Description
A crunchy and flavorful Doritos Taco Salad featuring seasoned ground beef, fresh vegetables, shredded cheddar, and creamy toppings layered over crispy Doritos chips. This quick and easy stovetop recipe combines Tex-Mex flavors into a satisfying meal perfect for lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Savory Meats
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1/4 cup water
Fresh Produce
- 1 head lettuce, shredded
- 1/2 cup red onion, diced
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup black olives, sliced
Dairy
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Other
- 2 cups Doritos chips, crushed
- 1/2 cup salsa
Instructions
- Cook Beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks to ensure even cooking and crumbling.
- Drain Excess Fat: Once fully browned, carefully drain any excess fat from the skillet and return the beef back to the pan to continue cooking.
- Add Seasoning: Sprinkle the taco seasoning packet over the cooked beef and pour in 1/4 cup of water to help distribute the flavors.
- Simmer: Stir the beef, seasoning, and water together thoroughly. Cook for about 5 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the beef evenly.
- Cool Slightly: Remove the skillet from heat and let the seasoned beef mixture cool slightly while preparing the salad base.
- Prepare Base: In a large bowl, spread the crushed Doritos chips to form the foundation of the salad.
- Add Lettuce: Shred the head of lettuce into bite-sized pieces and layer it evenly over the crushed Doritos.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly on top of the lettuce layer.
- Add Sour Cream: Spoon dollops of sour cream over the salad and gently spread with the back of a spoon for even coverage.
- Add Salsa: Layer salsa evenly over the sour cream to add juicy tomato flavor and spice.
- Add Onion: Dice the red onion and sprinkle it on top of the salsa for a fresh crunch and zing.
- Add Tomatoes: Halve the cherry tomatoes and scatter them across the salad to add sweetness and color.
- Add Olives: Slice the black olives and sprinkle over the tomatoes to enhance the flavor profile.
- Add Beef: Spoon the warm seasoned beef mixture evenly over the entire salad to finish it off.
- Serve: Serve immediately while the beef remains warm and the Doritos stay crispy for the perfect texture contrast.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, substitute ground beef with plant-based meat or cooked beans and use vegetarian taco seasoning.
- Use fresh lettuce and vegetables for the best flavor and texture.
- Serve immediately to keep the Doritos crunchy; leftovers may become soggy.
- Adjust the amount of sour cream and salsa to preference for creaminess and spice level.
- Consider adding avocado or jalapeños for extra flavor variation.
