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Dorito Casserole

Name: Dorito Casserole
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef; 1 cup diced yellow onion (about 1/2 medium yellow onion); 1 package low sodium taco seasoning; 1/2 cup water; 1 1/2 cups chunky salsa; 1 cup sour cream; 1/2 cup cheese soup or cheese dip (I used this one); 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed; 1 cup corn, drained and rinsed; 10 oz nacho cheese Doritos; 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided

Easy Dorito Taco Casserole Recipe

I am a big fan of easy, crowd-pleasing casseroles. This layered Dorito casserole fits the bill. You’ll only need 15 minutes of prep and some time in the oven before you are ready to serve the gang a delicious taco-reminiscent entree that will keep them coming back for seconds.

Eating this Doritio casserole really is like eating tacos out of a pan. The Doritos give a taco-like crunch, and the taco-seasoned meat mixture provides the perfect punch of flavor with just the right amount of moisture. The chips get soft enough to bite into without hassle but not so soft that they become soggy. The addition of black beans and corn round out this comfort food masterpiece with a bit of freshness. You have to try it.

Ingredients for Dorito casserole separated into bowls.

What You’ll Need

Here is a list of what you will need to make this flavor-packed, layered Dorito casserole. Don’t forget to scroll to the recipe card below for measurements.

Ground beef – I like 80/20 beef but feel free to use a leaner product if you’d like. You could also easily sub in ground pork, chicken, or turkey if you aren’t a beef eater.
Yellow onion
Low sodium taco seasoning
Water – For the taco seasoning.
Chunky salsa – Select mild, medium, or spicy salsa depending on your spice tolerance.
Sour cream
Cheese soup or cheese dip – I like Tostitos Dip but feel free to make your own or use a different product. Campbells cheese soup would also work well.
Black beans – You can use pinto beans here instead if you’d like.
Corn – Canned or frozen corn will do just fine. If you are using canned corn, make sure to drain it before adding it to the mix.
Nacho cheese Doritos – This is my favorite, but you could use a different Dorito. I think the cool Ranch flavor would do well.
Shredded cheddar cheese – Feeling spicy? Try pepper jack instead.

A slice of Dorito casserole on a plate with a fork.

How to Make a Dorito Casserole

In just a few simple steps you will have yourself a Dorito taco casserole that will keep the whole family coming back for seconds. Here’s a quick overview of how to make it. Make sure to scroll to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions.

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Brown the beef. In a large pan over medium-high heat, heat a bit of olive oil, add the onions, and saute until translucent. Add the beef and cook until browned. Drain the grease.

Cooking ground beef and onions in a pan.

Simmering ground beef, onions, taco seasoning, water and salsa in a sauce pan.

Add the taco seasoning, water, and salsa and stir. Cook until thickened. Remove from the heat.
Add the sour cream, cheese soup or dip, black beans, and corn and stir to combine. Simmer for 5 minutes.

Assemble. Spread 1 1/2 cups crushed Doritos in the bottom of an 11×7 casserole dish followed by ½ of the beef mixture and 1 cup of shredded cheese. Add another layer of Doritos and the remaining beef mixture. Top with 1-1 ½ cups Doritos and 1 cup of shredded cheese.
Bake covered for 15-20 minutes. Bake uncovered for an additional 5-10 minutes.

Dorito casserole in a baking pan garnished with tomatoes and green onions.

Recipe Tips & Variations

This Dorito casserole is wonderfully easy to throw together. As with any recipe, however, I have a couple of tips and tricks that will help you achieve the tastiest outcome possible. I even threw in a few fun variations to try to make this casserole your own.

Drain the grease. After browning the beef with the onions, it is crucial to drain the grease from the pan otherwise you will end up with a soggy, oily casserole.
Don’t over-crush the Doritos. Before assembling the casserole, you want to crush the Doritos a bit but not too much. If they are crushed to too fine a consistency, the casserole will lose its crunch.
Play with spice. I love this recipe because you can adjust it to any spice tolerance level. Love spice? Use spicy salsa. Not so much? Try a mild salsa. Not a red salsa fan? Try salsa verde instead.
Use a different protein. You can easily use ground pork, turkey, or chicken instead of ground beef. Vegetarian? Try Beyond Beef or Impossible Meat. You could even try to leave the meat out altogether and use veggies instead. I suggest bell peppers and mushrooms.
Try a different cheese. Cheddar cheese really hits the spot for me, but that doesn’t mean you can’t play with other options. Pepper jack would be a great pick if you’re looking for a little pop of spice. You could even add a bit of crumbled blue cheese to the mix if you’d like.
Play with different Dorito flavors. There have been over 100 flavors since the original Dorito came on the chip scene. Try experimenting and discover which is your favorite addition to this casserole.

Dorito casserole in the pan with a slice taken out of it.

Can You Prepare This Taco Casserole in Advance?

Yes and no. I advise against assembling and baking the casserole unless you plan on eating it within several hours. The chips will get soggy as they sit. You can, however, make the filling in advance, seal it in an airtight container, and store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to assemble and bake. You can do this up to 3 days in advance.

What to Serve with Layered Dorito Casserole

This Dorito casserole is absolutely delicious as is but it certainly benefits from the addition of a side dish or two to round it out. I even enjoy it with a cocktail every once in a while. Here are some of my favorite ways to serve this easy Dorito casserole.

Top it off with chopped cilantro, tomatoes, green onion, and/or avocado for some added freshness.
Salad. Keep the Mexican flare going with my Mexican Street Corn Salad. You could also serve this hearty casserole with my Tomato Avocado Salad, or even this Easy Fruit Salad.
Cooked veggies. Keep it simple and blanch some green beans or roast some broccoli.
Cocktails. I often associate this Dorito casserole with game day. What’s better than mixing up a batch of tasty cocktails and enjoying them alongside a delicious meal while you watch the game? Try these Mango Margaritas or this Tropical Watermelon Lemonade Cocktail.
Dessert. Follow this crowd-pleasing entree with classic flan or my Tres Leches Cake.

How to Store & Reheat Leftovers

If you find yourself with leftovers, allow the casserole to cool completely. Cover the casserole dish tightly with saran wrap or transfer it to an airtight container. Store the casserole in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Note that the chips will get soggy over time, so it is best to enjoy this layered Dorito casserole sooner rather than later.

More Easy Casserole Recipes

Casseroles are a great way to feed a crowd with minimal effort. I love this Dorito casserole but if you’re looking for something different, try one of these easy casserole recipes instead.

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