Dorito Taco Salad with Catalina Dressing is a family favorite that has been making appearances at potlucks, backyard cookouts, and weeknight dinners for years. This easy salad combines seasoned ground beef, crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, shredded cheese, crunchy Nacho Cheese Doritos, and sweet, tangy Catalina dressing for a meal that is packed with flavor and texture. Every bite has the perfect balance of savory meat, fresh vegetables, cheesy chips, and zesty dressing.
The best part is that this recipe comes together in about 30 minutes using simple ingredients you can find at any grocery store. Whether you are feeding your family or bringing a dish to share, this taco salad is always one of the first recipes to disappear.
Catalina dressing is what my aunt always used and I think it works best with this. I’ve tried it with Ranch before but it simply didn’t do the justice that Catalina does.
If you like Salad recipes try Strawberry Poppyseed Saald -Panera Copy Cat, Big Mac in a Bowl, Imitation Crab Salad (Deli Style), or Healhy Greek Yogurt Egg Salad.
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Why You Will Love This Salad
Dorito Taco Salad is probably one of my most favorite salads ever! I remember when I was little, this is what my Aunt Carol would always bring to our family potlucks and dinners. I would ask if she was bringing it all the time and my family knew that I really loved Doritos growing up as a kid. That is why I was nicknamed Dorito girl. Ha! I’m 38 now and no one ever calls me that anymore thank God! 🙂
The combination of crunchy Doritos and Catalina dressing creates the signature flavor that makes this recipe so memorable. The dressing adds just the right amount of sweetness and tanginess to balance the seasoned taco meat.
Another reason this recipe works so well is that it is easy to customize. You can add your favorite taco toppings such as black beans, corn, avocado, or jalapeños to make it your own.
It is also a great make-ahead meal. Simply prepare the ingredients in advance and combine everything just before serving so the chips stay nice and crunchy.
Ingredients Needed
- Ground beef 95% lean - ILean ground beef creates a hearty base for the salad. Ground turkey or ground chicken can also be substituted if preferred.
- Taco seasoning reduced sodium - A packet of taco seasoning adds classic Mexican-inspired flavor. Homemade taco seasoning works just as well.
- Iceberg lettuce - Fresh chopped romaine provides plenty of crunch and holds up well when tossed with the dressing.
- Tomato, diced - Some popular varieties for salads include cherry, grape, heirloom, and beefsteak tomatoes.
- Nacho cheese Doritos - Any brand of nacho cheese flavored tortilla chips will work for this. Sometimes I like to use the Cool Ranch flavored chips.
- Catalina dressing or ranch dressing
- Reduced-Fat Chedddar Cheese - has a lower calorie count and less saturated fat than regular cheese, but it may also have a different taste and texture. It also helps with keeping the calorie count pretty low for this recipe.
- See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
How to make Dorito Taco Salad
Step 1: Brown the ground beef in a nonstick skillet; drain fat. Toss with dry taco seasoning, and set aside until cool. You can also use a homemade taco seasoning for this.
Step 2: In a large bowl, combine lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese. Right before serving, add the beef, Doritos, and dressing. Mix well.
Pro Tips for Dorito Taco Salad
- Allow the taco meat to cool before adding it to the lettuce to prevent the greens from wilting.
- Wait until the last minute to stir in the Doritos so they stay crispy.
- If serving at a party, place the Catalina dressing on the side so guests can dress their own salads.
- Use lean ground beef to reduce excess grease and keep the salad lighter.
- Double the recipe if serving a crowd because this salad disappears quickly.
- For even more flavor, add diced avocado or black beans just before serving.
Storage
Dorito Taco Salad is best enjoyed fresh because the Doritos soften after they are mixed with the dressing.
If making the recipe ahead of time, store the cooked taco meat, lettuce, vegetables, cheese, Doritos, and Catalina dressing separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Assemble the salad just before serving for the best texture and flavor.
Leftover fully assembled salad can be refrigerated for up to 1 day, although the chips will lose their crunch.
Serving Suggestions
This Dorito Taco Salad is filling enough to serve as a complete meal, but it also pairs well with many Mexican-inspired side dishes. Serve it with Mexican rice, cilantro lime rice, Spanish rice, or refried beans for a hearty dinner.
For parties, add bowls of salsa, guacamole, queso dip, and tortilla chips alongside the salad. Fresh fruit salad or grilled corn also make excellent side dishes during the summer months.
Set out extra toppings like diced avocado, sliced jalapeños, sour cream, black olives, chopped cilantro, and additional crushed Doritos so everyone can customize their own serving.
Recipe FAQS
Catalina dressing typically consists of tomato sauce or ketchup, sugar, vinegar, onion powder, paprika, and other seasonings.
If you want to eat this salad the next day, just store the salad part without the chips on top of the salad in a an air tight bowl. The Doritos will just get soggy leaving them in the fridge.
More Recipes to Try
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Dorito Taco Salad
- Prep Time: 20min
- Cook Time: 20min
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mix
- Cuisine: American
Description
Dorito Taco salad is loaded with taco flavored ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and crushed Dorito chips. Catalina dressing is what my aunt always used and I think it works best with this.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef 95% lean
- 1 head iceberg lettuce or one bag of pre-chopped ice berg lettuce
- 1 packet (1oz/28g) taco seasoning reduced sodium
- 1 medium tomato, diced
- 2 oz nacho cheese doritos
- ¼ cup Catalina dressing or ranch dressing
- 1 ½ cups fat free cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Brown ground beef; drain fat. Toss with dry taco seasoning, and set aside until cool.
- In a large bowl, combine lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese. Right before serving, add the beef, Doritos, and dressing. Mix well.
- Serving size: 1 cup
Notes
myWW points: Blue 5; Green 5; Purple 5
My WW Personal Points: 5 Click here to see in recipe builder (will have to log in)
Doritos will get soggy if you leave this salad sitting in the fridge over night or you make it the day before. Add them in the very last minute before serving to keep them crunchy!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 6
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 14
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 10
Jenna says
Sure is better than chicken aand broccoli! 🙂
Pam says
Make this all the time without the Doritos and Catalina dressing. Was sooo good! I don’t care if it’s 5 points or 10, it’s worth it! Friday night and I’m tired of chicken and broccoli! Thanks for this! Hubby even liked the dressing!
Nelofar Shaik says
Crunchy Salads- All I can ask for. Nice combi. Thank you.
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