Dorito Casserole Recipe
This Dorito Casserole is a flavorful and comforting layered dish featuring seasoned ground beef, tangy salsa, creamy sour cream, and melted cheese combined with crunchy nacho cheese Doritos. Perfect for a family dinner or casual gatherings, it’s easy to prepare and delivers a satisfying mix of textures and bold Mexican-inspired flavors.
- Author: rami
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking, Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
- Diet: Low Fat
Meat Mixture
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef (90% lean)
- 1/2 cup onion, finely diced
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 1/2 cups red salsa
- 1 cup sour cream
Layers and Toppings
- 2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar and Monterey Jack blend)
- 4 cups Doritos chips, nacho cheese flavor
- 1/2 cup tomatoes, diced
- 1/4 cup green onions, sliced
- Cooking spray
- Optional: sour cream, cilantro, olives, or other taco toppings for serving
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly coat a 2-3 quart baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook the Beef: Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook for 4-5 minutes until just browned, breaking up the meat with a spatula as it cooks.
- Add Onion: Stir in the diced onion and continue cooking for 3-4 minutes until the onion becomes translucent and soft.
- Season and Simmer: Add the taco seasoning packet and red salsa to the pan. Stir well and let the mixture simmer gently for 3-4 minutes to blend the flavors.
- Incorporate Sour Cream: Remove the pan from heat and stir in the sour cream, creating a creamy and flavorful meat mixture.
- First Layer: Lightly crush the Doritos chips. Spread one-third of the chips evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with half of the meat mixture, then sprinkle one-third of the shredded cheese evenly over the meat.
- Second Layer: Repeat the layering process using another one-third of the Doritos chips, the remaining meat mixture, and another one-third of the cheese.
- Final Layer: Add the remaining one-third of Doritos chips in an even layer, then sprinkle the final layer of shredded cheese on top. Cover the dish with foil.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the oven and bake covered for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted and beginning to brown.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven. Sprinkle diced tomatoes and sliced green onions over the top. Serve hot with optional sour cream, cilantro, olives, or additional taco toppings as desired.
Notes
- Using 90% lean ground beef keeps the casserole flavorful but less greasy.
- Lightly crushing the Doritos helps create a better layered texture.
- If desired, swap out the red salsa for your favorite salsa variety for customized flavor.
- This dish can be made ahead and refrigerated before baking; just add extra baking time if baking from cold.
- For a spicier casserole, consider adding jalapeños or hot sauce to the meat mixture.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated thoroughly before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of casserole
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
Keywords: Dorito casserole, taco casserole, ground beef casserole, nacho cheese casserole, easy dinner, Mexican casserole