Taco Bake with Doritos is a 13×9 casserole built on crushed nacho cheese chips: a layer of Doritos and cheese on the bottom, taco-seasoned ground beef with red bell pepper, salsa and corn in the middle, and another round of chips and cheese on top for the last few minutes in the oven. It bakes uncovered at 350°F and serves 8.
How to make it: Brown the beef with the red pepper, stir in taco seasoning and water, then the salsa and corn. Layer half the crushed Doritos and half the cheese in a greased dish, spread the beef on top and bake about 20 minutes. Add the rest of the cheese and chips and bake about 5 more minutes, until the cheese melts and the center reaches 165°F.
Why You’ll Love It
- Chips in every bite: a layer on the bottom and a crunchy layer on top.
- Pantry-friendly: ground beef, a taco seasoning packet, salsa, a can of corn and a bag of chips.
- Toppings bar dinner: everyone adds their own sour cream, avocado or salsa.
- Easy to change: swap the chip flavor, the cheese or the pepper.
Ingredient Notes
Ground beef: One pound, browned with a diced red bell pepper.
Taco seasoning and water: A 1-ounce packet and 2/3 cup of water. Store-bought packets have thickeners in them, so the water thins the sauce. If you use homemade taco seasoning, leave the water out.
Salsa and corn: Two and a half cups of salsa and a 15.25-ounce can of corn, drained. About 1 cup of frozen corn works too.
Doritos: One 9.25-ounce bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos, coarsely crushed. That’s about 4 cups. Crush them right in the bag, or pour them into a gallon zip-top bag first.
Cheese: Two cups of shredded Mexican-blend cheese, divided. Sharp cheddar works too.
Ingredients
- Nonstick cooking spray, for the baking dish
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 1 packet (1 ounce) taco seasoning mix
- 2/3 cup water
- 2 1/2 cups salsa
- 1 can (15.25 ounces) corn, drained, or about 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 bag (9.25 ounces) Nacho Cheese Doritos, coarsely crushed (about 4 cups), divided
- 2 cups shredded Mexican-blend cheese, divided
- Optional taco toppings: sour cream, sliced green onion, sliced olives, diced avocado, cilantro, diced red onion, guacamole, diced tomatoes, lime wedges, extra salsa
How to Make Taco Bake with Doritos
1. Heat the oven. Heat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 13 x 9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Cook the beef and pepper. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef and red bell pepper until the meat is no longer pink, about 5 to 7 minutes. Check that the beef reaches 160°F with a food thermometer. Drain off the excess grease.
3. Season and simmer. Return the beef mixture to the skillet and stir in the taco seasoning mix and the water. Simmer until thickened, about 3 to 4 minutes, stirring often.
4. Add the salsa and corn. Stir in the salsa and the corn.
5. Layer the base. Put half of the crushed Doritos in the bottom of the baking dish and top with half of the cheese. Spread the beef mixture on top.
6. Bake uncovered. Bake uncovered until hot and bubbly, about 20 minutes.
7. Add the top layer. Sprinkle the remaining cheese and the remaining crushed Doritos over the casserole.
8. Finish baking and serve. Return the dish to the oven until the cheese melts, about 5 more minutes. Watch it closely, because the chips on top can burn easily. Check that the center reaches 165°F; if it hasn’t, bake a little longer. Serve with taco toppings and let everyone garnish their own serving.
When the Doritos Go In (and How to Keep the Top From Burning)
The chips go in twice, and each layer has its own job:
| Layer | When | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Half the chips + half the cheese | Bottom of the dish, before the beef | Bakes into a crust under the filling |
| Beef, salsa and corn | Spread over the base | Bakes uncovered about 20 minutes |
| Rest of the cheese + rest of the chips | For the last 5 minutes or so | Melty cheese and a crunchy top |
Watch the last few minutes. The chips on top can burn fast. Stay close to the oven once the top layer goes on.
Crush them coarsely. You want pieces, not dust, so the layers keep some crunch.
Check the center. Hot and bubbly edges don’t prove the middle is hot. USDA FSIS says casseroles are done at 165°F, and ground beef at 160°F.
Plan on a little extra time. Browning, simmering and two rounds in the oven add up, so give yourself about 45 minutes or a bit more from start to table.
Variations
- Different chips: any Doritos flavor works; try Cool Ranch or Spicy Sweet Chili, or use Garden Salsa Sun Chips.
- Different cheese: use grated sharp cheddar instead of the Mexican blend.
- No red pepper: leave it out, use a green bell pepper, or use diced onion instead.
- Homemade taco seasoning: use it in place of the packet and skip the water.
- Ground turkey: use it in place of the beef and cook it to 165°F.
Make Ahead, Storage & Reheating
Prep ahead: Cook the beef mixture, cool it and keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days. When you’re ready, layer the chips, cheese and beef and bake.
Refrigerator: Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours (1 hour if it’s over 90°F) in shallow covered containers. USDA FSIS says to eat them within 3 to 4 days.
Freezer: Freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. The chips may get soggy after freezing.
Reheat: Reheat covered, straight from the refrigerator, until it reaches 165°F. For a whole casserole, tent it loosely with foil in a 350°F oven so the top doesn’t get too dark. Don’t reheat it in a slow cooker.
What to Serve With It
Set out toppings and let everyone build their own plate: sour cream, green onion, olives, avocado or guacamole, cilantro, diced tomatoes, lime wedges and extra salsa. Start with white queso dip and serve one pot Mexican rice casserole alongside. More taco bakes: walking taco casserole, layered taco bake, crescent roll taco bake and taco casserole.
Frequently Asked Questions
What flavor of Doritos works best?
Nacho Cheese is the classic, but any flavor works. Cool Ranch and Spicy Sweet Chili are both good swaps.
Can I prep it ahead?
Yes. Cook the beef mixture up to 1 to 2 days ahead and refrigerate it, then layer and bake when you’re ready.
Can I freeze it?
Yes, for up to 3 months, but the chips may turn soggy.
How do I reheat it?
Reheat covered until it reaches 165°F. Tent a whole casserole loosely with foil so the chips don’t burn.
What toppings go on a Doritos taco bake?
Sour cream, green onion, olives, avocado, cilantro, diced tomatoes, lime and extra salsa.
Final Notes
Crush the chips while the beef browns and the layering takes a couple of minutes. Just don’t walk away once the top chips go on. If you make it, tell me in the comments which chip flavor you used.
Taco Bake with Doritos
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Ingredients
- nonstick cooking spray for the baking dish
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 red bell pepper seeded and diced
- 1 packet taco seasoning mix 1 ounce
- 2/3 cup water leave out if you use homemade taco seasoning
- 2 1/2 cups salsa
- 1 can corn 15.25 ounces, drained; or about 1 cup frozen corn
- 1 bag Nacho Cheese Doritos 9.25 ounces, coarsely crushed (about 4 cups crushed), divided
- 2 cups Mexican-blend cheese shredded, divided; sharp cheddar also works
- optional taco toppings sour cream, sliced green onion, sliced olives, diced avocado, fresh cilantro, diced red onion, guacamole, diced tomatoes, lime wedges, extra salsa; for serving
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 13 x 9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef and red bell pepper until the meat is no longer pink, about 5 to 7 minutes. Check that the beef reaches 160°F with a food thermometer. Drain off the excess grease.
- Return the beef mixture to the skillet and stir in the taco seasoning mix and the water. Simmer until thickened, about 3 to 4 minutes, stirring often.
- Stir in the salsa and the corn.
- Put half of the crushed Doritos in the bottom of the baking dish and 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 over the casserole.
- Return the dish to the oven until the cheese melts, about 5 more minutes. Watch it closely, because the chips on top can burn easily. Check that the center reaches 165°F; if it has not, bake a little longer. Serve with taco toppings and let everyone garnish their own serving.
