Simple Doritos Taco Salad (Printer-Friendly)
Crunchy Doritos taco salad with seasoned beef, lettuce, beans, corn and cheddar, ready in 25 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meat
01 - 1 pound ground beef
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
05 - 1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
06 - 1 cup corn kernels, canned or thawed from frozen
→ Dairy
07 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
→ Chips
08 - 4 cups Nacho Cheese Doritos, lightly crushed
→ Dressings and Oils
09 - 1/2 cup ranch dressing (or Catalina or French style dressing, optional)
10 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
→ Spices
11 - 1 packet taco seasoning (about 1 ounce)
# How-To Steps:
01 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until fully browned, about 5-6 minutes. Drain excess fat. Add taco seasoning and 1/4 cup water, stirring to coat the beef evenly. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until well combined. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
02 - In a large salad bowl, combine chopped romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, red onion, black beans, corn, and shredded cheddar cheese.
03 - Add the warm seasoned beef and lightly crushed Doritos into the vegetable mixture.
04 - Drizzle with ranch dressing or dressing of choice. Gently toss all components together until evenly coated.
05 - Serve the salad at once to maintain maximum crunch.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- Every bite delivers a satisfying mix of creamy, cool, spicy, and crunch—like a party, but in your mouth.
- It's as easy as tossing leftovers together but tastes like you planned it all along.
02 -
- If you add the dressing too early, the Doritos go soggy faster than you'd expect—wait until just before serving.
- Letting the beef cool a little prevents wilting the lettuce, keeping the salad crisp and fresh.
03 -
- Always taste the beef for seasoning before mixing—sometimes a pinch of salt or extra taco seasoning brightens everything.
- Chill your salad bowl if you want the veggies to stay extra crisp, especially on hot days.