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.
Yummy! This looks so good. Really almost any casserole is a good casserole in my book, lol.
This seriously looks so amazing!! I know what I will be trying out in the coming week!
This really looks delicious and very tempting to the eyes especially the way you picture the ground beef. Such a nice recipe that's easy to follow and cook for a good snack time of the family.
That Dorito casserole sounds really easy and fun to make at any party or get together with friends and family. I will try this at home for sure!
Who knew Doritos could be so versatile this recipe looks really good.
Dorito Casserole looks like delicious comfort food at its best! I'm hungry for a plate of this now.
i'll have to try this. i usually add doritios to my nacho bakes
Definitely going to make this for mine - they will love it
I would never have thought to use Doritos in this way but this sounds absolutely delicious. I just know my kids would love this.
What a great recipe - so easy to follow, and sounds delicious! Will definitely have to give this a go 🙂 x
Your recipe made me so hungry! It looks so delicious, I would definitely like to have this Dorito's casserole for dinner tonight. There are so many yummy flavours in it.
would this taste sorta like lasagna? I've never heard of serving doritos like that but it sounds delicious
I've never heard of a dorito casserole but this looks absolutely delicious! Would make a good recipe to try for when we have guests over 🙂
This sounds delicious and full of flavour!
Yum - as always!
This looks amazing. I love a great casserole that I can whip up quickly to serve to the family. This will be a must-try in our house. Thanks for sharing it.
Super yummmmm!!! I am definitely gonna try this next week, can't believe how easy it is to make, it's a done deal lol!!!!!
Ohhh my kids would freak out if I made a dorito casserole! This looks so delicious!
You had me at Doritos. This looks delicious!
Bravo. What a great way to use Doritos. Love that casserole. Just amazing!
Holy spicy tortilla chip goodness, Batman! How could I have lived this long without Dortio Casserole in my life?! I can't wait to make this!