Dorito Taco Salad with Catalina Dressing
This Taco Salad with Catalina Dressing will become your new family favorite! All the delicious taco flavors come together in this simple salad and topped with the most amazing, tangy Catalina dressing! If you’ve never had a taco salad with Catalina dressing, you have been missing out! The best part is you can make this taco salad and the homemade dressing in less than 30 minutes!
The first time I made this salad, I could not believe how good it was! I’ve made a classic taco salad recipe numerous times – it’s actually on regular rotation at our house. But adding the homemade Catalina dressing takes this easy taco salad to a whole new level.
Catalina dressing is such a throwback product, isn’t it? My grandma always had this dressing in her fridge, and I’m bringing it back to pair it with this delicious Doritos taco salad. And the best part, you can whip up a batch of homemade dressing in 5 minutes with this easy recipe. So ditch the bottled stuff, and let’s get to it!
Make this easy Dorito taco salad recipe as a complete meal – no need to add anything else. It has the perfect combination of hearty protein and fresh veggies and is finished off with a mouthwatering tangy dressing and crunchy Doritos. It’s an easy meal that the whole family will love!
If you’re looking for more delicious salad recipes that stand alone as a meal, you must try my Chopped Thai Salad with Spicy Peanut Vinaigrette or Southwest Salad with Creamy Chipotle Dressing.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE
- Super easy meal, kid-friendly, great for picky eaters! (there’s Doritos in it, need I say more?!)
- Can be prepped ahead of time for a hassle-free dinner and then tossed together just before serving.
- It features the most delicious homemade Catalina dressing you’ll ever have!
- Great recipe for entertaining–it’s always a big hit, and the colorful veggies are eye-catching!!
RECIPE INGREDIENTS
You’ll need the following ingredients to make this delicious Catalina Taco Salad Recipe:
INGREDIENT NOTES
Ground Turkey: I like using lean ground turkey (93% lean or more) but any ground meat will work. Try lean ground beef or ground chicken to add variety.
Vegetables: A good taco salad always starts with fresh veggies. The great thing about salads is that it gives you the flexibility to use whatever you have on hand. But some classic taco salad veggies include fresh lettuce (romaine or iceberg lettuce both work), fresh tomatoes (grape or cherry tomatoes are best), corn, and red onion.
Doritos: For flavor and crunch! Classic nacho cheese Doritos (original flavor) work best! But if you want to change it up, try Cool Ranch Doritos for a different flavor profile.
Toppings: Cheddar cheese and black olives are a few great options.
Dressing: A tangy blend of ketchup, honey, red wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, olive oil, and seasonings is all you need to make homemade Catalina dressing that ties salad together.
HOW TO MAKE DORITO TACO SALAD WITH CATALINA DRESSING: STEP BY STEP
Here are some quick visual instructions. Remember that full instructions with exact ingredients will be in the recipe card below!
Step 1: In a large skillet over medium heat, brown ground turkey with a packet of taco seasoning.
Step 2: To a large bowl, add your lettuce.
Step 3: Whisk all salad dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Or add all dressing ingredients to a medium jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake until ingredients are combined.
Then, add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl of lettuce: meat mixture, tomatoes, corn, shredded cheese, olives, onion, and crushed Doritos. Drizzle with dressing, toss, and serve!
RECIPE TIPS & TRICKS
- Making the dressing in a jar with a tight-fitting lid is the easiest and makes storing any extra convenient.
- Use a potato masher to easily break up your meat as it cooks.
- If you don’t think you will finish the whole salad in one day, toss individual portions with the dressing vs. the entire bowl. This will allow you to store the leftovers without them getting too soggy.
- If you are running short on time, use your favorite brand of Catalina dressing from the grocery store.
🌟CONFIDENCE TIP 🌟
Layer the ingredients in a trifle bowl for layered taco salad for a nice visual presentation. The colorful ingredients are visible, creating an enticing display, perfect for entertaining!
STORAGE
- Store leftover salad (without dressing) in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can store Catalina dressing in a jar or small container up to two weeks in the refrigerator.
ADDITIONS AND SUBSTITUTIONS
SUBSTITUTIONS:
Chips: Make this a Fritos taco salad and add crushed crunchy Frito chips instead of Doritos. Or use regular tortilla chips for a more classic twist. Spicy Doritos are yummy, too!
Onion: Swap the red onion with green onions or scallions.
Dressing: Bottled Catalina, French, or ranch dressing works well in a pinch. Or mix Catalina with ranch for a creamy, mouthwatering dressing.
ADDITIONS
Beans: Give the salad a little protein boost by adding black beans, pinto beans, or kidney beans.
Sour cream: Top with a dollop of sour cream for a finishing touch and add a little creaminess.
Other toppings: Add diced avocado, pico de gallo, bell pepper, or other favorite taco toppings.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes! This delicious taco salad can be made ahead of time for family gatherings, BBQs, and parties!
To make this salad up to 24 hours in advance: Assemble the salad in a large bowl with all the “toppings” (taco meat, tomatoes, corn, cheese, olives, onions) on the bottom of the bowl and the lettuce on top. This will prevent the lettuce from getting soggy. Store the dressing separately.
When you’re ready to serve, toss salad with the dressing, add your crushed Doritos, and serve.
This salad stands alone as a main dish. However, it goes great alongside grilled meats if you want to serve it as a side salad! Serve it with grilled steak or blackened chicken.
Fun fact: “Catalina” dressing was actually trademarked by Kraft Foods back in the ’60s! It’s a variation of French dressing. However, this quick and simple, homemade Catalina dressing blows the bottled dressing out of the water!
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TOOLS FOR THIS RECIPE
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Large Serving Bowl or Trifle Bowl if you want to layer your salad.
OTHER SALADS YOU’LL LOVE
I hope you love this Taco Salad with Catalina Dressing! If you make it be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. Enjoy, xo!
Dorito Taco Salad with Catalina Dressing
Ingredients
Homemade Catalina Salad Dressing
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 3 tbsp honey
- 1/3 cup red wine vinegar Sherry vinegar works, too
- 1 tsp smoked paprika sweet paprika is good, too!
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp Worcestershire
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/3 cup olive oil or vegetable oil
Dorito Taco Salad
- 1 lb. lean ground turkey or lean ground beef
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1 packet taco seasoning, low sodium if possible or about 2 tablespoons
- 8 cups romaine lettuce, torn or chopped into small pieces or iceberg lettuce
- 1 cup fresh tomatoes
- 1 cup corn (frozen or canned)
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 3.8 oz. can sliced black olives about one cup
- 1/4 cup red onion, diced
- crushed Doritos, to taste
Instructions
- Combine all dressing ingredients in a small bowl and whisk together until combined. OR add all ingredients to a medium sized jar and shake until combined. Set aside.
- Heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add ground turkey and cook 2-3 minutes, breaking up the meat as it cooks. Pro Tip: Using a potato masher when the meat is almost cooked through works really well to break up the meat!
- Drain off excess fat (in necessary) and add in taco seasoning. If your taco seasoning packet calls for water, add that in as well. Cook for 1-2 minutes longer.
- In a large serving bowl, add lettuce.
- To the bowl, add all of your other "toppings" (turkey, tomatoes, corn, olives. cheese and onion).
- Drizzle on Catalina dressing, toss and serve immediately.
Absolutely delicious! The dressing is superb and we loved the crunch of the Doritos. Thank goodness we made enough for tomorrow’s dinner. I may add some black beans but it certainly doesn’t need them. Thank you!
This is such an amazing taco salad recipe! A new favorite for our taco nights!
I made this salad for our Father’s Day cookout over the weekend and it was a huge hit! Everyone was asking for the recipe!
We loved all the flavors and textures in this awesome salad! We cheated with store bought catalina dressing, but next time I’ll make it from scratch with your recipe.
This taco salad recipe was a winner at my house! A delicious combination of flavors and textures – plus the Catalina dressing is something I will use on other salads. Thanks for the detailed instructions.
My family love this salad! It’s so easy to make and tastes amazing. The Doritos add a lovely crunch and great flavor to this. Thanks for sharing this, I can now get my kids to eat salad!!
This was everything a gourmet salad should be, and then some! Loved all the bold flavors; easily, a new favorite salad!
Love the combination of ingredients in this salad recipe. Thanks for sharing.
This is such a simple and amazing dinner recipe and my kids always love it!
I made this taco salad for lunch today and I LOVED it! I will definitely be making this often!
We make this all summer long. My kids go crazy for it!
My kids are obsessed with tacos and they LOVED this salad! And I loved that I was able to sneak some veggies into a meal that they didn’t complain about!
Made this on a whim last night and my family enjoyed it! So delicious and fun!
I’ve made this taco salad several times for dinner and my whole family loves it! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
I was skeptical of any salad with Doritos but it’s so good! Thanks for the recipe.
The dressing is so good!! I want it on everything!!
Doritos in a salad! My husband was thrilled with this recipe!
I love salads and this one is becoming one of my favorites. Thank you!
I could seriously eat a salad every meal. And you had me at doritos. I bet they add a great cheesy flavor as well as crunch to this salad.
The doritos with this taco salad was a great idea! More cheesy flavor instead of using regular tortilla chips. So delicious!
Oh my this was delicious! Loved the dressing with the flavours and texture of the salad.
All of my favourite flavours in a salad. This looks delicious!
Same here, Dannii! Hope you love it! XO ~ Casey
I’ve been looking for some new salad ideas and this one is perfect. It’s packed with flavour and I love that dressing!
So glad! It get an a salad rut too! 🙂 XO ~ Casey
Omg this taco salad was so flavorful and satisfying!! The crushed Doritos on top were genius!
Right?! What’s not to love! LOL! Thanks for leaving a review! XO ~ Casey
Never had Catalina dressing before, but thought it worked wonderfully with this salad. Really complemented the Chilli Heatwave Doritos we used! Thanks for the recipe!
Glad you tried it! Catalina is an oldie but goodie! XO ~ Casey
Such a creative recipe. We really enjoyed it! Thanks!
Glad you loved it, Kristen! XO ~ Casey