Simple Doritos Taco Salad (Printable)
Crisp romaine, seasoned beef, Doritos, cheddar and ranch tossed for a fast, flavorful Tex-Mex meal in 25 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 pound ground beef
→ Seasonings
02 - 1 packet (about 1 ounce) taco seasoning
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
# Steps:
01 - In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef until fully browned, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon or spatula. Drain excess fat and discard.
02 - Add taco seasoning and 1/4 cup water to the beef. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has reduced and the mixture has thickened. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
03 - In a large salad bowl, gently toss together chopped romaine lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, diced red onion, black beans, corn, and shredded cheddar cheese.
04 - Add the cooled taco beef mixture to the salad bowl.
05 - Just before serving, add crushed Nacho Cheese Doritos and your choice of ranch or Catalina dressing to the bowl. Toss gently until combined and serve immediately while the chips remain crisp.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- You get all the best parts of tacos and nachos in a single, ridiculously satisfying forkful.
- I love how even picky eaters become instant fans, especially when they can pile on extra chips or cheese at the table.
02 -
- Letting the beef cool for just a few minutes before adding keeps the lettuce crisp, not limp—it makes all the difference.
- Don’t add the Doritos too soon; I learned the hard way that soggy chips are nobody’s favorite.
03 -
- Warm the beans and corn slightly before adding for a more flavor-packed salad.
- Crushing the Doritos gently with your hands (not smashing them to crumbs!) preserves those crave-able big bites.