Ultimate Dorito Taco Salad
by Sommer Collier — last updated on Jul 28, 2025 
Dorito Taco Salad Recipe – The whole family will love this All-American version of a classic taco salad! It has layers and layers of crunchy Doritos, ground beef, your favorite taco toppings, and a zesty Catalina dressing.
Sommer’s Recipe Notes
Taco salad is a beloved go-to dinner at my house. No one ever looks disappointed when I carry a big heaping taco salad to the table… Especially if it has crumbled Doritos in it. Introducing the Ultimate Dorito Taco Salad recipe!
Why We Love Dorito Taco Salad
Our recipe is inspired by my Texan sister-in-law, who firmly believes all good salads should be a little decadent. The fusion of Tex-Mex flavors, crunchy veggies, and All-American snack ingredients is an absolute crowd-pleaser for family dinners and casual parties. our Taco Salad with Doritos and Catalina Dressing offers tons of fresh produce and a little extra naughtiness from the *junk* food-alicious chips! Plus, it is so colorful and pretty, perfect for brightening days and faces.
The crushed Doritos give the taco salad intense flavor and crunch, while a smooth and creamy ranch dip provides a zesty cool balance to the hot taco meat. Each bite is fiesta of bold flavors and irresistible crunchiness… Every salad should be this fun and tasty!
PS – Check out my other Dorito recipe: Cool Ranch Taco Lasagna.
Taco Salad Ingredients
- Ground beef – lean or fatty
- Romaine lettuce – rinsed and chopped
- Red kidney beans – drained and rinsed
- Nacho cheese Doritos – crumbled, can also use a different flavor
- Grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes – halved
- Green onions – chopped
- Black olives – sliced
- Avocado – sliced
- Cheddar cheese – shredded
- Sour cream and ranch dip mix – mixed to give the salad a cool, refreshing contrast
- Catalina Dressing – You can use a store-bought dressing or make easy PERKY Catalina Dressing from scratch.
How to Make Dorito Taco Salad
Tips for Success: This easy recipe requires just a little chopping, mixing the dip, and browning ground beef. You can do all these things in advance, if needed, and keep the ingredients separate until ready to pile and serve!
Find the full Dorito Taco Salad recipe with ingredient proportions, detailed instructions, and a video tutorial in the printable form at the bottom of the post.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Protein – Feel free to use your choice of ground beef, ground chicken, or ground turkey in this taco recipe.
- Beans – Use your choice of kidney beans (like we include here), black beans, or pinto beans.
- Lighter – If you’re super worried about the heaviness of this salad, you can take the fat and calories down a few notches by using Baked Doritos, lean ground beef or ground turkey, low-fat sour cream, and low-fat cheese.
- Other chips – Use Cool Ranch Doritos, Spicy Doritos, Fritos, or any other brand and type of tortilla chips you prefer.
- Gluten-free – Use GF-friendly chips. Be sure to check all labels to make sure the product is indeed free of gluten.
- Dairy-free – Swap sour cream and shredded cheese with your favorite plant-based alternatives. Or simply omit them from the dish, if you prefer!
- Spicy – If you are looking for a spicier taco salad, try adding sliced pickled jalapenos and Tabasco sauce, like one of our readers tried and loved!
- Salad Dressing – We love the tanginess of Catalina dressing, but you can certainly use other dressings too! Try homemade or store-bought ranch dressing, cilantro lime ranch, Texas Pete vinaigrette, or lime vinaigrette.
- Toppings – Seriously, there is no limit to what tasty add-ons you can include in this recipe! Top the salad anyway you want, with chopped bell pepper or roasted red peppers, fresh cilantro, corn, chopped zucchini, fried onions, etc.
Ultimate Dorito Taco Salad Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 1/2 cups sour cream
- 1 packet ranch dip mix
- 1 large head romaine lettuce
- 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
- 15 ounces kidney beans, drained (1 can)
- 3.8 ounces sliced black olives, drained (1 can)
- 2 cups nacho cheese Doritos, crushed (corn chips)
- 1 cup green onions, chopped
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 avocado, sliced
- 1/2 cup Catalina dressing
Instructions
- Place the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat. Brown the meat and break into small pieces with a wooden spoon. Then stir in the taco seasoning and 1/3 cup water. Simmer until the water is absorbed, then remove from heat.
- Mix the sour cream with the ranch dip mix. Chill until ready to serve.
- Chop the lettuce and pile in a large serving bowl. Toss with the Catalina Dressing and add a little more if you so desire. Then pile the taco meat and beans over the top.
- Next pile on the crushed Doritos, tomatoes, green onions, avocado slices, olives, and cheese. Finally, top the salad with a heaping portion of ranchy sour cream and serve!
Nutrition
Serving Suggestions
Loaded with veggies, protein, and crunchy carbs, this Dorito taco salad recipe is an entire meal in a bowl!
If you’re wondering what to serve with taco salad for an even heartier dinner, consider serving the salad with fluffy Spanish rice or yellow rice, refried beans, black beans, or Mexican potatoes.
And don’t forget a side of guacamole and salsa for extra chips!
Frequently Asked Questions
The components of the salad are great to make ahead! Cook the taco meat (and cool completely), make the dressing, and prep the salad veggies and toppings a day in advance. Store everything in separate airtight containers in the fridge and assemble when you are ready to eat.
It’s best to enjoy the salad soon after it has been put together. But the different components, as mentioned above, will keep well in the fridge for up to 3 days, stored in individual containers.
awesome yummy