Simple Doritos Taco Salad (Printable Version)
Crunchy Doritos taco salad with seasoned beef, black beans, corn, cheddar and ranch, fast, bold weeknight favorite.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
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 & 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)
# Directions:
01 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon, until fully browned, about 5 to 6 minutes. Drain excess fat from skillet.
02 - Stir in taco seasoning and 1/4 cup water. Simmer beef mixture for 2 to 3 minutes until spices are fully absorbed. Remove pan from heat and allow seasoned beef to cool slightly.
03 - In a large salad bowl, combine chopped romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, red onion, black beans, corn, and shredded cheddar cheese.
04 - Add the warm taco beef and lightly crushed Doritos to the bowl with vegetables and cheese.
05 - Drizzle ranch or preferred dressing over ingredients. Gently toss salad until evenly coated and distributed.
06 - Transfer to serving plates and enjoy right away for optimal crunch.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- You get the fun, craveable crunch of Doritos with every forkful—pure snack-and-dinner fusion magic.
- It’s endlessly adaptable: swap the meat, pack in more veggies, or play with dressings depending on your mood.
02 -
- If you toss the salad too early, the Doritos will lose their crackle and turn sadly soggy.
- Let the beef cool for just a minute before adding—it keeps the lettuce crisp and the cheese melty, not greasy.
03 -
- Crush Doritos only at the very last minute so the flavor dust stays bold and fresh.
- Briefly soaking the onions in cold water keeps the bite without overpowering the salad.