Taco Salad with Homemade Dressing Recipe and Doritos (2024)

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This Taco Salad with Homemade Dressing is perfect for your next pitch-in or as a fun weeknight dinner for the family. The homemade dressing uses a can of tomato soup so it’s easy to put together and everyone will love the flavor.

Taco Salad with Homemade Dressing Recipe and Doritos (2)

Table of Contents

Taco Salad with Homemade Dressing

Barbara first had a version of this taco salad at her godson’s baptism. It was love at first bite so she, of course, asked for the recipe.

Aren’t these the best kind of recipes? The ones that are passed from a friend of a friend to us?

Dorito Taco Salad

If you are serving a big crowd and anticipate eating this Taco Salad with Homemade Dressing at one sitting, then go ahead and mix all the ingredients.

If not, Barbara recommends making individual, customized salads for each member of the family. That way instead of being stuck with soggy leftovers, you can have crisp salads another day that taste just as great as the original.

The secret ingredient in this homemade dressing is a can of tomato soup. Yes, I said TOMATO SOUP!

Taco Salad with Homemade Dressing Recipe and Doritos (5)

The dressing will stay in the fridge for a couple weeks, just give it a good shake to re emulsify the oil. The dressing recipe makes 2 pints, so it is easily halved (as is the salad recipe) if you aren’t feeding a crowd and don’t want leftovers.

You can easily prep the salad, meat mixture and dressing the night before serving and just throw them all together at the last minute (just be sure to shake the dressing before adding).

How to Make Taco Salad with Homemade Dressing

Step by Step Instructions

  1. Brown the ground beef in a large skillet and drain.
  2. Add drained beans and ground beef back to skillet and simmer for 10 minutes.
  3. For taco salad dressing recipe, add all of the ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth.
  4. Toss ground beef/beans, lettuce, onion, tomatoes, cheese and Doritos together and top with dressing. Serve immediately.

For the full instructions for Doritos Taco Salad, scroll to the bottom of this post.

Ingredient List

  • Lean Ground Beef
  • Red Kidney Beans
  • Iceberg Lettuce or Romaine Lettuce
  • Diced tomatoes (cherry tomatoes, roma tomatoes, etc.)
  • Yellow onion, white onion or red onion
  • Shredded cheddar cheese
  • Nacho Cheese Doritos
  • Canned tomato soup
  • Sugar
  • Vegetable oil
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Salt
  • Garlic powder
  • Dry mustard powder

Optional Ingredients

  • Sliced Avocado
  • Salsa
  • Corn
  • Black Olives
  • Green onions
  • Fresh cilantro
  • Sour cream
  • Diced bell peppers
Taco Salad with Homemade Dressing Recipe and Doritos (8)

Recipe FAQs

  • Use your favorite taco salad ingredients.
  • Substitute black beans or pinto beans for kidney beans.
  • Do not toss this until right before serving. You do not want a soggy salad.
  • This Catalina dressing will stay good in the refrigerator for a couple weeks. Just give it a good stir or shake before using. Feel free to make it ahead of time.
  • Any flavor of Doritos can be used.

What dressing for taco salad?

My three favorite dressings to top a taco salad is Ranch dressing, Catalina dressing and Avocado dressing.

More Taco-Inspired Recipes

Mexican Lasagna

Crock Pot Enchiladas

Easy Taco Salad

Ground Beef Burritos

Taco Chopped Salad

Taco Salad with Homemade Dressing Recipe and Doritos (15)

Print Recipe

Taco Salad with Homemade Dressing

ThisTaco Salad with Homemade Dressingis perfect for your next pitch-in or as a fun weeknight dinner for the family.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time15 minutes mins

Total Time25 minutes mins

Course: Entree, Main Course, Salad

Cuisine: American

Keyword: catalina taco salad dressing, doritos taco salad, homemade taco salad dressing, taco salad, taco salad dressing, taco salad with homemade dressing

Servings: 6

Calories: 935kcal

Author: Barbara

Ingredients

Salad

  • 1 head of lettuce torn into bite sized pieces
  • 1 yellow onion chopped
  • 1 package cherry tomatoes halved
  • 16 oz. package shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 can dark red kidney beans
  • 1/2 bag of your favorite Doritos Taco or Sweet Chili are especially good

Dressing

  • 1 can Campbell’s Tomato Soup
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 t. salt
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

  • Brown the ground beef in a skillet, crumbling as you go; drain fat.

    Taco Salad with Homemade Dressing Recipe and Doritos (16)

  • Add the ground beef back to skillet with the drained beans. Simmer on low for 10 minutes.

  • Remove from heat.

  • For dressing, add all ingredients to a blender. Blend until smooth.

    Taco Salad with Homemade Dressing Recipe and Doritos (17)

  • When ready to serve, toss lettuce, onion, tomatoes, cheese, Doritos, ground beef mixture and dressing; serve immediately,

    Taco Salad with Homemade Dressing Recipe and Doritos (18)

Notes

  • Use your favorite taco salad ingredients.
  • Substitute black beans or pinto beans for kidney beans.
  • Do not toss this until right before serving. You do not want a soggy salad.
  • This Catalina taco salad dressing will stay good in the refrigerator for a couple weeks. Just give it a good stir or shake before using. Feel free to make it ahead of time.
  • Any flavor of Doritos can be used.
  • Try our other favorite Taco Salad recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 935kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 73g | Saturated Fat: 48g | Cholesterol: 125mg | Sodium: 64597257mg | Potassium: 13783mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 37g | Vitamin A: 963IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 40534mg | Iron: 552mg

Taco Salad with Homemade Dressing Recipe and Doritos (2024)

FAQs

Why is taco salad good for you? ›

Enjoying a taco salad can provide various health benefits. This includes increased vegetable intake, protein for muscle growth and repair, low-calorie and high fiber to help feel full, and various flavors that can help prevent boredom with your diet.

When was the taco salad? ›

A taco salad is a Tex-Mex dish that combines ingredients used in Tex-Mex tacos. The dish originated in Texas during the 1960s.

What is the unhealthiest salad dressing? ›

And at the top of that list? Caesar dressing. Made up of mayonnaise, cheese, salt and oil (and all too often, anchovies), Caesar tends to be one of the least healthy options out there. Those ingredients cause it to be high in both saturated fats and sodium.

What is the healthiest dressing for salad? ›

Oil and vinegar.

“This is a great option, because it won't have any added sugar or salt,” says Allers. “But the type of oil is important. Opt for olive or avocado oil over an alternative like canola or soybean oil.” These healthy oils are packed with antioxidants, and can even help lower cholesterol.

What is the proper way to eat a taco salad? ›

It's best to use a fork to eat a taco salad, as it allows you to easily scoop up all the different components of the salad in each bite.

What is one serving of taco salad? ›

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 2 cups (401g)6 servings per container
Total Carbohydrate 30g11%
Dietary Fiber 8g29%
Total Sugars 8g
14 more rows
Dec 2, 2019

What else to make with tacos? ›

get ready to spice up the spread with these 10 scrumptious sides you can make at home!
  • Refried Beans. ...
  • Traditional Mexican Rice. ...
  • Taco Slaw. ...
  • Seven-Layer Dip. ...
  • Mexican Street Corn Salad. ...
  • Zesty Black Bean Salad. ...
  • Grilled Corn on the Cob. ...
  • Jalapeño Poppers.
Jul 11, 2023

Is taco salad unhealthy? ›

Worst: Taco Salad

That's because they start with a deep-fried tortilla shell. That “bowl” alone can have nearly 400 calories and 22 grams of fat. Then it's filled with oversized portions of ground beef, cheese, sour cream, and guacamole. This salad can weigh in at 800 calories or more!

Are tacos healthy yes or no? ›

Tacos have built-in portion control. They're smaller than most of the other things on the menu, so you can keep calories in check. Order the grilled chicken, lean steak, or grilled fish on a baked corn tortilla. Those have 70% more fiber and less than half the fat of their white flour counterparts.

What's the difference between tacos and taco salad? ›

They're pretty much the same as regular tacos; the only difference is the order in which you build the ingredients, as well as a little drizzle of a yummy spicy dressing on top. And I really emphasize the lettuce and tomatoes to the point that I convince myself I'm eating a salad…

Do Mexicans eat taco salad? ›

Not likely to happen. There are no taco salads in Mexican kitchens. At least I have never, ever seen or heard of a taco salad either in Mexico or served in a Mexican's home, wherever that may be in the world.

What culture is taco salad? ›

A taco salad is a hearty and satisfying Tex-Mex cuisine that combines various ingredients used in Tex-Mex tacos. The taco salad is a delectable dish that invites creativity and experimentation, reflecting the diversity, uniqueness, and cultural exchange of food that still takes place and is loved by many.

Why was the taco salad discontinued? ›

One alleged reason for the discontinuation, beyond the chain's pandemic-related menu streamlining, was that the taco shell bowls for these salads had to be fried in the morning and went stale by the late afternoon.

What's the difference between mayonnaise and mayo dressing? ›

Salad dressing is made with the same basic ingredients as mayonnaise. However, it has more water by weight than oil. It is also sweeter than mayonnaise, usually with high fructose corn syrup.

Does taco sauce have mayonnaise? ›

A smooth Mexican-inspired mayonnaise with chilli and spices that is a delicious addition on wraps, burgers and fries.

What is in taco mayo? ›

Specifications. Water, Rapeseed Oil, Sugar, Pasteurised Free Range 𝐄𝐠𝐠 (6%), Modified Maize Starch, Spirit Vinegar, Tomato Purée, Salt, Spices, Stabiliser: Xanthan Gum; Lemon Juice Concentrate, Preservative: Potassium Sorbate, Antioxidant: Calcium Disodium Edta; Flavouring (Contains 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐝).

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