Description
This Doritos Taco Salad is a quick and delicious meal combining seasoned ground beef, crisp Romaine lettuce, black beans, fresh tomatoes, shredded cheddar, and crunchy nacho cheese Doritos, all tossed in your favorite dressing for a perfect tex-mex inspired salad.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef Mixture
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 packet (1 ounce) taco seasoning
- Water as called for on taco seasoning packet (approx. 2/3 cup)
Salad
- 3 to 4 Romaine lettuce hearts, rinsed and chopped
- 1 cup black beans, rinsed
- 1 large tomato, chopped or 1 cup sliced cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Toppings and Dressing
- 1 ½ cups nacho cheese Doritos, broken into bite-size pieces
- 1 cup Catalina dressing or your favorite salad dressing (ranch dressing works well too)
- Fresh cilantro (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the Ground Beef: Brown and crumble the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drain any excess grease, then add the taco seasoning and the amount of water specified on the seasoning packet (usually about 2/3 cup). Stir the mixture until it comes to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and allow the meat to cool slightly.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large salad bowl, combine the chopped Romaine lettuce, rinsed black beans, chopped tomato, and shredded cheddar cheese. Add the slightly cooled seasoned ground beef and gently toss all the ingredients together to combine well. At this stage, you may serve immediately or refrigerate the salad until ready to eat. Do not add the Doritos chips until serving time to keep them crispy.
- Add Chips and Dressing: When ready to serve, top the salad with the broken Doritos chips and pour the Catalina or preferred dressing over the salad. Toss gently to coat everything evenly. Garnish with fresh cilantro if desired and serve immediately for the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Do not add the Doritos chips until just before serving to prevent them from becoming soggy.
- If you prefer a vegetarian version, you can replace the ground beef with a plant-based crumble or extra beans.
- Use your favorite dressing to customize the flavor, ranch and Catalina both complement this salad well.
- Fresh cilantro adds a nice touch but is optional based on preference.
- This salad is best enjoyed fresh but can be prepped a few hours ahead by keeping components separate until serving.
