Doritos Taco Salad is the best kind of salad. Top shredded lettuce with seasoned ground beef, Doritos or tortilla chips, cheese, and your fave taco toppings, then drizzle it all with spicy ranch dressing. Even salad haters are going to love this one!

doritos taco salad served in a round glass bowl

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A Meal-Worthy Salad That Kids Will Actually Eat

There aren’t very many salads you can make a meal out of. A few handfuls of greens and some veggies might be healthy, but it’s not exactly satisfying. A Taco Salad is different, though. You’ve got your greens and your veggies, but you’ve also got all the other food groups covered: protein, dairy, carbs, and ranch. (Just kidding. But seriously, ranch dressing is so good.)

This Doritos Taco Salad recipe is also kid-friendly. Naturally, kids love tacos, but they’ll also like this recipe because they can customize their own meals by adding their favorite taco toppers. Kids love when they feel like they can decide what they eat! Put the taco meat in a thermos and you can even send your kids to school with this salad for lunch.

dortios taco salad in a bowl

Easy Doritos Taco Salad Recipe

This recipe is simple to make, and it’s also great for meal prep. You can make the taco meat in advance, then prep the lettuce and other veggies and store them separately. When you’re ready to eat, just heat the meat and assemble your salads.

If you’re on a low-carb or keto diet, you can make this a keto Taco Salad recipe by using homemade taco seasoning (the store-bought kind sometimes has sugar in it!) and either omitting the Doritos or swapping them with a low-carb chip like Quest protein chips.

ingredients to make doritos taco salad

Ingredients For Making Doritos Taco Salad

See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

  • Ground beef
  • Taco seasoning – Either an envelope of store-bought seasoning or homemade taco seasoning.
  • Water
  • Iceberg lettuce – Romaine will work too, but you want a crisp lettuce that won’t immediately wilt under the taco meat.
  • Cheddar cheese – Or substitute a Mexican cheese blend.
  • Tortilla chips or Doritos – The best part of a Taco Salad!
  • Spicy ranch dressing – Or any kind of ranch you like.
  • Taco toppings – We’re talking tomatoes, cilantro, sliced black olives, guac, salsa, diced onions, whatever!
dortios taco salad served on a white round plate

How to Make Doritos Taco Salad

  1. Cook the Taco Meat: Cook the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes, then drain off any fat. Stir in the taco seasoning and water, then bring to a boil and simmer for about 5 minutes, or until thickened. Remove from heat and set aside.
  2. Assemble the Salad: Place the lettuce in either a large bowl or several individual-sized bowls. Top it with the taco meat, chips, cheese, and other toppings, then drizzle with the ranch taco salad dressing. Toss to combine and serve.
doritos taco salad mixed and served in a round glass bowl

Quick Tip

Let the taco meat come down in temperature a bit before adding it to the salad. If you add in the hot meat, it will cause the lettuce to wilt!

How to Store Doritos Taco Salad

To keep your lettuce from getting wilted and sad, I recommend storing the taco meat separately from the lettuce and then assembling your salads right before serving. The components will last in the fridge separately for 2 to 3 days.

FAQs

Should Doritos Taco Salad be warm or cold?

This is entirely up to you and your preferences, but in my opinion, the perfect taco salad starts with cold, crisp lettuce and warm taco meat.

What kind of side can I serve with Doritos taco salad?

If you want to add a side to your Doritos taco salad, stick with something simple like rice, corn, or even more beans. It will be best to work with ingredients that will complement the salad.

Can I swap out the ground beef for other protein in Doritos taco salad?

Yes! If you are not a fan of ground beef, switch up the protein with chicken, ground turkey, or even tofu. Pretty much any protein will be great for carrying the flavor in the taco seasoning.

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ingredients for doritos taco salad served in a glass round bowl

Doritos Taco Salad

This easy, cheesy Doritos Taco Salad recipe is one of those rare salads that kids will actually want to eat! Meal prep + keto options.
5 from 1 vote
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients  

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 envelope taco seasoning or my homemade taco seasoning
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 1 medium head iceberg lettuce torn (about 8 cups)
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 cups broken tortilla chips or Doritos
  • 1/4 cup spicy ranch dressing
  • Your favorite toppings: tomatoes, cilantro, olives, etc.

Instructions 

  • In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat 6-8 minutes or until no longer pink, breaking into crumbles; drain.
  • Stir in taco seasoning and water; bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 4-6 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally. Cool slightly.
  • In a large bowl, add lettuce. Top with beef mixture and chips; cheese, toppings – drizzle with dressing and toss to combine. Serve immediately.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 516kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 140mg | Sodium: 429mg | Potassium: 362mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 566IU | Calcium: 429mg | Iron: 3mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @kasey_allthingsmamma or tag #allthingsmamma!

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About Kasey Schwartz

For over 15 years, Kasey Schwartz, the mastermind behind All Things Mamma, has been the ultimate go-to for mouthwatering family recipes. Her work has been featured on Today.com, Buzz Feed, Better Homes and Gardens, and more, making her your go-to mom next door for all things delicious and family-friendly.

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