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.
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. This chopped taco salad is the perfect way to get all these flavors and textures in each and every bite.
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.
For more Doritos recipes, try reader-favorite Doritos Nachos, Doritos Taco Casserole, or Doritos Cheese Ball.
Ingredients and notes
- 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.
- 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.
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.
- 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.
- 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. I serve this same dressing with my Mexican Cobb salad.
- Toss the salad together and serve with dressing.
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.
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.
FAQs
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.
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.
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.
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Chopped Doritos Taco Salad
Ingredients
Taco meat
- 2 teaspoons oil
- 16-20 ounces ground turkey (or ground beef or chicken)
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup taco sauce
Taco salad
- 2 Romaine lettuce hearts (chopped)
- 1 cup small cherry tomatoes (halved)
- ½ cup chopped scallions
- ½ cup sliced red onion
- ¾ cup sliced black olives
- 2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese
- 1 cup cilantro leaves
- 1 avocado (diced and tossed in lime juice)
- 2 cups Nacho cheese Doritos (crushed, plus extra for serving)
Salsa dressing
- 1 cup sour cream
- ¼ cup salsa
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 1 lime (juiced)
Instructions
Taco meat
- Heat the oil in a large skillet set over medium heat. Add the ground turkey and break apart. Add the chili powder, cumin, onion and garlic powder, oregano, salt, and pepper. Coo
- Cook the turkey until no longer pink, stirring to incorporate the spices and crumble the meat. The turkey should reach a temperature of 165 degrees.
- Add the taco sauce and stir together. Simmer for 1-2 minutes. (Note 1) Cool the meat slightly.
Taco salad
- In a large serving bowl, add the lettuce. Top with the tomatoes, scallions, onions, olives, cheese, cilantro, avocado, and crushed Doritos. Toss together. Serve with dressing on the side.
Salsa dressing
- In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, salsa, chili powder, cumin, and the juice of one lime. Stir together.
Notes
- If using ground beef, drain the excess fat before adding the taco sauce.
- Dice the avocado right before assembling the salad. Add crushed Doritos right before serving.
- Many of the individual components can be prepped ahead of time. Refer to the make-ahead tips section in the post above.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and will vary depending upon the exact amounts and specific ingredients used.
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