This Taco salad with Doritos and Catalina Dressing is an old family favorite. This is the original taco salad recipe from the 70’s and is most certainly a crowd favorite. Ground Beef, fresh lettuce, chili beans and Doritos mixed with a sweet and zingy Catalina dressing and you’ve got a winner.
This recipe was first published November of 2010 and updated October 2021 with new step by step photos.
The last time I made this Dorito taco salad with Doritos and Catalina Dressing, I was wearing bell bottom jeans which had been split at the hem to insert a flowered cloth panel to make them even more bell bottomed, a tie-dyed t-shirt that I dyed myself and Cat Stevens was playing in the background “Ooo baby baby it’s a wild world”.
Talk about nostalgia, between this recipe and boxed Kraft Macaroni and Cheese is what I lived on while receiving my higher education.
Why Catalina Dressing Makes This Salad Pop
This version is the original recipe for taco salad, which I’m assuming we found on a Kraft Catalina Dressing bottle. However we found it, it was a staple because it’s easy and it’s delicious, it makes a large batch and it’s inexpensive to make.
Catalina dressing is a tomato based dressing that is similar to French dressing but a little darker in color, tangier and a little sweeter. It also get a little kick from a dash of hot sauce or chile powder. It’s sweet flavor brings a wonderful combo of sweet and salty when combined with the chips, ground beef and taco seasoning.
Once assembled the salad has it all, sweet, salty, creamy, crunchy and full of Mexican style flavors.
We love anything taco inspired a our house and this salad fits that bill. It’s one of our favorite taco salad dishes.
Let’s take a look.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Catalina Dressing: I like to make homemade my Catalina Dressing Recipe. You can also purchase bottled Kraft brand at the grocery store. A good substitute is bottled dressing labeled Western Dressing. I have also used French dressing.
- Canned Beans: Please look for canned beans labeled “beans in chili sauce”, or “ranch style beans” If you can’t find those, a can of pinto beans or red kidney beans, drained, will work.
- Ground Beef: If you’re opposed to eating beef, ground chicken or turkey will work great in this recipe. You can also make this vegetarian by using a plant based meat substitute.
- Cheese: I like shredded cheddar for this recipe, but a mix of Monterey Jack or Pepper Jack and cheddar would be good here.
- Taco Seasoning: Again, I like to make the best Homemade Taco Seasoning, but simply use a packet of your favorite brand from the grocery store to season this taco meat.
- Lettuce: A mix of Romaine and Iceberg lettuces are good here.
Chef Tip: I like to purchase Cherub brand tomatoes. Cherubs are a variety of grape tomatoes which have a stronger outer skin and meatier, less watery flesh. They are easier to slice for salads, hold up better during cooking or roasting and are reliable year round with their mild, sweet flavor.
Variations
You can use either Doritos or Fritos brand chips for this recipe. I’ve used both when I make this and I simply couldn’t tell which I prefer. Either are good here.
Dorito Taco Salad With Catalina Dressing, Step by Step Instructions
- Step 1: Brown the ground beef: In a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and the chopped onion and cook until beef is no longer pink. I snuck some chopped green chile peppers into the mix. The recipe doesn’t call for this, but I just couldn’t help myself. Set aside.
- Step 2: Add taco seasoning and ½ cup of water. Stir well and cook for about 15 minutes.
- Step 3: Add the beans in chile sauce (undrained and not rinsed) and stir until the beans have blended with the ground beef mixture. Continue cooking until the beans are heated through.
- Step 4: Build that salad: Start by placing the chopped lettuce in your favorite large salad bowl.
- Step 5: Load up those greens with the ingredients. Browned ground beef meat and bean mix, sliced olives, chopped tomatoes and the taco chips. We like Nacho Cheese flavored Doritos for this recipe.
- Step 6: Add the Catalina Dressing and with salad tongs, mix well until the ingredients are well coated.
- Step 7: Add Cheese: Top the salad with grated cheese and serve immediately.
Tips For Success
- Let the beef and bean mixture cool down a bit before adding it with the lettuce. You don’t want it so hot that it will wilt the lettuce.
- Use a salad spinner or paper towels to dry those salad greens. Removing as much moisture as you can will help keep the lettuce crisp once it’s dressed.
- Add ons: If you’re looking to embellish this Dorito Salad, try topping it with a dollop of sour cream, guacamole or even fresh cubed avocado.
- This recipe can easily be double to make a Taco Salad to feed a crowd.
- Don’t go overboard with the Catalina Dressing. Too much can make the salad soggy
- You can break up the Doritos, but don’t over crush them. The dressing will slightly soften the chips. If the chips are crushed, you’ll end up with soggy chips.
How To Make Dorito Taco Salad Ahead?
Just follow this layering method for prep-ahead. Add the cooled ground beef and bean mixture in a large bowl. Add the salad greens, olives and tomatoes. Refrigerate. Right before serving, add the tortilla chips and the dressing and toss well. Sprinkle on the cheese and serve.
FAQ’s
Unfortunately not, once you dress the salad it will not be crunchy the next day. Trying to save leftovers for the next day just doesn’t work well. The vinegar in the dressing will wilt the salad leaves and the tortilla chips will also become soggy.
The classic Nacho Cheese is preferred. But use your favorite.
You’ll be very disappointed if you do. Canned tomatoes are cooked and using them will compromise the fresh texture of this salad.
Taco Salad With Doritos and Catalina Dressing
This Taco Salad can be prepared with Doritos or Fritos. And you can still find bottled Catalina Dressing on the salad dressing aisle at your market. But if you can’t find it, I urge you to make Homemade Catalina Dressing. It’s easy.
More Popular Main Course Salad Recipes
And if you’re looking for more salad recipes, don’t miss my salad category. You’ll find lots of fresh recipes, including the most popular on my site for Louisiana Sunburst Salad.
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Original Taco Salad Made with Catalina Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef lean
- 1 cup Sweet onion chopped
- 1 package taco seasoning mix or two tablespoons homemade taco seasoning
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup fresh tomato diced
- 2 cups Catalina dressing
- 15 ounce beans in chili sauce drained but not rinsed
- 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese grated. We like sharp cheddar here.
- 9.25 ounce bag Dorito Corn Chips Nacho cheese flavor, or Fritos
- ½ cup black olives sliced
- 1 head romaine lettuce rinsed and torn into bite sized pieces. I like to combine romaine and iceberg lettuce here.
Instructions
- Brown hamburger and onion in fry pan. Add taco seasoning, and water. Simmer until thick (about 15 ). Stir occasionally so it doesn't stick.
- Add beans in chili sauce and stir into the meat mixture after it's thickened. If using red navy beans or pinto beans without the sauce, drain before adding to the meat mixture.
- Place lettuce in a large bowl and add cooled beef and bean mixture. You don't want the beef to be so hot that it will wilt the lettuce.
- Add taco chips, chopped tomatoes and olives. Mix in enough Catalina Dressing to generously coat the ingredients. Top with grated cheddar cheese.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Dorito Taco Salad With Catalina Dressing …It’s What’s For Dinner.
Why Trust My Recipes? I am a Culinary School Graduate and a lifelong student of home cooking. I hope to inspire you try to cook as often as you can. I’ve been cooking for 50 years, and my recipes are tried and true tested and tested and then tested again before published. To read more take a look at my About Page.
We loved this salad but especially your Catalina Dressing.
DH says not to lose it. Great for this warm winter day.
Have been making this great taco salad for a while now & thought it was time for a review. We absolutely love it! Finally made it for company & they really liked it…even had seconds & asked for the recipe. A sure sign that it is a hit. I make the homemade taco seasoning & the homemade Catalina dressing, & we like Fritos. Soo good!
Hi Emily and thanks so much for taking the time to write a review for this recipe. It’s wonderful that you use the homemade taco seasoning and homemade Catalina. It really does make a difference. It’s one of our “oldie but goodie” favorite recipes.
This is a family favorite, but I disagree with letting the meat/chili bean mixture cool down. We added it hot, to melt the cheese. The iceberg lettuce was always great. ….and, as a left-over, of course, never a problem! It becomes like a dip (heated up in the microwave) for left-over chips! We LOVE it!
We also used Catalina dressing, but three flavors of tortilla chips instead of one. Always serve extra tortilla chips with this dish!
You can omit, or add your favorite ingredients. My family of five, preferred to leave out the onion, and black olives, but I personally love them…so now, I sometimes I add them. Also, having an avocado sliced on the side makes my happy! lol
This is a crowd pleaser…just double the recipe! The aroma is simply tantalizing!
My mom made this a lot growing up. Ranch style beans and taco flavored Doritos. Those Doritos of that flavor are very hard to find, but make a big difference in overall taste. My friends all loved eating it at our house.
I love this recipe. It is what we used in the 70’s. I always used Catalina dressing & people didn’t trust that. Now I have proof!!!
This is an oldie but goodie and I’ve always liked. You are right, Fritos or Doritos, they are both good. 😊
Love taco salad — all the different flavors, and so satisfying. Yours looks terrific — thanks.
Oh goody! Another family favorite and college meal! I love your keeper. Will definitely be giving this a try soon. Thanks!
Love the picture! Looks tasty!
I think I’m from a younger generation but I still play Cat Stevens in the background when I cook and I do love tie-dyes. This recipe looks delish!
I haven’t made a salad like this in waaaaay to long. It is one of my favorites. I remember those days of bell bottoms and tye died T-shirts.
I’m in college right now and I would eat this in minute – even though I am an ‘older’ college student! I like the dressing in it – so different – in a good way!