This taco bake with Doritos combines seasoned ground beef, veggies, salsa, and melted cheese with the flavorful crunch of Nacho cheese Doritos for a fun and easy family dinner.
Table of Contents
If you’re looking for even more popular Mexican-inspired meals, be sure to try the easiest burrito recipe, these ground beef nachos, this taco casserole, this taco pie, a nacho casserole, and a pot of slow cooker chicken tortilla soup, too!
I added black beans as well — great add. My version came out fantastic with green onions and sour cream served on top.
– Melody
A Taco Casserole with Doritos is an Easy Weeknight Dinner
A taco bake with Doritos is the easiest way to feed a family! Plus, with little kids, there’s no need to worry about the taco shells breaking, the contents falling out of the tortilla, or messy toppings all over the floor (moms out there, I know that you can relate). Instead, you’ll just assemble all of your favorite taco ingredients — plus a few added veggies — in one casserole dish. It’s an awesome prep-ahead option for busy weeknights, it’s a meal that your entire family will love, and it eliminates the stress of last-minute dinners.
In this dish, Doritos take the place of traditional taco shells or soft flour tortillas, while also adding so much zesty flavor and crunchy texture to the dish. Plus, the first layer of chips forms a great little crust at the bottom of the taco bake. It’s so, so good!
Ingredient Notes and Tips for Success
- This recipe takes advantage of the convenience of a packet of taco seasoning mix. If you prefer, feel free to use your favorite homemade taco seasoning instead. If using homemade taco seasoning, omit the water called for in the ingredients. The store-bought packets of seasoning mix require water to thin the sauce (since the mix has thickening agents in it).
- The sweet red bell pepper is a great way to sneak some extra veggies into your family! You can omit the bell pepper if you like, or use a different color sweet bell pepper, such as green bell pepper. Diced onion is also a nice substitute.
- I use Nacho Cheese Doritos here, any flavor will work. Try Cool Ranch Doritos, Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos, or even Garden Salsa Sun Chips.
- I keep it simple with a package of pre-shredded Mexican style cheese (a blend of Monterey Jack, cheddar, asadero, and queso quesadilla cheeses), but you can use grated cheddar cheese if you like.
Video: How to Make a Taco Bake Casserole with Doritos
Directions
This easy taco bake comes together quickly and can be assembled in advance for convenient family dinners. You’ll find detailed directions in the recipe card below, but here’s the overview:
- Cook the ground beef and bell pepper.
- Add the taco seasoning and the water to the skillet with the ground beef mixture; simmer for 3-4 minutes so that the sauce thickens.
- Stir in salsa and corn.
- Layer the Doritos, cheese, and taco meat mixture in a large baking dish.
- Bake, uncovered, in a 350°F oven until the filling is hot and bubbly, about 20 minutes.
- Sprinkle additional cheese and chips on top.
- Return to the oven for about 5 more minutes, or until the cheese melts. Keep a close eye on the casserole during the final few minutes, since the chips on top can burn easily.
- Set up a “taco bar” and let your family members garnish their individual servings with their favorite taco toppings, such as fresh cilantro, sliced green onions, minced red onion, sliced black olives, sour cream, diced avocado, guacamole, extra salsa.
Serving Suggestions
A taco bake with Doritos is delicious alongside ranch-style beans, black bean and corn salad, 5-minute corn dip, Jiffy Mexican cornbread, jalapeno cheddar cornbread, easy pico de gallo, rice, a house salad with candied pecans, or tortilla chips with salsa, this easy guacamole, or queso.
Storage Tips
- To prep ahead, prepare the beef mixture in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days before assembling the casserole.
- Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months, although the chips may become soggy.
- Reheat individual servings loosely covered in the microwave about 1 minute. To reheat an entire casserole, allow the dish to sit on the counter for at least 30-60 minutes so that it comes to room temperature. Tent loosely with foil (to prevent the top from getting too dark), and warm in a 350°F oven until heated through, about 15-20 minutes.
This came out really yummy! I added about a half can of black beans and used Mexican corn and was able to get the red and green peppers from that!
Also, used Garden Salsa Sun Chips instead of the Doritos to get a little extra kick of flavor!– Helen
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Watch How to Make It
Taco Bake with Doritos
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 1 (1 ounce) packet taco seasoning mix
- ⅔ cup water
- 2 ½ cups salsa
- 1 (15.25 ounce) can corn, drained (or about 1 cup of frozen corn)
- 1 (9.25 ounce) bag Nacho Cheese flavored Doritos, coarsely crushed (about 4 cups crushed)
- 2 cups shredded Mexican-blend or sharp cheddar cheese
- Optional toppings: sour cream, sliced green onion, sliced olives, diced avocado, fresh cilantro, diced red onion, guacamole, diced tomatoes, lime wedges, extra salsa
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 13 x 9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray; set aside. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef and bell pepper over medium-high heat until the meat is no longer pink, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain off the excess grease.
- Return the beef mixture to the skillet; stir in the taco seasoning mix and water. Simmer until thickened, about 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Stir in the salsa and corn.
- Place half of the crushed Doritos in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with half of the cheese.
- Spread the beef mixture on top. Bake, uncovered, until hot and bubbly, about 20 minutes.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheese and the remaining crushed Doritos on top of the casserole.
- Put the dish back in the oven until the cheese melts, about 5 more minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe Variations
- Swap out the ground beef and use ground turkey or ground chicken instead. Try this Cool Ranch Dorito chicken casserole and this Dorito chicken casserole, too!
- Try adding other veggies to the filling. You might like to sauté some diced onion with the ground beef, or mix in some steamed baby broccoli florets or a can of diced green chiles. Minced garlic would also be a great flavor booster.
- Black beans, kidney beans, or pinto beans make a great addition to the taco bake.
- Add a can of drained Rotel diced tomatoes with green chilies if you’d like some zesty kick! Be warned, the Rotel tomatoes are spicy!
- Cooking for a smaller family? Cut the ingredients in half and bake the casserole in an 8-inch square pan.
More Taco Casseroles to Try
Taco Pie
52 minutes mins
Dump-and-Bake Chicken Taco Casserole
50 minutes mins
Jiffy Cornbread Taco Bake
1 hour hr 5 minutes mins
Originally published in August 2017, this post was updated in March 2025.
Taco bakes are one of my favorite meals to make for my husband! I just love throwing everything together and having it come out ready to eat. I’ve never tried Doritos on top of a bake before, so I’m loving the sound of this! What a perfect weeknight meal!
Exactly! They’re so boy-friendly, and so darn easy. 🙂
This looks like the perfect Taco Tuesday treat!
This looks great, definitely something I will try. Many years ao I made something similar , no crust but I threw in my extra cooked rice, no peppers, and served it with dippers or mini taco shells. The kids loved serving themslves so there was never any leftovers.
Hi, Lynn! Your version sounds delicious too! 🙂 Kids love anything that involves dipping!
Can you add brown rice to the bake
Hi Rachel,
We recommend preparing rice separately and serving it on the side or mixing it into the casserole after it has been cooked as it is not likely to cook all the way through if added directly to the casserole.
This came out really yummy! I added about a half can of black beans and used Mexican corn and was able to get the red and green peppers from that!
Also, used Garden Salsa Sun Chips instead of the Doritos to get a little extra kick of flavor!
Turned out great and will definitely try this again…maybe cutting the amount in half since it was just me!
Blessings and thanks for all the recipes you send out to us! Definitely will need to try the salmon recipe I received today! ;-}
Helen Fritzie
Hi, Helen! That’s great! Your changes sound really good! I have those sun chips in our pantry right now, so I’ll have to try that topping next time. 🙂
I added black beans as well — great add. My version came out fantastic with green onions and sour cream served on top.
Sounds like a great addition, Melody! Thanks for letting me know! 🙂
Can I use refried beans instead of corn?
Sure! The refried beans will thicken up the mixture, so you might need to thin it out with some additional salsa. It will have a slightly different texture, but the flavor will be good!
Have this in the oven right now; I used Cool Ranch Doritos because we love the Cool Ranch shells @ Taco Bell. The filling smells so amazing! I bet it would be good wrapped in flour tortillas to speed things up; honestly I might try it again once it gets cool, but just thin the filling and call it soup! Nothing beats a versatile taco base. Mmmmm!
The Cool Ranch Doritos will work perfectly, Karla! And I love the idea of thinning it for “taco soup.” So smart! Enjoy the meal! 🙂
So I would like to make this with 2lbs of meat but would i use 5 cups of taco sauce because that seems both expensive and like too much luquid
Hi, Michelle! That’s what I would do, since you’re doubling all of the other ingredients as well. Those ratios of ingredients worked perfectly for me when testing the recipe, but if you prepare it and it seems like too much liquid for your taste, you can certainly start with less and then just add more, as needed. Feel free to experiment! 🙂
I made this with 2lb. Beef because it was not enough to fill my 13-9. I didn’t double the salsa, I figured I could add more on top. I did add can pinto beans. Just taste it to see if you want to add more or less seasoning.
Absolutely amazing but I added cheese salsa in with the taco seasoning and meat turned out amazing
Perfect! So glad that you enjoyed it, Lynn! 🙂
What a fun taco bake, seriously how can this not taste good!?
Can this be frozen?
Yes! It should work in the freezer — either before or after baking!