Doritos Locos Taco Salad

ByMadison Thurman
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I don’t know what took me so long to try a taco salad. It always just seemed like a worse version of nachos to me. Like why would I want more lettuce and less chips….However! Drenching a taco salad with a creamy salsa dressing and an unholy amount of crushed Doritos did change my mind.

This taco salad is seriously delicious. I am usually having to convince my husband to have a salad for dinner, but when I suggest taco salads he always says yes! The romaine lettuce is crunchy and fresh, the pickled jalapeños are spicy and briny, and the creamy dressing compliments the Doritos perfectly!

This is another super easy weeknight meal. Especially if you have leftovers the next day, this is quick to assemble! Try my pickled jalapeños recipe if you want to take this salad to the next level.

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Why You’ll Love This Taco Salad

  • Healthy(ish). You can skip the Doritos….but life is about balance in my opinion!
  • Delicious. Low effort, great payoff.
  • Summer staple. Summer is the time to add salads to your dinner rotation.
  • Customizable. Anyone can add or skip the toppings of their choice!
Taco salad with ground beef, corn, cherry tomatoes, cilantro and shredded cheese. Doritos on the side with half of an avocado for garnish with creamy salsa dressing.

How to Make This Taco Salad

Please see recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full recipe details.

  1. Chop it up. First rinse and pat dry your romaine lettuce, bonus points if you have a salad spinner! Chop the romaine into bite size pieces. Next chop the toppings. Dice the red onion, green onion, and cilantro. Slice cherry tomatoes. Shred your cheese as well.
  2. Cook the beef. In a skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef. Cook until browned and cook through, about 7-8 minutes. Then add in your taco seasoning packet, and the amount of water that the packet says on the back. Cook down until most of the water evaporates, but not so much that the beef is super dry.
  3. Make the dressing! This is so simple. Add sour cream and store bought salsa to a mixing bowl. Add the lime juice, salt, jalapeños brine, and cumin. Optional: add a few dashes of your favorite mexican hot sauce! Mix well and taste.
  4. Assemble! Start with a bed of romaine lettuce, top with corn, green onions, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, ground beef, cheese, jalapeños, and diced avocado. Drizzle plenty of the dressing, and crush up as many Doritos on top as your heart desires!
  • Sliced cherry tomatoes, diced red onion, diced green onion and a smlal bowl of corn on a wooden cutting board. Also half of an avocado and fresh lime for garnish.
  • Taco salad with ground beef, corn, cherry tomatoes, cilantro and shredded cheese. Doritos on the side with half of an avocado for garnish with creamy salsa dressing.

Recipe FAQs

Yes! Store all of the toppings and meat in separate containers. I like to chop my romaine fresh right before eating the salad as well. Then assemble like normal!

Sure! I am sure ranch or your favorite spicy vinaigrette would work nicely.

Recipe Variations

  • Swap for chicken. Grilled chicken would be great!
  • Make it vegetarian. Add seasoned black beans to add protein if you are skipping the meat.
  • Make it a wrap. Add everything into a carb-counter tortilla.
  • Add your fav toppings. Get creative! Anything you like on a taco or burrito, feel free to add here.
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Taco salad with ground beef, corn, cherry tomatoes, cilantro and shredded cheese. Doritos on the side with half of an avocado for garnish with creamy salsa dressing.

Doritos Locos Taco Salad

The romaine lettuce is crunchy and fresh, the pickled jalapeños are spicy and briny, and the creamy dressing compliments the Doritos perfectly! Adding chips onto any salad is always better.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Dinner
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

Taco Meat
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
Salad/Toppings
  • 3 heads romaine lettuce chopped
  • 1 bunch green onions diced
  • ½ cup cilantro chopped
  • 8 oz cheddar cheese shredded
  • 1 red onion diced
  • 2 avocados sliced
  • 1 can corn drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup pickled jalapenos diced
  • 1 bag nacho cheese Doritos crushed
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
Creamy Salsa Dressing
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • ¾ cup hot salsa
  • 1 lime juiced
  • 1 tbsp pickled jalapeno brine
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp salt
  • cayenne pepper optional, to taste

Method
 

  1. First prep all of the vegetables. Rinse and pat dry your romaine lettuce, bonus points if you have a salad spinner! Chop the romaine into bite size pieces. I find smaller chunks are more satisfying to eat. Next chop the toppings. Dice the red onion, green onion, and cilantro. Halve the cherry tomatoes, and shred the cheese if you using block cheese.
  2. Next cook the taco meat. In a skillet over medium heat add the ground beef. Cook until browned, around 7-8 minutes. Add in the taco seasoning packet, and the amount of water listed on the back of the packet. Cook down until most of the water evaporates, but no so much that the beef is super dry. Set aside while making the dressing.
  3. In a mixing bowl, add sour cream, salsa, lime juice, jalapeño brine, and cumin. Mix well, taste, and adjust seasonings as needed.
  4. Assembly time! Start with a bed of romaine lettuce, top with corn, green onions, cherry tomatoes, cilantro, ground beef, cheese, jalapeños, and diced avocado. Drizzle with plenty of dressing and mix up the salad. Add tons of crunched Doritos. I just grab a handful and crunch right on top of the salad. Enjoy!

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