Taco Salad
This Doritos Taco Salad recipe is my go-to when I want a quick and easy meal. Not only for an easy dinner, it’s also a hit to take along to potlucks and parties. It is loaded with flavor and texture.
Once again I have a recipe feature that is brought to you from a pot luck function. Maybe 12 years ago, at a staff pot luck and a co-worker brought her famous Taco Salad with french dressing.
I, along with many others, left that afternoon with this recipe in hand. It was that good.
This taco salad with french dressing recipe is a popular potluck recipe that is sometimes called ‘doritos taco salad‘, because the crunch of the chips just might be the best part of this salad. If you agree, you need to try our Doritos Chicken Casserole.
Even years later, we still talk about this potluck taco salad recipe when together, and claim how much we all still make it today.
For home or for a potluck, try this Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad, this Broccoli Salad or this amazing BLT Pasta Salad – they are all to die for!
The Best Potluck Taco Salad Recipe
This Best Taco Salad recipe is my go-to when I have ground beef on hand and want a quick and easy meal.
Plus, as evidence proved, this potluck taco salad is a hit to take along to dinners and functions. I’ve also made it out camping, it’s such a tasty fun meal to have anywhere!
While the dressing is a little more intricate, I would very much compare this to the ever-popular ‘Taco in a Bag’ idea.
Yet this dorito taco salad recipe is party-sized. I sometimes CRAVE this salad, and it’s been a favourite of mine for years, and I hope it becomes one of yours as well.
This taco salad with doritos is my party go-to, and it seems everyone enjoys the flavors of a taco as an appetizer.
A little note
The recipe you’ll find below is party-sized, so please half the amount if making for your whole family. That is, unless you have a very large family.
When halved, it’s the perfect amount for our family of 5, even with at least one person having seconds.
For another great tasting salad, try our Mexican Macaroni Salad Recipe.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Total Time: 25 Minutes
- Serves: 12
Ingredients and Notes
Optional Toppings
Sometimes I like to offer an array of favorite toppings for those that are a little extra. My suggestions are: red onion, black beans, cheddar jack cheese, and black olives.
As always, the full ingredients and recipe is on the printable recipe card at the end of this post.
Tips for the Best Taco Salad
Taco Salad Substitutions
How to Make Taco Salad
This easy taco salad recipe with french dressing really is the easiest taco salad to make.
Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl using a wooden spoon. You may not use all the french salad dressing in the bottle. Add 3/4 of the bottle, toss, test, and add more if preferred.
Add a dollop of sour cream and some fresh salsa at serving and it’s complete!
I’d call Taco Salad a heathy meal or side, with the exception of the chips of course. You want the crunch yet you can always try and substitute as desired and see how it turns out.
Also note that serving ‘chips for dinner’ makes you absolutely the best parent in the world. Just ‘sayin!
Make Ahead Instructions
Leave out the chips, seasoning and french dressing until just before serving.
Storage
This potluck salad recipe is best served fresh while the chips stay crispy. While this salad will be great within a couple hours of making if stored in the refrigerator, after that the chips would be too soggy and the texture would change to be enjoyed as leftovers the next day.
Recipe FAQ
Doritos taco salad is a mixture of seasoned ground beef, lettuce, cheese, Doritos chips, and fresh veggies like bell peppers, green onion and tomatoes. It has taco seasoning and french dressing, often topped with sour cream.
French dressing is often used in taco salad, yet you can also use Catalina dressing.
More Salad Recipes
If you’ve tried this Potluck Taco Salad or any other recipe on my blog please let me know how it went in the comments below. I love hearing from you. Finally, consider leaving a 🌟 star rating while you’re here. Thanks!
Doritos Taco Salad
Ingredients
- 1.5 – 2 lbs Ground Beef (cooked and well drained)
- 1 head Iceberg Lettuce (shredded)
- 1 Green Pepper (diced)
- 1 Red Pepper (diced)
- 5 Green Onions (chopped)
- 2 Tomatoes (diced)
- 1.5 cups Cheddar Cheese (grated)
- 1 bag Cheese Nacho Chips (crush in bag before opening)
- 1 envelope Taco Seasoning
- 1 bottle French Dressing
- Salsa and Sour Cream (as desired)
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl {if not serving right away, leave out the chips, seasoning and french dressing until just before serving}. You may not use all the french dressing in the bottle, add 3/4 of the bottle, test, and add more if preferred.
- Serve with salsa and sour cream
- Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Do we add the water for the taco seasoning?
This taco salad was delicious!! Loved it! Now I’m looking for more great salad ideas!
I’ll have to keep this in mind next time I’m craving some crunch!
I am making this for dinner tonight. Already cooked beef, but how do you recommend heating it before serving? I have never made this before, but the recipe looked so good…Thanks for posting it.
LOVE TACO SALAD
Oh yummy looks so delish , thanks so much for sharing i will be trying your recipe soon , we love taco Salad :0
Honestly I think I’ ve made almost everything but I am excited to try this taco salad because this is entirely new to me and it looks so delicious.I love anything Mexican flavored and so does my family
This looks delicious! I can’t wait to try it. Thanks for sharing.
YUM> I love tacos and taco salad
This looks so good Tami..great for hot summer days!! I am bookmarking this 🙂
We love taco salad! This looks soo good!!
bless these pot luck functions 🙂 another great salad recipe
This looks really good. It has been a long time since I have had a taco salad.
I haven’t had taco salad in years and years! Now I’m craving some
I love salads. We made taco salads a few weeks ago, but we did it with crock pot chicken. They were fabulous.