Doritos Casserole | The Best Taco Casserole

This cheesy Doritos Casserole is made with ground beef, tomatoes, chiles, sour cream and much more! It’s an easy taco casserole recipe that’s so good you won’t have any leftovers!

Make sure to try my super popular Fiesta Chicken Casserole too!

Doritos Casserole is the Cheesy Taco Casserole!

When I think of comfort food + dinner ideas, this Dorito casserole is what comes to mind. A flavorful taco casserole is topped with crunchy Doritos and melty cheese. What’s not to love? It’s the perfect taco night recipe that both adults and kids will love! AND it’s a perfect game day or tailgate dish too!

You can customize this easy casserole dish with all of your favorite taco ingredients. Make it as spicy or mild as you’d like, use your favorite kind of cheese and throw in your go-to taco toppings!

Recipe Ingredients

Make sure to scroll down to the bottom of this post for the full recipe and ingredient list.

• Olive Oil. You can also use vegetable oil, canola oil, or any other light colored oil.
• Yellow Onion: Use one medium-sized onion for this casserole. You don’t have to use a yellow onion, I just prefer the milder flavor. Try a Spanish onion or white onion too!
• Minced Garlic. I like to always use fresh garlic and mince or finely chop it, but you can also use the prepackaged jar garlic, or the convenient frozen garlic cubes to save time!
• Ground Beef. I like to use lean ground beef in this casserole recipe, but you can absolutely use ground turkey or ground chicken too!
• Taco Seasoning: I like to go for a low-sodium taco seasoning.
• Tomatoes & Chiles: I use Ro-tel canned tomatoes and green chiles.
• Salsa. Use whatever salsa you prefer! A fresh salsa or a jared salsa is fine!
• Sour Cream. This is what makes the filling creamy! You could also use Greek yogurt, or even cream cheese or Cream of Chicken Soup.
• Cheddar Cheese. You can use pre-shredded cheese or grate your own!
• Doritos: Crush up a bag of Doritos into coarse chunks. You can honestly use a variety of corn chips on this casserole like Fritos, plain tortilla chips, or even Cool Ranch Doritos!

How to Make Doritos Casserole

This easy casserole is prepped in 15 minutes. The full recipe card is at the bottom of this post and you can print it out for ease!

• Prepare the filling: In a large skillet, cook the onions until they’re soft and then add in the ground beef and garlic, cooking until the meat is done. Drain any excess fat and then add in the taco seasoning, Ro-tel, and salsa. Cook for 5 minutes and then add in the sour cream!
• Remove from the heat and set it aside.

• Assemble the Casserole: To prep the casserole you create layers. Spread half of the meat mixture, a third of the cheese, and half of the crushed Doritos. Repeat the process again and then top with that last third of the cheese!
• Cook: Cover the pan with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for 10 more minutes.
• Serve: Garnish as desired and serve warm!

Tips for the Best Doritos Casserole

• Don’t Crush Doritos Too Much: Make sure you don’t crush up your Doritos too finely. You want them in coarse chunks so they don’t soften inside the casserole.
• Remove Foil After 20 Minutes: Once your casserole has cooked for 20 minutes, remove the foil and finish baking. This will help your cheese get nice and golden brown!
• Use Lean Ground Beef: I recommend using 90% lean ground beef for this recipe.
• Use Nacho Cheese Doritos: Any flavor of Doritos will taste great in this dish, but I have a soft spot for the nacho cheese ones. They’ll give you the cheesiest, most irresistible casserole ever!

Variation and Mix-In Ideas

Of course all of your favorite taco toppings will be great, but the ingredients you put in your Dorito casserole are entirely up to you. Here are some ideas for what to add to yours!

• Add a Garnish: I love garnishing this casserole with diced tomatoes, avocado, cilantro, jalapeños or all of the above!
• Mix up the Meat: This dinner is also delicious with ground turkey, rotisserie chicken or a combination of ground chicken/turkey and ground beef.
• Substitute Doritos: Don’t like Doritos? Use your choice of tortilla chips instead.
• Add Veggies: Try topping this casserole with your favorite sautéd veggies or corn!
• Add in some black beans! I mean why not?!
• Use fresh tomatoes and jalapenos or green chilis instead of the rotel tomatoes!
• Switch up the cheese option! Add in Pepper Jack cheese or a Mexican Cheese blend instead of the cheddar to add more heat!

What Goes with Dorito Casserole?

• Guacamole: Guacamole is a great appetizer to set the stage for this casserole. My easy Avocado Salsa is the perfect Tex-Mex variation!
• Rice: This taco casserole tastes amazing with a simple side of rice. Try my quick and easy Instant Pot Butter Rice Recipe.
• Cocktails: If you’re in the mood for a boozy drink, you have to serve your casserole with this Frozen Sangria!

Can I Make This Casserole in Advance?

This taco casserole is make-ahead friendly! Assemble it up to 6 hours before you plan to serve it and keep it covered in the fridge. You may need to bake it for slightly longer if you make it ahead of time.

Are You a Casserole Lover? Make Sure to Try These Casserole Recipes Too:

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