Chopped Doritos Taco Salad

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Put a new spin on taco night with this loaded Chopped Doritos Taco Salad. It is filled with seasoned taco meat, lettuce, crushed Doritos, and all of your favorite taco topping, and served with a taco-inspired dressing.

Chopped taco salad tossed and topped with crushed Doritos.

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This post was originally published in September 2019 and has been updated with recipe refinements, new photos, tips, and FAQs.

I love tacos... especially all of the fixings. I also love Doritos. There's Doritos Nachos, Doritos Taco Casserole, or Doritos Cheese Ball to cure the cravings!

This chopped taco salad combines all of the flavors and textures I love about tacos in each and every bite. And the Doritos may just be the star of this salad. They mimic the crunch of taco shells and add delicious cheesy flavor.

This salad is a great way to change up taco night. Customize with your favorite toppings for taco deliciousness in every fork full.

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Ingredients and notes
Step-by-step instructions
Tips for serving
Tips for prepping ahead of time
Recipe FAQs
Try these salads next
📖 Recipe Card
💬 Comments

Ingredients and notes

Ingredients for chopped Doritos taco salad.

Lettuce - Romaine is my go-to, but crisp iceberg also works very well.
Doritos - This is my favorite part of this salad! Any flavor works - try nacho cheese, cool ranch, sweet spicy chili, flamin' hot - whatever variety you love.
Toppings - My go-to taco fixings include olives, scallions, Colby Jack cheese, avocado, tomatoes, red onions, and cilantro.
Dressing - This dressing is a simple blend of traditional taco condiments - sour cream, salsa, and lime juice - seasoned with chili powder and cumin. This is the same dressing I serve with Mexican Cobb Salad.
Taco Meat - I use ground turkey, but ground beef and chicken can also be used.
Taco seasonings - Skip the packet and turn to your spice cabinet instead. Chili powder, cumin, onion and garlic powder, oregano, and salt and pepper round out the homemade seasoning mix.

ingredients for taco meat with ground turkey.

Step-by-step instructions

See the recipe card for complete instructions and ingredient amounts.

This salad has a few steps, but the steps are easy and some can be prepped ahead of time.

In a large skillet, add the ground turkey and spices.

Cooking ground turkey with spices in a skillet.

Cook until no longer pink, breaking apart the meat and stirring to incorporate the seasonings. The turkey should reach a temperature of 165 degrees.
Add the taco sauce. Stir and simmer for 1-2 minutes.

Adding taco sauce to seasoned turkey in a skillet.

Prep the toppings.
In a large serving bowl, add the lettuce and top with the taco meat, tomatoes, olives, scallions, avocado, red onions, cheese, and cilantro. Top with crushed Doritos.
Mix the dressing ingredients together.
Toss the salad together and serve with dressing.

Serving bowl filled with lettuce and topped with the other ingredients in groupings.

Tips for serving

I love to plate the salad in a large bowl with the ingredients grouped together. It's a stunning presentation and then the salad can be tossed together as it's served.
Let the taco meat cool slightly before building the salad to keep the other ingredients fresh.
Dice the avocado and toss it with lime juice right before assembling the salad.
Add the crushed Doritos right before serving so the chips retain their crunchy texture.
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.

Large serving bowl of Doritos taco salad next to a pitcher of dressing and bowl of Doritos.

Tips for prepping ahead of time

Prepare the taco meat and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.
Slice the olives, scallions, and red onions and store them, covered, in the fridge for 1-2 days.
Grate the cheese and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days.
Mix the dressing and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Doritos taco salad with dressing on a plate.

Recipe FAQs

What is in a chopped salad?

A chopped salad contains bite-sized ingredients that make the salad easy to eat. Any of your favorite salads can be prepared in this chopped style. Taco salads and Cobb salads are popular chopped salads.

How do I chop lettuce for a chopped salad?

To chop romaine, trim off the stem end. Cut the romaine heart in half lengthwise (from top to bottom). Then thinly slice the lettuce crosswise. Rinse and spin it dry in a salad spinner.
For iceberg lettuce, remove the core. Cut the head into small wedges. Slice crosswise into thin slices. Rinse and spin dry using a salad spinner.

How do I keep chopped lettuce crisp?

It's best to chop the lettuce right before assembling the salad for the freshest texture.

Chopped Dorito Taco Salad will transform your weekly taco night. Add your family's favorite toppings and enjoy the best of tacos in a salad.