Doritos Taco Casserole

Name: Doritos Taco Casserole
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 Pound 90% Lean Ground Beef; 1 Onion Onion (Diced); 2 Cloves Garlic (Minced); 1 Package Taco Seasoning; 2/3 Cup Water; 1 Can Cream of Chicken (Soup); 1 Can Pinto Beans (Drained and Rinsed); 2 Cups Monterey Jack Cheese (Shredded); 1 10 Ounce Bag Nacho Cheese Doritos (Crushed); Lettuce, Tomatoes, Jalapenos, Cheese, Sour Cream, and Catalina Dressing (To Serve)

posted by Krystle Smith on August 11, 2020 0 Comments »

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(Last Updated On: August 19, 2020)

Flavorful ground beef, and melty cheese in a crunchy Doritos crust. Bring your family to the table and have them begging for seconds! Serve with queso and Mexican street corn for a complete meal.

dorito casserole on a white plate topped with lettuce, black olives, and jalapeno

If you love Doritos you’re going to love this Dorito taco casserole. This is a creative way to switch up taco Tuesday. The bottom layer is Doritos (Hello snack food for dinner)! Then flavorful ground beef, hearty beans, of course, plenty of cheese.

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Everyone in the house will enjoy filling their plate up favorite toppings and a dollop of sour cream. My plate has just a bit of everything for the perfect bite.

Best of all this casserole comes together quickly making it perfect for dinner on busy weeknights.

casserole in a glass baking dish topped with cheese, lettuce, and Catalina dressing

Ingredient Notes

Catalina dressing is a mix of ketchup, sugar, red wine vinegar, canola oil, paprika, onion powder, celery flakes, and seasonings blended to create a red-hued dressing. It has a slightly tangy taste which adds a wonderful flavor to this casserole. I used storebought, but you could always make your own too.

Toppings: Use your favorite toppings, the skies the limit! Consider queso, pico de gallo, avocado black olives, salsa, guacamole, ect.
I used lean ground beef. If you’re using a fattier version, be sure to drain it before adding to the casserole. You could also use cooked chicken, pork carnitas, or even make it vegetarian with just beans.
Doritos: I do not suggest crushing in a food processor. Instead, crush in a plastic baggie with a rolling pin. This will give you larger pieces that won’t get soggy.

Tips

If you want to make this taco casserole with Doritos for a potluck or to share with a neighbor make it in a disposable aluminum foil pan. That way you don’t have to worry about getting your pan back.
If the topping begins to brown before your casserole is done baking, cover with foil for the remainder of the baking time.
Line your casserole dish with foil sprayed with nonstick cooking spray to make cleanup a breeze.
I like to brown my ground beef using a potato masher. It breaks it up into the perfect sized pieces with less work. Just be sure to not use a metal potato masher on a non-stick skillet.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Make It Ahead?

You can make this casserole ahead of time. Gather up the ingredients, and follow the instructions up until step 4. You can store the unbaked casserole in the refrigerator overnight and cook the next evening. Bake right before serving.

Can You Freeze It?

If you want to make it more than one day in advance, then you could freeze it unbaked. Place the casserole in an airtight container that’s freezer safe and store in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw before cooking. You can also store leftovers in an airtight container in the freezer. I like to freeze individual portions, so I can pull one out for dinner as needed.

How Long Will It Last?

This Dorito casserole keeps well in the fridge for 3-4 days. Keep at room temperature no more than 2 hours. It will also freeze well for up to 3 months.

an overhead shot of taco casserole topped with cheese and drizzled with Catalina dressing on a red placemat

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What do you think of this Doritos taco casserole recipe? Let me know by leaving a comment or rating below.