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Easy Doritos Taco Salad

Easy Doritos Taco Salad

A classic potluck favorite, this Doritos Taco Salad features seasoned ground beef, crisp lettuce, sharp cheddar, and crunchy Nacho Cheese Doritos, all tossed in a sweet and tangy Catalina dressing. It's a simple, crowd-pleasing recipe perfect for weeknight dinners, family gatherings, or as a quick and satisfying lunch. The key is to combine the ingredients just before serving to maintain the perfect crunch.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 1 head of iceberg lettuce, finely shredded
  • 1 bottle of Catalina dressing (16 ounces)
  • 2 ripe tomatoes, diced
  • 1 medium onion, chopped (optional, but recommended)
  • 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef
  • 1 packet of taco seasoning (or 3 tablespoons of homemade)
  • 1 large (15.5 ounces) bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos, crushed

Equipment

  • large skillet
  • spoon
  • large serving bowl

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Cook the Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef until it's no longer pink, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks. Drain off any excess grease completely.
  2. Season the Beef: Return the beef to the skillet and add the taco seasoning packet along with about ¼ cup of water (or follow the directions on your packet). Stir well and let it simmer for a few minutes until the sauce has thickened. Remove from the heat and set it aside to cool down. This step is crucial!
  3. Prepare the Veggies: While the beef is cooling, you can wash and chop your fresh ingredients. Finely shred the iceberg lettuce, dice the tomatoes, and chop the onion.
  4. Combine the Salad Base: In your largest serving bowl, combine the shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, chopped onion, and the shredded cheddar cheese.
  5. Add the Cooled Beef: Once the seasoned ground beef has cooled to room temperature, add it to the bowl with the lettuce mixture. You can give it a gentle toss to distribute it. At this point, you can cover and refrigerate the salad if you're not serving it right away.
  6. Dress and Add Crunch: This is the final, most important step! Right before you plan to serve it, pour the Catalina dressing over the salad and top it with the crushed Doritos.
  7. Toss and Serve Immediately: Gently toss everything together until just combined. You want the chips and lettuce to be coated in dressing but not sitting in it for too long. Serve it up right away and enjoy the amazing textures and flavors! This is one of those Very Simple Lunch Ideas that comes together in minutes once the prep is done.

Notes

The golden rule is to always wait until the last possible moment to add the dressing and the Doritos to prevent sogginess. Let the seasoned ground beef cool completely to room temperature before adding it to the lettuce to keep it crisp. For best texture, crush the Doritos by hand to get a mix of small and large pieces.