Description
A vibrant and flavorful Doritos Taco Salad combining crunchy crushed Doritos chips with seasoned ground beef, fresh vegetables, and creamy toppings. This easy-to-make taco salad blends textures and bold flavors, perfect for a quick weeknight meal or casual gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups Doritos chips, crushed
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1/4 cup water
Fresh Salad Ingredients
- 1 head lettuce, shredded
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 cup salsa
- 1/2 cup red onion, diced
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup black olives, sliced
Instructions
- Cook the Ground Beef: In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks to ensure even cooking.
- Drain Excess Fat: Once fully browned, drain any excess fat from the skillet and return the beef to the pan for seasoning.
- Add Taco Seasoning: Sprinkle the taco seasoning packet over the browned beef and pour in 1/4 cup of water.
- Simmer Seasoned Beef: Stir well to combine, then cook the mixture for about 5 minutes until the sauce thickens and evenly coats the beef.
- Set Aside Beef: Remove the skillet from heat and let the seasoned beef cool slightly while you prepare the salad base.
- Prepare Salad Base: Place the crushed Doritos chips at the bottom of a large bowl to form the crunchy base layer.
- Layer Lettuce: Shred the lettuce into bite-sized pieces and evenly layer it over the crushed Doritos chips.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese evenly across the lettuce layer to cover the salad surface.
- Apply Sour Cream: Dollop spoonfuls of sour cream over the cheese, spreading gently with the back of the spoon to distribute.
- Layer Salsa: Evenly spread salsa over the sour cream layer for tangy flavor and moisture.
- Add Red Onion: Dice the red onion and sprinkle it evenly on top of the salsa for crunch and sharp taste.
- Add Cherry Tomatoes: Halve cherry tomatoes and scatter them evenly across the salad for freshness and color.
- Add Black Olives: Slice black olives and sprinkle over the tomatoes for added briny flavor.
- Add Warm Beef Mixture: Spoon the warm seasoned ground beef on top of the completed salad layers.
- Serve Immediately: Enjoy the salad while the beef is warm and the Doritos remain crisp for maximum texture contrast.
Notes
- For extra flavor, consider adding a squeeze of fresh lime juice before serving.
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken as a leaner alternative to ground beef.
- Adjust the amount of taco seasoning to suit your spice preference.
- To keep the Doritos chips crunchy, serve the salad immediately after assembling.
- Optional toppings like jalapeños, avocado, or cilantro can enhance the salad’s taste.
