This walking taco casserole with Doritos has everything people love about taco night layered into one bubbling casserole dish: seasoned ground beef, creamy salsa filling, melty cheese, and crunchy nacho cheese chips tucked into every bite.
The Doritos soften just enough under the taco meat to soak up flavor, while the top layer stays crisp around the edges. It has that same fun taco-in-a-bag vibe you get at fairs and hockey rinks, but turned into an easy weeknight dinner you can scoop straight onto plates.
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Looking for more fun dinner recipes? Check out Taco Bell crunchwrap supreme, easy taco pasta bake, and pizza pasta bake.
A Taco Tuesday Upgrade
Around here, Taco Tuesday usually means some version of tacos, taco salad, or nachos, but once in a while everyone wants something a little different. This casserole does the trick. It still has all those familiar taco flavors, but in a hot, cheesy bake that feels a little cozier and somehow disappears even faster.
I especially like this recipe for busy weeknights because it is easy to customize at the table with toppings like shredded lettuce, tomatoes, jalapenos, black olives, avocado, or extra sour cream. It also reheats surprisingly well the next day, assuming there are any leftovers.
Recipe At a Glance
- Prep + Cook Time: About 40 minutes
- Serves: 6-8
- Texture: Creamy, cheesy filling with crisp edges and slightly softened chips underneath
- Best For: Busy weeknights, potlucks, and Taco Tuesday
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Ingredients You'll Need
- Ground beef. Lean ground beef works great, but I have also made this with ground turkey and venison when that's what I had in the freezer.
- Onion. Yellow, white, or red onion all work. Cook it with the beef until softened.
- Taco seasoning. Use your favorite homemade taco seasoning or a packet from the store.
- Corn. Canned, frozen, or leftover smoked corn on the cob in foil or Traeger smoked corn all work well. You can also leave it out if you want.
- Salsa. A thicker salsa gives the filling more flavor without making the casserole watery. I used my homemade salsa for canning, which I make enough of to use all year long. You can also make chunky salsa with fresh tomatoes if you have time. If you don't have salsa, use a can of tomatoes.
- Sour cream. This softens the spice and gives the filling a creamy texture. Cream cheese also works if you want it richer.
- Shredded cheese. I used white cheddar cheese, but cheddar, Monterey Jack, or a Tex-Mex or Mexican blend all melt nicely.
- Doritos. Nacho Cheese Doritos are the classic choice, giving the casserole its signature flavor. The top layer gets crispy while the bottom layer softens into the taco filling.
How to Make Walking Taco Casserole with Doritos
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prep the baking dish: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Spread the Doritos across the bottom and crush them slightly with your hands.
Cook the beef: Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat until no pink remains. Add the onion and cook until softened. Drain excess grease.
Make the filling: Stir in the taco seasoning, salsa, corn, and sour cream until everything is creamy and evenly combined.
Assemble: Spread the taco mixture over the crushed Doritos, then top with shredded cheese.
Bake: Bake for 25-30 minutes until hot and bubbly with golden melted cheese on top. Let it rest for about 5 minutes before serving so it holds together a little better when scooped. Garnish with fresh cilantro or green onions if you like, and serve with your favorite taco toppings.
Variations
- Use smoked beef chili, smoked brisket chili, or smoked Queso dip with ground beef instead of taco meat.
- Add black beans or pinto beans to stretch the filling.
- Swap the ground beef for ground turkey or shredded chicken.
- Stir diced jalapeños or green chiles into the meat mixture for extra heat.
- Use Cool Ranch Doritos or tortilla chips for a different flavor.
Tips From My Kitchen
- Do not crush the Doritos too finely or they will lose their texture once baked.
- If you like crispier cheese on top, broil the casserole for 1 to 2 minutes at the end.
- Very lean meats like turkey or venison benefit from a small drizzle of oil while cooking.
- This casserole is best served while still warm, when the chips have the best mix of crunch and softness.
What To Serve With It
This casserole is pretty hearty on its own, so I usually keep the sides simple. A green salad, tomato basil cucumber salad, Instant Pot white rice, Mexican street corn, small batch cowboy candy, sliced avocado, or fresh pico de gallo all work well.
If you are feeding a crowd, smoked cornbread, breadsticks, or quick biscuits without buttermilk on the side disappear fast too.
Storage and Reheating
Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Freezer: Wrap the cooked casserole in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil, and store for up to 2 months.
Reheating: Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and reheat in a 350 degree F oven for 30-45 minutes, until hot and bubbly. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave or air fryer.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, but for the best texture, I like to make the filling ahead and wait to assemble the casserole until just before baking so the Doritos do not soften too much.
Definitely. Bell peppers, zucchini, black beans, or even frozen mixed vegetables work well here. Just cook them with the beef mixture first so they soften properly.
Partly. The chips around the edges and near the top stay crisp, while the bottom layer softens into the filling. That contrast is what makes the casserole so good.
More Easy Dinner Recipes You'll Love
Printable Recipe
Walking Taco Casserole with Doritos
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef or venison
- ½ cup onion diced
- 1 packet taco seasoning (2-3 tablespoons)
- 1 can canned corn drained
- 2 cups salsa
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded cheese
- 1 bag Doritos roughly crushed (2 cups)
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro for garnish optional
Optional Toppings
- sliced jalapeños
- diced tomatoes
- diced avocado
- shredded lettuce
- sliced olives
- diced bell peppers
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
- Cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned, 6-8 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon. Add diced onion and cook for a few more minutes.
- Add the taco seasoning, salsa, corn, and sour cream to the ground beef mixture. Stir to combine.
- Spread the crushed Doritos in the bottom of the casserole dish. Top with the ground beef mixture and shredded cheese. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Garnish with green onions, cilantro, and additional toppings of your choice. Serve immediately and enjoy!
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Notes
- Broil in the oven for a minute or two if you want the top to be browner and crispier.
- Add drained black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, refried beans, a can of green chilis, or chopped jalapeno peppers.
- Top with shredded lettuce, black olives, diced tomatoes, and green onions.
Nutrition
The provided nutrition information is automatically calculated. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
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