Dorito Beef Taco Salad Bowl
It’s easy, it’s fun, and it’s a meal that your kids will actually want to eat. This Dorito beef taco salad bowl ticks all the important boxes! It feels pretty balanced thanks to the protein-packed beef, beans, and all the fresh veggies.
You cook up the taco-seasoned ground beef, pile it over a crunchy layer of Doritos, and load it up with corn, lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese. The whole thing eats like a big, colorful taco bowl, and kids love building their own plates (the Doritos definitely help here). It’s a quick lunch or dinner that feels playful but still gets a solid meal on the table. My favorite kind of compromise.
I love a dinner bowl kind of situation, so make sure you also take a look at some more of my favorites, like my shrimp fajita bowls with chipotle sauce, hot honey chicken and rice bowls, sloppy Joe bowls, ground beef burrito bowls, fish taco bowls with cilantro lime sauce, and TikTok viral cottage cheese ground beef bowls!
Ingredients
Note: You’ll find a printable recipe card at the bottom of this post!
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Ground beef — hearty, flavorful base for the salad
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Taco seasoning — brings that classic taco flavor
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Water — helps the seasoning coat the beef
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Nacho Cheese Doritos — the crunchy, cheesy star of the whole thing
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Shredded mild cheddar cheese — melty, kid-approved topping
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Black beans, rinsed and drained — adds extra protein and texture
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Corn, rinsed and drained — a little sweetness in every bite
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Chopped romaine lettuce — crisp, fresh crunch
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Cherry tomatoes, halved — juicy pop of brightness
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Fresh cilantro — optional, but great for a fresh finish
How To Make Dorito Beef Taco Salad
- Warm a large pan over medium-high heat, then add the ground beef. Cook it, breaking it up as it browns, for about 7 to 10 minutes. Drain off any extra grease.
- Stir in the taco seasoning and water. Mix until everything’s coated, then let it simmer for 1 to 2 minutes. Take it off the heat and set it aside.
- To build your bowls, start with a generous layer of Doritos on the bottom of each one.
- Spoon one-third of the seasoned beef over the chips, then layer on one-third of the cheese, beans, corn, lettuce, and tomatoes.
- Add your favorite toppings — guacamole, sour cream, salsa, whatever you love.
- Finish with a little fresh cilantro and serve right away so the chips stay nice and crispy.
Recipe Notes
You can use any flavor of Doritos here, but Nacho Cheese gives that classic taco-salad vibe. If you want a little more heat, Spicy Nacho or Flaming Hot are fun.
Assemble the bowls right before serving so the chips stay crunchy. Once the beef or toppings sit too long, they soften pretty quickly.
Feel free to warm the beans and corn if you prefer a cozier bowl, or keep them chilled for more of a crisp, refreshing salad. Both work.
If your taco seasoning packet is on the saltier side, start with a little less and adjust after the beef cooks.
Chop the lettuce into bite-sized pieces so it mixes easily with the chips and toppings (big pieces make everything harder to scoop).
And if you’re serving this for a family dinner, set everything out buffet-style. Everyone builds their own bowl, and it’s always a hit.
Variations
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Swap the protein — Ground turkey or chicken works just as well if you want something a little lighter.
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Try different Doritos — Cool Ranch, Spicy Nacho, or even Flaming Hot if your crew likes things bold.
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Make it extra cheesy — Add Monterey Jack or pepper jack for a little kick.
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Go big on veggies — Toss in cucumbers, bell peppers, shredded carrots, or whatever needs using up in the fridge.
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Add rice — A small scoop of warm rice under the beef turns it into a hearty burrito-bowl-meets-salad situation.
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Make it creamy — Drizzle with ranch, chipotle mayo, or a simple lime crema for a little extra richness.
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Kid-friendly version — Keep the chips and cheese, and let them skip anything they’re not into. Build-your-own bowls always win.
Meal Prep Tips
If you want to get a head start, prep all the components separately so everything stays fresh. Cook the beef and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. It reheats quickly in a pan or the microwave. Chop the lettuce, tomatoes, and cilantro ahead of time, but keep them in their own containers or zip-top bags with a paper towel to absorb extra moisture. The beans and corn can be rinsed and stored separately as well.
The one thing you don’t want to prep early is the actual assembly. Add the Doritos right before serving so they stay crunchy. To make busy nights easier, you can portion out the toppings in little containers and let everyone build their own bowls when it’s time to eat.
Dorito Beef Taco Salad Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 1 oz packet taco seasoning
- ¼ cup water
- 1 9.5 oz bag Nacho Cheese Doritos
- 1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese
- 1 cup canned black beans rinsed and drained
- 1 cup canned corn rinsed and drained
- 2 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- Fresh cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Warm a large pan over medium-high heat, then add the ground beef. Cook it, breaking it up as it browns, for about 7 to 10 minutes. Drain off any extra grease.
- Stir in the taco seasoning and water. Mix until everything’s coated, then let it simmer for 1 to 2 minutes. Take it off the heat and set it aside.
- To build your bowls, start with a generous layer of Doritos on the bottom of each one.
- Spoon one-third of the seasoned beef over the chips, then layer on one-third of the cheese, beans, corn, lettuce, and tomatoes.
- Add your favorite toppings — guacamole, sour cream, salsa, whatever you love.
- Finish with a little fresh cilantro and serve right away so the chips stay nice and crispy.
I hope this Dorito beef taco salad makes it into your easy-dinner rotation. It’s one of those meals that disappears fast and somehow makes everyone a little happier at the table. If you try it, let me know what Doritos flavor won at your house… we’re always switching it up. Enjoy!
