Description
This Doritos Taco Salad is a quick and flavorful Mexican-inspired dish combining seasoned ground beef, fresh vegetables, black beans, and crunchy nacho cheese Doritos, all tossed in your favorite salad dressing. Perfect for a satisfying weeknight meal, it offers a delightful mix of textures and bold flavors in just 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Seasoning
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 packet (1 ounce) taco seasoning
Salad Base
- 3 to 4 Romaine lettuce hearts, rinsed and chopped
- 1 cup black beans, rinsed
- 1 large tomato, chopped OR sliced cherry tomatoes
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
Toppings and Dressing
- 1½ cups nacho cheese Doritos, broken into bite-size pieces
- 1 cup Catalina dressing OR your favorite salad dressing (ranch dressing recommended as alternative)
- Fresh cilantro (optional)
Instructions
- Brown the Beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown and crumble the lean ground beef. Drain any grease from the meat to keep it lean.
- Season the Meat: Add the taco seasoning packet and the amount of water specified on the packet to the skillet. Stir well and bring the mixture to a boil. Then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Remove from heat and let the meat cool slightly.
- Prepare the Salad Base: In a large salad bowl, combine the chopped Romaine lettuce, rinsed black beans, chopped or sliced tomatoes, and shredded cheddar cheese. Gently toss these ingredients together to evenly distribute.
- Add the Meat: Add the slightly cooled seasoned ground beef to the salad bowl and gently toss the entire mixture to combine all flavors and ingredients well.
- Chill or Serve: You can serve the salad immediately or chill it in the refrigerator until you are ready to eat. Keep the chips separate until serving to maintain their crunch.
- Add Doritos and Dressing: When ready to serve, add the broken nacho cheese Doritos and your choice of dressing (Catalina or ranch) to the salad. Toss gently to coat everything with the dressing and distribute the chips evenly for a perfect crunch.
- Garnish and Serve: Optionally, sprinkle fresh cilantro on top for added freshness and flavor. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Do not add Doritos chips until just before serving to prevent them from becoming soggy.
- You can swap Catalina dressing for ranch or your preferred dressing to customize flavors.
- For a spicier kick, add jalapeños or hot sauce to the beef while simmering.
- Rinsing black beans reduces sodium and improves texture in the salad.
- This salad can be made ahead but add chips last minute for best texture.
