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    Recipes » Recipes

    Easy Dorito Casserole Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: Aug 25, 2020 · Modified: Aug 7, 2021 by Dee

    Easy Dorito Casserole recipe made with ground beef, taco seasoning, cheese, salsa, sour cream and Doritos tortilla chips is a family favorite! This delicious dinner is comfort food your whole family will enjoy! via @meamel

    Easy Dorito Casserole recipe made with ground beef, taco seasoning, cheese, salsa, sour cream and Doritos tortilla chips is a family favorite! dinner idea! This delicious dinner is hearty comfort food your whole family will love!

    Jump to Recipe -
    Dorito Casserole with ground beef and tomatoes on a serving spoon

    This layered ground beef taco casserole with Doritos is the kind of easy dinner recipe you make when you're craving comfort food and you happen to find an unopened bag of Doritos in your pantry.

    Somehow, these cheesy tortilla chips found their way into our home. So, I used them to make a Mexican ground beef casserole-- kind of like a taco bake or Southwestern Lasagna.

    It's loaded with layers of cheese, taco meat and crunchy Doritos. It's an easy weeknight meal and a great recipe that's perfect for Taco Tuesday. Even my picky eater loves it!

    Ingredients

    This easy ground beef recipe is made with simple ingredients. You probably have most of them in your pantry or fridge right now:

    • Lean ground beef
    • Taco seasoning
    • Cheddar cheese or Mexican blend cheese
    • Sour cream
    • Salsa -- use hot or mild
    • Nacho Cheese Doritos
    • Water or beef broth
    • Jalapeno peppers (optional)

    A lot of Dorito casserole recipes call for a can of cream of mushroom soup or cream of chicken soup, but this one doesn't.  I don't think you need it since you get creaminess from the sour cream and the shredded cheese.

    How to Make Dorito Casserole with Ground Beef

    First, start out by browning the ground beef and chopped jalapeño peppers in a large skillet over medium heat.

    If you don't have fresh jalapeño peppers, you can use a can of Rotel tomatoes, green chiles or a can of jalapeño peppers.

    You can also leave the peppers out completely if you want a milder casserole. My kids love spice, but not everyone does.

    saute ground beef with jalapeno peppers

    I use my favorite spices for my own homemade taco seasoning. We have tacos almost weekly, so it's cheaper to make your own. But, you can use a package of your favorite taco seasoning here.

    Just mix it into the beef and add some water or beef broth for extra flavor. Then, stir in your sour cream.

    Crush up some Doritos, and add a layer of Doritos into a greased casserole dish. You want them crushed into smaller pieces, but don't crush them up too fine -- otherwise, they'll turn to mush!

    crushed doritos nacho cheese chips in casserole dish

    Next, layer part of the cooked ground beef mixture, a cup of cheese and some salsa over the Dorito chips. Repeat the layers until everything is used up.

    You should end with a layer of crushed Doritos and shredded cheese on top. I usually add more cheese right before serving so that it's nice and melty! Nothing wrong with loads of cheese here!

    how to layer doritos, ground beef, shredded cheese and salsa in casserole dish

    Baking Time

    Pop the taco casserole into the oven for about 15 minutes or until it's hot and bubbly. Add even more shredded cheese on the top if you want right before serving.

    And that is it, my friends! This easy ground beef taco bake is perfect when you need comfort food in a hurry!

    Serving Suggestion

    You can use your favorite taco toppings on this ground beef casserole:

    • Sour cream
    • Diced tomatoes
    • Guacamole
    • Avocados
    • Lettuce or salad
    • Easy Homemade Salsa
    • Pico de gallo
    • Green Onions
    dorito taco bake topped with tomatoes and cilantro in white baking dish

    How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

    This taco bake makes a lot of food. I love using the leftovers later in the week for easy dinners during the school year.

    To store the casserole, cover it in plastic wrap or transfer to a covered container. It keeps well for 3 to 4 days. For longer storage, place the casserole in a freezer safe container, and freeze.

    To reheat, pop it into the microwave until heated through.It's almost better the next day since the tortilla chips are soft. Almost like beef enchiladas!

    doritos ground beef and cheese casserole on a serving spoon

    Variations

    Make this hearty casserole even heartier by adding black beans and corn to your meat mixture.

    You can make Dorito Chicken Casserole by using cooked chicken, ground chicken or rotisserie chicken. Cool Ranch Doritos go well with this version!

    I have tried using cream cheese in place of sour cream, but it wasn't as creamy as I wanted. Sour cream blends much easier.

    dorito casserole with tomatoes on a serving spooon

    Easy Dorito Casserole Recipe

    Published by Dee
    Easy Dorito Casserole recipe made with ground beef, taco seasoning, cheese, salsa, sour cream and Doritos tortilla chips is a family favorite! dinner idea! This delicious dinner is hearty comfort food your whole family will love!
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Recipe Share by Email
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 35 mins
    Course Main
    Cuisine American, Mexican
    Servings 8
    Calories 436 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 ½ pounds ground beef
    • 1 jalapeno pepper finely chopped
    • taco seasoning 2 to 3 tablespoons homemade or 1 packet
    • 1 cup water or beef broth
    • ½ cup sour cream
    • Doritos tortilla chips (about 4 cups crushed) use as much as you need
    • 3 cups shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
    • 2 cups salsa use your favorite here

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 375 degrees f
    • Brown the ground beef and jalapeno pepper in a large skillet
    • Drain grease if necessary, and add taco seasoning and water, and simmer until most of water is absorbed
    • Turn off heat, and stir in sour cream until well blended.
    • Spray a medium casserole dish with cooking spray, then add enough crushed Doritos to cover the bottom of the dish
    • Layer half of the ground beef mixture over the Doritos, then add 1 cup shredded cheese and 1 cup of salsa
    • Repeat layers, ending with crushed Doritos, followed by shredded cheese on top
    • Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until bubbly and cheese is melted. Add more cheese to top before serving, if desired

    Notes

    I used nacho cheese flavored Doritos, but any flavor is fine.
    If you don't have sour cream, you can substitute your favorite cream soup.
    Recipe has been updated as of 2021.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 436kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 26gFat: 34gSaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 114mgSodium: 1112mgPotassium: 475mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1105IUVitamin C: 3.8mgCalcium: 356mgIron: 2.3mg
    Keyword dorito casserole, taco casserole with doritos
    Tried this recipe? Please comment and rate it! Show me your dish on Instagram!Mention @meatloafandmelodrama or tag #meatloafandmelodrama!
    easy doritos casserole with ground beef and cheese on a spoon

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. James says

      September 15, 2020 at 11:39 am

      We have made this twice in the past week. Easy and tasty. Replacing Taco Tuesday with this from now on!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        September 15, 2020 at 3:33 pm

        Thanks, James! So glad you liked it!

    2. Emily says

      September 02, 2020 at 10:15 pm

      Such a great idea! The picky eaters in my family loved the Doritos in this!

      Reply
    3. James says

      July 17, 2019 at 6:48 am

      Tried this last night and it was awesome. the kids loved it too!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        July 17, 2019 at 2:04 pm

        So happy to hear this, James. Thanks!

    4. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says

      July 13, 2019 at 9:05 pm

      Looks like a perfect weeknight dinner! Yum!5 stars

      Reply
    5. Sara Welch says

      July 12, 2019 at 2:47 pm

      What an easy and tasty casserole! This was just what I was looking for; excited to make this for dinner tonight!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        July 15, 2019 at 9:28 am

        Hope you like the casserole, Sara!

    6. Catalina says

      July 12, 2019 at 1:34 pm

      I am drooling over this casserole. All these ingredients that I love! Yummy!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        July 16, 2019 at 11:06 am

        Thanks, Catalina! It's definitely comfort food!

    7. Melanie Bauer says

      July 12, 2019 at 8:22 am

      Looks like a fabulous dinner! So tasty and flavorful, definitely making this!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        July 16, 2019 at 11:05 am

        Hope you like the casserole, Melanie! 🙂

    8. Kimberly says

      July 11, 2019 at 4:48 pm

      This looks like the perfect comfort food for a busy weeknight!

      Reply
    9. Demeter says

      July 11, 2019 at 1:55 pm

      This is such a fun idea for dinner! So much flavor and love how easy it is to make.5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        July 11, 2019 at 10:28 pm

        It's super easy to make! Thanks, Demeter.

    10. Stephanie says

      July 11, 2019 at 10:06 am

      Love this casserole! Doritos make everything better!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        July 11, 2019 at 10:28 pm

        Thanks, Stephanie -- I completely agree with you!

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    I’m the blogger, chief cook, recipe developer and photographer behind Meatloaf and Melodrama. I absolutely love to create easy, budget-friendly, homemade meals and treats for my family. I also love to think of new ways to repurpose leftovers so that my family will actually eat them!

    More about me →

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