This Dorito casserole is layers of crushed Doritos tortilla chips, ground beef, salsa and cheese, all baked together to golden brown perfection. An easy dinner option that the whole family will love!
I’m all about the hearty casseroles, my family’s favorites include beef noodle casserole, chicken and rice casserole and this Mexican style Dorito casserole. This unique dish is quick to assemble and tastes just like tacos!
There’s nothing better than a hot, cheesy casserole on a cold evening. This Dorito casserole is always a huge hit in my house, my kids always get so excited when it’s on the menu. I don’t blame them, chips for dinner is always a good thing!
This casserole makes for a delicious dinner along with Mexican inspired side dishes like cilantro lime rice, southwestern egg rolls and Mexican corn salad.
Dorito Casserole Ingredients
To make this Dorito casserole make sure you have olive oil, ground beef, onion, taco seasoning, salsa, sour cream, shredded cheese, Doritos chips, tomatoes and green onions. You may want some toppings for your casserole like sour cream, salsa or cilantro.
How Do You Make Dorito Casserole?
This Dorito casserole recipe starts with preheating your oven and heating olive oil in a large pan. Cook your ground beef in the large skillet and add onion. When cooked, add taco seasoning and red salsa. Remove the pan from the heat and stir sour cream into the ground beef mixture. Layer a baking dish with lightly crushed Doritos chips and place 1/3 of your meat mixture on the chips. Sprinkle shredded cheese over the beef. Do two more layers of chips, beef and cheese. The casserole goes into the oven to bake. Take the casserole out of the oven and add your favorite toppings.
Tips For The Perfect Dorito Casserole
- I use 90% lean ground beef. It has plenty of flavor but isn’t overly greasy. If you use beef with more fat you can drain some of the grease after you cook the beef.
- You can use any flavor Doritos you like, I typically make this dish with the nacho cheese flavored chips. Cool ranch and Doritos taco flavored chips would also be good.
- You can use your favorite taco seasoning or make your own taco seasoning.
- Feel free to use a jar of red salsa or make your own red Chipotle salsa.
- I use a blend of cheddar cheese and Monterey jack cheese for this casserole. You could also try a Mexican cheese blend or pepper jack cheese.
Quick Tip
You want to crush your chips into 1/2 inch pieces. If you make them too small, they’ll turn into mush in the casserole.
Recipe FAQs
A Dorito casserole stays good in an airtight container in a refrigerator for 3 days. You can reheat the casserole in an oven or reheat individual slices in a toaster oven or microwave.
You can assemble this Dorito casserole up to 6 hours before you plan to bake it. Place your covered casserole in the fridge until it’s time to put it in the oven. You may need to increase the baking time to compensate for starting with a cold casserole.
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Flavor Variations
There are so many ways to change up this Dorito casserole to suit your tastes, the possibilities are endless!
- Tortilla Chips: Substitute your favorite tortilla chips instead of flavored Doritos.
- Spicy: Use hot salsa and pepper jack cheese.
- Veggies: Add 1 finely diced bell pepper to the ground beef mixture or a small can of mild green chiles.
- Beans: Feel free to add pinto beans or black beans to your meat mixture with the taco seasoning and red salsa.
- Protein: Use ground turkey, ground chicken, rotisserie chicken or shredded chicken instead of the beef.
- Toppings: You can garnish your casserole with a variety of toppings. I typically serve my Doritos casserole with sour cream, diced tomatoes and green onions. Other great options are chopped cilantro, salsa fresca, olives, avocado and Chipotle guacamole.
I have to admit, I was skeptical the first time I made this one. Doritos chips, in casserole form? Trust me though, it really works! It’s like eating a super delicious taco with fixings. I often bring this casserole to potlucks and it always disappears instantly! If you like Mexican food, you’ll enjoy Doritos casserole.
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Dorito Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef I use 90% lean
- 1/2 cup onion finely diced
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 1/2 cups red salsa
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheese I used cheddar and Monterey Jack
- 4 cups Doritos chips I used nacho cheese flavor
- 1/2 cup tomatoes diced
- 1/4 cup green onions sliced
- cooking spray
- sour cream, cilantro and other taco toppings for serving optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a 2-3 quart baking dish with cooking spray.
- Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium high heat. Add the beef and cook for 4-5 minutes or until just browned, breaking up the meat with a spatula.
- Add the onion and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes or until onion is translucent.
- Stir in the taco seasoning and red salsa. Simmer for 3-4 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the sour cream.
- Lightly crush the Doritos. Spread 1/3 of the chips over the bottom of the prepared pan. Place 1/2 of the meat mixture on top of the chips, then add 1/3 of the cheese in an even layer.
- Repeat the process with another 1/3 of the chips, the rest of the meat, and 1/3 of the cheese.
- Add the remaining chips, then the final layer of cheese. Cover the baking dish with foil.
- Bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and starting to brown.
- Sprinkle the tomatoes and green onions over the casserole, then serve. Top with additional taco flavorings such as sour cream, olives, etc. if desired.
Notes
- You want to crush your chips into 1/2 inch pieces. If you make them too small, they’ll turn into mush in the casserole.
- I use 90% lean ground beef. It has plenty of flavor but isn’t overly greasy. If you use beef with more fat you can drain some of the grease after you cook the beef.
- You can use any flavor Doritos you like, I typically make this dish with the nacho cheese flavored chips. Cool ranch and Doritos taco flavored chips would also be good.
This is by far the best Doritos Casserole that I’ve made the whole family loved it & want it once a week…it’s a winner for us ❤️❤️❤️
I made thisecipe. It was so great. I added black beans to stretch the recipe. I shared with neighbors. Everyone thought it wa wonderful.Thank you so much for the recipe!! I will definitely make this again.
I added a can of sweet corn and black beans both drained and rinsed. And the family loved it ❤️
This was so good! I subbed ground turkey instead of beef. Definitely will make this again.
Can this be made in a crock pot? I’m doing the meat and salsa/seasoning a day ahead of time.
I would not make this in a crock pot as the chips will get overly soggy!
The family really, really, liked this! It will be made again !!!!!
I was so sketcal about making this dish, but it was GOOD! My family and I loved it so it’s definitely going into my favorites stash. 😉
Can this be baked half way thru, refrigerated and baked two days later?
I would not recommend it as the chips will get soggy!
I was rewatching Schitt’s Creek, and heard Jocelyn say she was on a Dorito casserole kick. I began to wonder if that was a real thing, so I googled it. This recipe was the top result, and since I’ve like other recipes I’ve found here, I decided to give it a try. I made it exactly as the recipe is written, and it was so delicious!!
The only suggestion I would offer, is that the olive oil isn’t necessary. The beef makes enough drippings to cook the onions in, and depending on the fat content of meat you use you’ll probably be draining off the extra grease anyway.
So easy and very tasty! Not gourmet, but perfect for a weeknight quicky meal.
Made as written. Very tasty. Will be making again.
Really Good! Except I added 1/2 can of Ranch Style Beans (I rinse the beans in cold water), bell pepper and garlic. Soooo good! Thanks
I drained the little bit of grease from ground beef and added a can of corn to the mix.
When the casserole was done I had every topping I had on hand on the counter for the family to fix their own the way they each wanted it. Like a taco bar. We had sour cream, scallions, black olives, jalapeños, salsa, nacho cheese, and extra nacho cheese Doritos. It was a huge hit and will be making this again. ( will try it with shredded chicken too)
Thank you!
I’ve made this with shredded chicken and it is absolutely delicious!!
This really came out good! I saved some tortilla chips for dipping into the hot casserole and the kids loved it!
What kind of salsa can you use?
I use a jarred red salsa such as Pace.
Amazing….
This was really good, I did add some black beans and corn to make it go a little farther. We topped it with cilantro, sour cream, a bit more salsa, tomatoes, lettuce and diced avocados. My toddlers only picked the chips out but my older son loved it. I did forget the sour cream step so ill have to add that next time but it was fine without it.
Oh LORDY. Took this dish to my get together at the church today. It was a winner! I substituted ground chicken and two cans of green chilies ( mild ) and a bit mkre seasonings.
Thank you so much
Joanne
Poulsbo Wa.