Dorito Taco Salad with Catalina Dressing: Festive Tex-Mex Dinner

Say goodbye to boring salads! This Dorito Taco Salad transforms an ordinary weeknight dinner into a festive fiesta that your family will beg for again and again. Featuring seasoned ground beef, kidney beans, fresh vegetables, and the irresistible crunch of Doritos chips, all combined with a creamy salsa dressing and topped with a sweet-tangy Catalina dressing. What makes this salad special is its perfect balance of textures and flavors: crisp lettuce, savory meat, creamy beans, and those addictively crunchy tortilla chips. Best of all, it comes together in just 25 minutes without heating your kitchen, making it ideal for busy weeknights or summer dinners!

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Why You Should Try This Recipe for Taco Salad with Doritos

This Dorito Taco Salad succeeds brilliantly because it combines the beloved flavors of tacos with the satisfying crunch of Doritos chips. The two-dressing approach creates incredible depth – a creamy salsa dressing coats all the ingredients, while the sweet-tangy Catalina dressing adds a bright finishing touch. By cooling the meat mixture before combining with the fresh ingredients, you maintain the perfect temperature contrast between warm and cool elements. The combination of proteins, vegetables, and crunchy chips ensures this salad satisfies even the heartiest appetites.

Dorito Taco Salad With Catalina Dressing – Ingredients You Will Need

Here’s what you will need to make this Dorito taco salad recipe:

• Ground Beef – Provides hearty protein and savory foundation
• Red Kidney Beans – Adds protein, fiber, and creamy texture
• Onion – Contributes aromatic flavor and slight crunch
• Iceberg Lettuce – Creates crisp, refreshing base that holds up to other ingredients
• Tomatoes – Adds fresh acidity and bright color
• Cheddar Cheese – Contributes rich, savory flavor and creamy texture
• Doritos Chips – Delivers the signature crunch and bold flavor
• Pace Picante Salsa – Forms flavor-packed base for the dressing
• Mayonnaise – Creates creamy texture in the dressing
• Catalina Dressing – Adds sweet-tangy finish that brightens the entire dish

What Is Catalina Dressing?

Catalina dressing is similar to French dressing but is thinner and redder because of its high ketchup content. You can buy ready-made Catalina dressing or make Catalina dressing.

How to Make Taco Salad with Doritos

Here are the simple steps to make this tasty Tex-Mex salad:

1. Brown the ground beef and onion in a large skillet, add the kidney beans, and set the mixture aside to cool.

2. Stir the salsa, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper together.

3. Place the lettuce, chopped tomatoes, and cheese in a large bowl.

4. Add the beef mixture and Doritos chips.
5. Pour the salsa dressing over everything and toss to combine.

6. Serve and drizzle Catalina Dressing over the top of the salad.

What Is Catalina Dressing?

Catalina dressing is a vibrant red, sweet-tangy salad dressing similar to French dressing but with a thinner consistency and more pronounced tomato flavor. The bright red color comes from its high ketchup or tomato paste content, and it typically includes oil, vinegar, sugar, and various spices. While you can purchase ready-made Catalina dressing in most grocery stores, it’s also relatively simple to make at home by combining ketchup, vinegar, vegetable oil, sugar, and seasonings.

Ingredient Substitutions and Modifications

• Protein Options: Substitute ground turkey or chicken for beef, or use leftover rotisserie chicken
• Bean Variations: Replace kidney beans with black beans or pinto beans
• Cheese Choices: Try Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, Pepper Jack, or Mexican cheese blend
• Lettuce Alternatives: Swap iceberg for romaine or a spring mix for added nutrition
• Dressing Options: Replace Catalina with Thousand Island, Western, Ranch, or French dressing
• Chip Varieties: Experiment with Nacho Cheese Doritos, Cool Ranch Doritos, or Chili Cheese Fritos
• Added Vegetables: Enhance with corn, black olives, bell peppers, avocado, or cucumber

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

• Refrigeration: Dressed salad with chips will only last about 8 hours before becoming soggy
• Component Storage: Store prepared components separately for up to 3 days in airtight containers
• Make-Ahead Strategy: Prepare beef mixture and dressing up to 2 days ahead; chop vegetables the morning of serving
• Avoid Freezing: This salad does not freeze well and will become watery when thawed

Serving Suggestions

This hearty salad works as a complete meal on its own, but pairs beautifully with these sides:

• Guacamole with tortilla chips
• Corn salsa or grilled corn on the cob
• Cilantro lime rice
• Fresh sliced avocado
• Sour cream for dolloping on top
• Lime wedges for squeezing over individual portions

For a complete fiesta experience, serve with Bloody Marys or Watermelon Margaritas for adults or homemade lemonade for a family-friendly option.

Don’t forget cocktails beforehand – Bloody Marys or Watermelon Margaritas. And, for a nonalcoholic drink, go with homemade lemonade.

More Mexican Salads

• Chicken Fajita Salad
• Frito Taco Salad
• Taco Bell Chicken Power Bowl
• Taco Bowl
• Wendy’s Taco Salad

Popular Mexican Recipes

• Applebee’s Wonton Tacos
• Cafe Rio Chicken
• Dorito Casserole
• Fiesta Lime Chicken
• Sonic Frito Burrito
• Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme
• Taco Bell Enchrito
• Taco Soup

Check out more of my easy salad recipes and the best Mexican food recipes on CopyKat!

Thanks to JTill0915 for this salad recipe.