black bean crumbles for a crowd-pleasing vegetarian switch.
- Warming the dressing just a touch gives the whole salad a satisfying creaminess—trust me, it’s worth a try.